Upper School Curriculum Guide

The RCDS Music Department is committed to nurturing creativity and confidence at all levels of learning. We honor music as a living art with inherent value. In addition, we are committed to helping students make connections between music classes, other disciplines, and the wider world. Through the teaching and modeling of empathy and collaboration, we seek to have our classes and ensembles embody a unified spirit.

Music is a language that all can appreciate and most can learn to "speak" with precision and beauty. Many students in the Upper School participate actively in one or more of the many performing groups such as Concert Choir, Honors Choirs, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, and String Orchestra -- each of which is scheduled within the school day. The Concert Choir, String Orchestra, and Wind Ensemble receive full academic credit as a sign of the School's commitment to the art and discipline of music.

RCDS offers both performance and non-performance based music electives. Students often participate in the New York All-State and Area-All State music festivals, and the choir joins forces with adult singers from the RCDS community to sing a major work each year with a professional orchestra at the Festival Chorus Concert. Over the years, the Concert Choir has toured internationally in Europe, Asia and most recently, Ireland. The Wind Ensemble has traveled throughout the East Coast and to Canada. Our performing ensembles are award winning groups at regional competitions and festivals. Part-time instrumental and voice teachers give private lessons in our teaching studios during the week to approximately 120 students.

COURSE SELECTION GUIDELINES

All Music classes are considered electives and are eligible to receive arts credit towards graduation.

The following courses have no prerequisites:

• Concert Choir
• String Orchestra (While there is no prerequisite, prior experience on a string instrument is required.)
• Wind Ensemble (While there is no prerequisite, prior experience on a band instrument is required.
• Explorations in World Music
• Music of the Moment
• AP Music Theory
• Music Theory Intensive
• Basic Musicianship
• Studio Composing and Arranging
• Beginning Band
• Musicianship for Performers

The following courses need a signature to sign-up:

• AP Music Theory
• Honors Choir
• Wind Ensemble with Honors Jazz Band
• Songwriting

If you are interested in auditioning for any of the Honors Choirs or Honors Jazz Band, auditions happen in the fall, but you will need approval from Ms. Marcell. If you are hoping to participate you should inquire in the spring.

To take AP Music Theory, approval is required from Ms. Marcell. While there is no course prerequisite for AP Theory, a conversation to discuss your musical background is required.

If you are interested in taking Songwriting, you need to have taken Basic Musicianship, one of the Music Theory or gain departmental approval by demonstrating equivalent music theory knowledge.

If you are interested in private lessons, contact the Private Lesson Coordinator at the beginning of September and be on the lookout for information on e-communications from the school. Please know that private lessons are extra-curricular and do not receive academic credit or count toward the arts credit.

AP HOMEWORK GUIDELINES

AP Music Theory: Students should expect to spend 30 minutes a day on written homework and/ or ear training. They should be willing to spend up to 45 minutes, but after that marker, they needn't do more.

DEPARTMENTAL POLICIES REGARDING ENTRY INTO HONORS/AP COURSES

Admission into any of the Honors Ensembles is determined by audition in the fall. A student already in one of the Honors Choirs is guaranteed a spot for the next year in an honors group providing they have maintained an A- or better in the previous year. The teacher reserves the right to re-audition and reconsider the admission of students with a lower grade. Admission to Honors Jazz Band is determined by audition at the beginning of the year and requires participation in another major music ensemble of the school (Wind Ensemble or Concert Choir). Admission to AP Music Theory is determined by a student’s previous work in the department or by interview to ascertain the student’s musical experience. The student’s math grades may also be considered.

Many students commonly take Concert Choir, String Orchestra, or Wind Ensemble for all four years. Although a student may join in any year, most find the 4-year cumulative nature of the experience to be most rewarding.

Honors Choirs and Honors Jazz Band are open to 9th-12th graders and are auditioned from the larger groups. While they cannot stand alone in a student's program, they comfortably fit into the student's larger schedule.

A combination of more than one performing ensemble fit concurrently into a student's program. While doing so creates a fuller daytime schedule, there is little evening commitment to these courses. In addition, additional electives in music or other departments can sometimes dovetail with the music ensembles, allowing students to take more than one elective in a single block.

For students who are particularly interested in musical theater, many students take Choir along with a Drama class.

Music Theory Intensive and AP Music Theory is mostly commonly taken in the 10th or 12th grade year, though it is open to 10-12th graders. Note that these courses are homework bearing.  Musicianship for Performers is most commonly taken concurrently with one or more of the performing ensembles. 

There are also several non-performance based classes offered without prerequisites including listening and hands-on courses.