Music

Music is the center of the Christian’s expression of worship.  As beings created to glorify God, we have been given music as a tool to express, in an extra-verbal medium, our repentance, consecration, thankfulness, and adoration to the Lord.  We are commanded to actively participate in this medium, offering to God our gifts and talents in new and various ways.  As the sole object of our worship, God is worthy of our best.  We must strive to reflect His beauty and glory in all we create and perform, using excellence, discipline, creativity, and unity.

Music Curriculum Goals

• Understand the ability to express themselves through music in fulfillment of God’s command
• Demonstrate the ability to create and perform music, which communicates God’s truth
• Develop musical skills necessary to create and perform music with excellence
• Develop knowledge and appreciation of music from other eras, cultures, and styles as a means of discerning what pleases God and what does not glorify Him, and taking responsibility fro their own choice of responding to Him through music

Band Curriculum Goals

• To learn to strive for excellence in our instrumental music pursuits, in both personal practice and in-group rehearsals, in order to reflect God’s beauty and glory through the music we create
• To develop a mindset of our music as an expression of worship to God, whether the setting be at church, school, or home
• To contribute to the worship experience of our churches as we learn to make music a meaningful offering of worship to God

High School Chorale

The Chorale is a vocal group opened to any senior high student who desires to deepen his/her participation and understanding in and of the choral art.  Performance literature is selected to minister to the heart as well as provide opportunities to enrich student skills in sight reading and vocal production.  The Chorale prepares and presents two seasonal concerts per academic year as well as participates in the Spring ACSI Music Festival.  Other performances are programmed as schedules allow.

• Prerequisite:  None
• Credit:  0.5
• Grade Level:    9th-12th

High School Singers

This 16-voice select ensemble is specifically designed for the music student demonstrating advanced skills in sight-reading and vocal production.  Challenging repertoire is selected with multiple concert performances and festival competition in mind.  Most of the concert literature is sacred in nature although some secular music may be performed at appropriate occasions.

• Prerequisite:  Departmental Approval
• Credit:  0.25
• Grade Level:    9th-12th

Music Appreciation

This course is designed for the student to broaden his/her appreciation for various musical styles by engaging the student in active musical listening experiences.  Through the aid of the text and Listening Guides, the student will deepen his appreciation for music of his society as well as others as exemplified in the periods of musical history.  The study of both major and minor composers throughout history will enhance the student’s understanding that music is a reflection of the culture from which it was composed.  This course is equivalent to a freshman college music history course.

• Prerequisite:  None
• Credit:  1.00
• Grade Level:    11th/12th

High School Band

High school band is an elective class that is offered two days per week to students playing brass, woodwind and percussion instruments or electric keyboard and guitar. This class provides students with the opportunity to learn valuable performance skills within a small ensemble. Prerequisites for band include a basic music reading proficiency and technical facility on an instrument. Grading is based on attendance, participation and playing tests. In addition to rehearsals, students are required to attend one or two sectionals a month. Performance opportunities include a Christmas and spring concert, ACSI Art Festivals, District Band, music chapels, and other service related performances.

• Prerequisite:  Departmental Approval
• Credit:  0.5
• Grade Level:  9th-12th