Music
Music offers both academic classroom and performance-oriented courses. A student wishing to fulfill his/her Advanced Regents Diploma sequence requirement may do so in music. A Five-Year Sequence must contain at least one full year of academic music courses and two full years of performing music courses. Extra-curricular adjuncts to the program are the theatrical productions. These productions are cast by audition and are open to the entire student body.
Each year various special co-curricular performance ensembles are organized depending upon the availability of instrumentation and the need of students. These special organizations such as Jazz Band meet after school with no additional credit and are based on auditions. Membership in co-curricular musical ensembles is open only to participating members of the band, orchestra, and choir.
*SYMPHONIC BAND
Term: Full Year
The Symphonic Band is the band for freshman, new entrants to Schreiber and all students in grades 10-12 not selected for the Wind Ensemble. The Symphonic Band will play music at NYSSMA grades 4 and 5. Students will learn various types and styles of literature, scales, technique, and historical/biographical information about the pieces and the composers. The Symphonic Band will have four rehearsals on a six-day cycle. Students will receive a band sectional lesson once every six-day cycle.
Band students are highly encouraged and welcomed to participate in the Viking Band, an extra-curricular band that performs at the two town parades and home football games. These performances highlight the music program for the community. Regardless of full participation in the Viking Band, all students are required to perform at the Memorial Day parade, the Pride in Port Parade and the Pride in Port Homecoming football game. The students will be expected to attend a minimum of 1 of the remaining 3 home football games (total of 2 games for the season.) Students will be asked to purchase a shirt as part of their uniform for approximately $20.
*WIND ENSEMBLE
Term: Full Year
The Wind Ensemble is the select band at Schreiber. Students in grades 10 – 12 are admitted through an audition demonstrating superior playing skill. The Wind Ensemble will study and perform works at NYSSMA grades 5 and 6. Students will learn various types and styles of literature, scales, technique, and historical/biographical information about the pieces and the composers. The Wind Ensemble will have four rehearsals on a six-day cycle. Students will receive a band sectional lesson once every six-day cycle.
Band students are highly encouraged and welcomed to participate in the Viking Band, an extra-curricular band that performs at the two town parades and home football games. These performances highlight the music program for the community. Regardless of full participation in the Viking Band, all students are required to perform at the Memorial Day parade, the Pride in Port Parade and the Pride in Port Homecoming football game. The students will be expected to attend a minimum of 1 of the remaining 3 home football games (total of 2 games for the season.) Students will be asked to purchase a shirt as part of their uniform for approximately $20.
*FRESHMAN BAND
Term: Full Year
The Freshman Band is a non-audition band at Schreiber. Students are admitted through recommendation by the Weber 8th grade Band Director and by demonstrating excellent performance skills. The band will study and perform works from the band repertoire of the nineteenth century through modern music of today at a NYSSMA level rating of 4 through 5. They will learn various styles of literature, scales, technique, and historical/biographical information about the pieces and composers. This band will have four rehearsals in a six-day cycle. Students will receive one band sectional lesson per six-day cycle.
Band students are highly encouraged and welcomed to participate in the Viking Band, an extra-curricular band that performs at the two town parades and home football games. These performances highlight the music program for the community. Regardless of full participation in the Viking Band, all students are required to perform at the Memorial Day parade, the Pride in Port Parade and the Pride in Port Homecoming football game. The students will be expected to attend a minimum of 1 of the remaining 3 home football games (total of 2 games for the season.) Students will be asked to purchase a shirt as part of their uniform for approximately $20.
*FRESHMAN ORCHESTRA
Term: Full Year
The Freshman Orchestra is a non-audition orchestra at Schreiber. Students are admitted through recommendation by the Weber 8th grade Orchestra Director and by demonstrating excellent performance skills. The orchestra will study and perform works from the orchestral repertoire of the seventeenth century through modern music of today at a NYSSMA level rating of 4 through 5. They will learn various styles of literature, scales, technique, and historical/biographical information about the pieces and composers. This orchestra will have four rehearsals in a six-day cycle. Students will receive one string sectional lesson per six-day cycle.
*STRING ORCHESTRA
Term: Full Year
The String Orchestra is a non-audition orchestra at Schreiber. The orchestra will study and perform works from the orchestral repertoire of the seventeenth century through modern music at a NYSSMA level rating of 4 through 5. They will learn various styles of literature, scales, technique, and historical/biographical information about the pieces and composers. This orchestra will have four rehearsals in a six-day cycle. Students will receive one string sectional lesson per six-day cycle.
*SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA
Term: Full Year
The Symphonic Orchestra is the select orchestra at Schreiber. Sophomores, juniors and seniors are admitted through an audition demonstrating superior playing skill. The orchestra will study and perform works from the orchestral repertoire of the seventeenth through the twentieth centuries at NYSSMA levels 5 and 6. Students will learn various types and styles of literature, scales, technique, and historical/biographical information about the pieces and the composers. Superior sight-reading skill is a must as this orchestra maintains a busy performing schedule. This orchestra has four rehearsals on a six-day cycle. Students will receive one string sectional lesson also in a six-day cycle.
*MIXED CHOIR
Term: Full Year
Choir is the advanced vocal music ensemble at Schreiber HS. All Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors are admitted through audition. Students will study and perform a cappella and accompanied works of the choral repertoire of the sixteenth through twenty-first centuries. Students will learn and perform various types and styles of literature with a focus on vocal technique, sight-reading, music literacy and historical/biographical information about the compositions and their composers. The Mixed Choir has four rehearsals in a six-day cycle. Students will receive a sectional lesson once every six-day cycle.
*FRESHMAN CHORUS
Term: Full Year
The Freshman Chorus is composed of all Freshmen and some older students not enrolled in Mixed Choir. Students will study and perform a cappella and accompanied works of the choral repertoire of the sixteenth through twenty-first centuries. Students will study music written in foreign languages as well as English. Students will learn and perform various types and styles of literature with a focus on vocal technique, sight-reading, music literacy and historical/ biographical information about the compositions and their composers. The Freshman Chorus has four rehearsals in a six-day cycle. Students will also receive one sectional lesson in a six-day cycle.
*MUSIC THEORY AND SONGWRITING
Term: Full Year
Students in Music Theory will study the basics of music – rhythm, meter, key signatures, scales, chord progressions, cadences, form and texture. Students will study compositional technique, including songwriting, and creativity will be encouraged. Students will also study orchestration. Students will be encouraged to take the A.P Music Theory placement test.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT MUSIC THEORY
Term: Full Year
Grades: 11-12
Prerequisite: Music Theory and/or equivalent with department recommendation, and a minimum score of 80% on the entrance exam.
The Advanced Placement Music Theory course enables highly skilled and motivated students to do college level work in music reading, notation, composition, analysis and critical listening. Designed as a culmination of academic music courses, the A.P. Music Theory student should be either a junior or senior. The work of the course will emphasize preparation for the advanced placement music theory examination which students will be expected to take in May (please note that a fee is charged for the exam). Particular emphasis will be placed on developing listening skills, sight-singing, and knowledge of 18th century harmony and composition. Performance using singing, the keyboard, and students’ primary instrument or voice will be a part of the learning process. The successful student will be endowed with the skills necessary to function intelligently in any musical situation.
MUSIC IMPROVISATION
Term: Semester
Grades: 10-12
In this performance-centered course, students will gain hands-on experience with the elements and structure of improvisation. Music theory, improvisational skills, notation, simple rhythmic patterns, harmonic structure and melodic development will be explored throughout this semester-long course.
*MUSIC IN OUR LIVES
Term: Full Year
Music in Our Lives is focused upon the use and value of music in people’s lives. The course encourages students to view music in a social context rather than as abstract information to be learned for its own sake. Information and activities provide students with experiences that present music as a natural and essential ingredient of one’s own life and of human life in all cultures. This course expands upon the appreciation and subjectivity of music and its role in cultures and society for all students, not just those who sing in the chorus or play in the band or orchestra.
SOUND ENGINEERING
Term: Semester
Grades: 10-12
Prerequisite: Enrollment in a Music Ensemble or Departmental Approval.
In this course, students will gain hands-on experience with the elements of audio recording and digital sequencing. Basic looping and the study of recording session procedures will include the technical specifications and operational features of each component of the recording studio. Professional level software applications such as Pro Tools utilized, in addition to and in conjunction with acoustic performance recording.
+ Honors Credit
Honors credit is available to those students who meet certain criteria as outlined below:
It is designed for those high-ability, highly self-motivated students who are seeking more rigor and challenge than is offered in the regular ensemble class. Those students wishing to receive Honors credit must receive director approval.
Honors credit will be available to sophomores, juniors and seniors who have fulfilled the following prerequisites:
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- An A average during the prior year
- NYSSMA Rating Level IV – Outstanding or V-VI 90-100%
Students wishing Honors credit will complete the following requirements:
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- Full participation in all phases of the regular program.
- Participation in the All-State audition/adjudication/performance process. Perform a director-approved solo (equivalent to a NYSSMA grade 5 or 6) at the end of the year.
- Select two additional requirements per semester from a list provided by the directors. This director-approved list of additional requirements
- will include participation in additional Schreiber performance groups, ensembles, assemblies and other program specific assignments.
- Attendance at two professional concerts.
- Director approved research paper.
- Other assignments/activities, as determined by the ensemble director.
- Attendance at ALL lessons groups offered each quarter.
*This course meets NYS Music/Art graduation requirements
**This course is approved by the NCAA