Music Arts

Department Overview

DESCRIPTION OF EXCELLENCE

Music students in the Conservatory are afforded the opportunity to discover, develop, and master their God-given talents and abilities with a music faculty who have degrees from the most prestigious music conservatories and universities in the world.

DISTINCTIVE EXPERIENCE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Conservatory musicians perform in some of the most elite venues and performance opportunities in the Bay Area, the United States, and throughout the world. Students have represented the Conservatory with travel to Europe (Italy, Austria) and Asia (China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, and Indonesia), and performed in the Tournament of Roses Parade.

Select Performance Ensembles

• Chamber Ensemble - String Quartet 
• Worship Choir - Contemporary Christian Worship Band
• Jazz Ensemble 
• Advanced Vocal Ensemble 
• Open Air Ensemble - Non-competitive fall marching band.
• Performing Indoor Ensemble - Nationally competitive indoor marching band.

For information about the Conservatory Honors program, music prerequisite policies, audition procedures, and select performance ensembles. please visit the Conservatory tab on vcs.net or conservatory.vcs.net.

Symphonic Band

This course develops musicianship and technical skills through performing intermediate and advanced-level literature from both the classical and popular musical genres. In addition to refining rehearsal and performance techniques, students study music theory and history. Additional rehearsals and performances are scheduled at the discretion of the director. This course may be repeated for additional credit. 

Additional Expectations: Participation in approximately 5 performances throughout the year.

Jazz Lab

This course is designed for rhythm section combos (drum set, hand percussion, bass guitar, guitar and piano/keyboards), and focuses on beginning jazz theory, history, and improvisation. In addition to learning rehearsal and improvisational techniques, students are exposed to various jazz styles and the art of improvisation through extensive listening to historical performances. Performances may be required at the discretion of the director. This course may be repeated for additional credit. Director placement or audition required.

Additional Expectations: Participation in approximately 10 performances throughout the year. Private lessons are strongly encouraged.

String Ensemble

This course builds and develops experience with orchestral performance through intermediate and advanced-level music from the baroque, classical, romantic, and contemporary music periods. Curriculum includes music theory and history in addition to technique. Additional rehearsals and performances are scheduled at the discretion of the director. This course may be repeated for additional credit.

Additional Expectations: Participation in approximately 10 performances throughout the year. Private lessons are strongly encouraged.  

Percussion Ensemble I

This course focuses on intermediate rudimentary percussion techniques on all the major orchestral percussion instruments. The curriculum includes training for and performing with the Conservatory Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and String Ensemble. Students may opt to participate in the Open Air Ensemble (OAE) and Performing Indoor Ensemble (PIE). Curriculum and performances with the OAE/PIE are in addition to the orchestral percussion training and performances. In addition to mastering rehearsal and performance techniques, students learn music theory and history. Additional rehearsals and performances are scheduled at the discretion of the director. This course may be repeated for additional credit.

Additional Expectations: Participation in approximately 5 performances throughout the year.

Percussion Ensemble II

This course focuses on advanced percussion technique on all the major orchestral percussion instruments. Curriculum includes training for and performing with the Conservatory Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and String Ensemble. Students may opt to participate in the Open Air Ensemble (OAE) and Performing Indoor Ensemble (PIE). Curriculum and performances with the OAE/PIE are in addition to the orchestral percussion training and performances. In addition to mastering rehearsal and performance techniques, students learn music theory and history. Additional rehearsals and performances are scheduled at the discretion of the director. This course may be repeated for additional credit. Director placement or audition required.

Additional Expectations: Participation in approximately 5 performances throughout the year.

Piano I

This course exposes students to the technical, innovative, and expressive aspects of the piano. While studying western tonality, music theory, and great pianists of the 20^th century, students learn the fundamental concepts of playing the piano. The course emphasizes intervallic reading and also develops the ear with the inclusion of aural training. Students acquire the language of music, including intervals, chords, scales, articulation, meter, and harmonization. Repertoire ranges from classical to contemporary. This course may be repeated for additional credit.

Piano II

This course builds on Piano I and continues to give students an opportunity to study the technical, creative and expressive aspects of the piano. In addition to studying western tonality, music theory, and some of the great composers of the past, students further develop their pianistic skills and appreciation for the role the piano has played in society.

Piano III

This advanced level course for pianists offers students the opportunity to master the technical, creative, and expressive aspects of the piano. While learning western tonality, historical periods of music, music theory, ensemble playing, and solo repertoire, students also study great pianistic composers of the past and present. Students study composition and performance practices of the masters, including Bach, Mozart, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and Liszt. This course also reinforces the techniques and skills introduced to Conservatory students through private study. Reading, listening assignments, analysis, and performance projects are incorporated into the curriculum.

Introduction to Guitar and Electric Bass

Introduction to Guitar and Electric Bass is an entry level music course that exposes students to the technical, innovative, and expressive aspects of the guitar and electric bass. While studying the fundamental concepts of playing the guitar and bass, students also learn western tonality, music theory, and the great guitarists and bassists of the 20^th and 21^st centuries. The course emphasizes intervallic reading and also develops the ear with the inclusion of aural training. Students acquire the language of music, including pitch, chord, scale, articulation, meter, and harmonization. Repertoire ranges from blues, to jazz, to rock, including folk songs. Students express themselves creatively through a variety of projects and repertoire and learn how to assess the success of their own work and that of others using vocabulary specific to the course content.

Additional Expectations: This course typically requires 30 minutes of practice each course period, but more practice benefits the student’s ability to learn guitar and electric bass.

Guitar II

Guitar II is an intermediate-level music course that immerses students in the technical, innovative, and expressive aspects of the guitar. Building on the fundamental concepts of playing the guitar, the course covers soloing and improvisation, advanced techniques in soloing, becoming an artist (forming a band), recording, advanced use of chords, advanced strumming and fingerstyle, and songwriting. This course also explores music theory and some music history (the great guitarists of the 20^th and 21^st centuries). Through cutting edge media tools, each week includes a variety of playing techniques such as bending, tapping and harmonics; a thorough assimilation of music theory concepts, such as note identification, chord construction and intervallic reading; a variety of music genres such as rock, jazz, and blues; and a panorama of music history through active listening exercises focusing on a famous guitarist. The course emphasizes practical participation. Acoustic guitars are provided to each student to use throughout the course. Director placement required.

Guitar III

Conservatory Chorus

This performance course aids in the development of proper vocal technique and skills, focusing on improving tone quality, music reading, sight-reading, and ear training abilities. There are opportunities to perform solo and ensemble literature and to rehearse and perform intermediate and advanced choral works. Students may participate in county and state choral events, sing individually and in ensemble, and perform literature in foreign languages.

Additional Expectations: Participation in approximately 10 performances/festivals throughout the year. Private lessons are strongly encouraged.

Wind Ensemble Honors

Wind Ensemble serves as the premier performance course for advanced level wind instrumentalists, developing musicianship and technical skills through the performance of traditional literature. In addition to mastering rehearsal and performance techniques, students study music theory and history. The ensemble performs at a variety of festivals and concerts within the Bay Area and State of California. Instructor placement or audition required. 

AP Music Theory

This course studies various aspects of melody, harmony, texture, rhythm, form, musical analysis, and composition. Musicianship skills such as dictation and other listening skills, sight-singing, and keyboard harmony are an important part of the theory course. A student’s ability to read and write musical notation is fundamental to the course. It is also assumed that students have acquired basic performance skills in voice or on an instrument.

Additional Expectations: This course typically requires 2-3 hours of homework each week.