Music
Across the Curriculum
Science
- Music is a specialized science
which deals with the qualities of sound, acoustics and timbre. Extensive
training is given to the aural discrimination between like pitches and those
that are different.
Mathematics
- Although it is a simplified form of arithmetic, counting in groups of two,
three, four and higher are used consistently in all music repertoire. When
teaching the values of rhythmic notation, we develop and reinforce the concepts
of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Geography
- Music is common, but unique to
every culture on Earth. Each music selection that our students present utilizes
rhythmic patterns and a specified tonality. Both have their origins from other
regions and countries on the globe. When performing these, we raise the
awareness of the world around us.
History
- Through an appreciation of music,
students study the great composers of the past. When musicians understand the
intentions of the composer's masterpiece, they gain insight to all historical
eras. Music acts as a blueprint, testimonial, and archive to the people and the
events of the Antiquity, Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic,
and Contemporary Eras. As musicians, we are able to experience a piece of
history through a performance of a musical selection.
Language
Arts - When analyzing a music
composition, the performer will note the relationship of the concerto/symphonic
form with that of the basic essay format emphasized in writing classes. Although
a simple framework, the standard exposition-developmental-recapitulation
construction of music has a direct correlation with the author's thesis
statement-development-conclusion. The phrasing of the musical line in a
performance has a direct relationship with the vocal inflections emphasizing
portions of the basic sentence.
Foreign
Language - The music which our
ensembles perform has its inception from western European civilization. With an
awareness of the terminology printed throughout the sheet music, performers gain
significant knowledge in the Italian language. Depending on the selection's
difficulty and composer, German, French and Spanish terms may be introduced. As
a result of the terminology, musicians understand the similarities between
English and the Romantic/Germanic languages. The root words, prefixes, and
suffixes located in the foreign language find their way directly into the
English derivative. This goes a long way in building a strong vocabulary base,
and will inevitably improve the students' all important standardized test
scores.
Physical
Education - When starting and
developing the wind and vocal musician, a significant amount of time is spent on
developing proper breath support and appropriate respiratory habits. Rehearsals,
if properly orchestrated, are as intensive and exhaustive as jogging and
swimming laps. In addition, motor skills are advanced substantially when playing
percussion, woodwind, brass and string instruments. As with all sports
organizations, the concepts of teamwork and cooperation are exploited in the
band, orchestra and chorus setting.