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 
• 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.

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.

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.

Piano I

This is a group piano course where students will learn basic keyboard skills. Students will begin with note names, rhythms, chords, and progress to scales, note reading and chord harmonization. We will explore a wide variety of music including folk, popular, and classical. The emphasis will be on technique, sight-reading, ear training and repertoire. Students will work individually, and in a group setting. Students will be responsible to keep up with the lessons, as there will be weekly evaluations.

Piano II

Piano II is a piano course where students will divide their time between individual practice, group practice, listening, journaling and harmonic analysis. Students will be challenged in sight-reading, ensemble playing and technique but will also have ample time to practice their solo repertoire. Technique and sight-reading assignments will aid in improving ensemble skills. Without proficient sight-reading skills, successful accompanying and ensemble playing is impossible. Consequently, we will have several sight-reading units. 

In addition, students will deepen their knowledge of music history and theory. We will cover performance practices from each historical period, vocabulary, triads, 7^th chords, and harmonic analysis. The ability to audiate music before it is played will be included in this course. To aid in this, we will have regular ear training assignments. This course will give our piano students a chance to connect with other pianists in a fun and challenging way. This course can be repeated multiple years for credit. 

Piano III

Piano III is an advanced level piano course where students will divide their time between individual practice, group practice, listening, journaling and written analysis. Students will be challenged in sight-reading, ensemble playing, technique, and will have ample time to practice their solo repertoire. We will explore, play and analyze a wide variety of classical music ranging from Bach to Bartok. Technique and sight-reading assignments will aid in improving ensemble skills. Without proficient sight-reading skills, successful accompanying and ensemble playing is impossible. Consequently, we will have several sight-reading units. In addition, students will deepen their knowledge of music history and theory, improve aural skills and music analysis.  We will cover performance practices from each historical period, vocabulary, triads, 7^thchords, and form analysis. This course will give our students with a piano emphasis a chance to connect with other pianists in a fun and challenging way. This course can be repeated multiple years for credit.

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.

Worship & Production Arts

In this course, students collaborate in one of two groups: a small contemporary worship team or a production team. This course equips students to be effective faith-based leaders who integrate worship and production into their faith, in order to build a community and culture of faith in Jesus at Valley Christian through the chapel experience.

This class develops teamwork principles, especially as they relate to the importance of relational skills, such as collaboration, motivation, and conflict resolution for life and ministry. This class is designed to be an interactive, community experience that connects the application of what the team does to who the team is becoming.

Jazz Ensemble Honors

This course further develops jazz skills through performing intermediate and advanced-level literature. The curriculum is divided into the following categories: composition, jazz history, improvisational theory, and jazz styles/specific instrumental skills. Students achieve performance skills incorporating the historically oral and aural tradition of jazz music. 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 10 performances throughout the year. Private lessons are strongly encouraged.

Piano III Honors

Course Description

Additional Expectations: Private Lessons are required, Conservatory Honors Membership and Participation in Either Certificate of Merit, RCM or ABRSM Strongly Recommended

Performance Opportunities: FOTA, and various School and Fundraising Events.

Piano IV Honors

Course Description

Additional Expectations: Private Lessons are required, Conservatory Honors Membership and Participation in Either Certificate of Merit, RCM or ABRSM Strongly Recommended

Performance Opportunities: FOTA, and various School and Fundraising Events

Prerequisite: Piano III Honors, Proficiency in Level V CM, RCM or ABRSM equivalent (or higher), or Audition and Instructor Approval

String Ensemble Honors

Course Description

This course builds and develops experience with orchestral performance through intermediate and advanced-level music from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary music periods. The 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 Fine Arts credit.

Additional Expectations: Private lessons are strongly recommended and students are encouraged to supplement their studies outside of the school in area youth symphonies, solo competitions, and summer music festivals.

Performance Opportunities for Chamber Ensemble (H): Students will participate in approximately 10 performances/festivals throughout the year, which often require travel.

Prerequisite: Audition required with at least 1 or more years of performing experience; at least a level 3 or above according to the Suzuki Method, and instructor approval.

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.