online website help:
 

NMH Arts : Music

Courses

Major and Minor Course Offerings
Northfield Mount Hermon believes that music is one of the languages that helps people live abundantly.

The school’s instrumental and choral programs, and offerings in applied music and theory provide opportunities for the interested beginner and supplement the background of more advanced students. The object of NMH’s academic offerings is the development of essential skills as well as the refinement of the student’s taste and musicianship. All courses are half credit except MUS 212 and MUS 511, which are full-credit courses. 

Major Courses

The following course, although required of freshmen, is not a prerequisite for other art offerings.

ART 111 Arts Foundations

Half credit. Required of freshmen.

This course explores the creative process through the presentation of basic tenets that underlie all programs within the arts curriculum. A basic language for the arts is established through team teaching across disciplines. Students learn to apply this language toward product making, performance, and critical thinking in the area of artistic endeavor. A manual of the arts, written by the arts department, is given to each student as a text for the course.

MUS 112 The History of Jazz

Half credit. Prerequisite: None.

This course compares different types of 20th-century music and their evolution, including jazz, blues, and third-stream music. Extensive listening is involved.

MUS 211 Electronic Music Studio

Half credit. Prerequisite: Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have reached intermediate level on any instrument and in music-reading skills, and who have basic keyboard skills.

The primary focus of this course is on learning to use recording equipment, notation programs, and sequencing programs. Students will be using digital, analog, and acoustic recording equipment, sound-board mixers, synthesizers, drum machines, and Macintosh computers with midi devices.

MUS 212 Bach, Beethoven, and All That: How to Listen to Music

Full credit. Prerequisite: None.

Who were Bach and Beethoven? Why was and is their music so popular?   What came before them? What came after them? How DO you listen to their music, anyway? How do you listen to any music, really? The aims of this course are first, to build listening skills, choosing examples from a wide variety of classical, world, and popular styles, and second, to survey a wide selection of masterpieces of classical composers from all the major historical periods.

MUS 213 World Music

Half credit. Prerequisite: None.

The focus of this course is on the study of traditional music of people around the world in their sociological contexts, including the study of 20th-century song-form structures of Eastern and Western Europe. Students will learn about the instruments and language characteristics of each culture and how those influence the music. Library and website research and extensive listening will be central to the work of the course.

MUS 411 Advanced Applied Music

Half credit for yearlong enrollment. Prerequisite: Advanced proficiency level and application process through the director of the music program.

Students at an advanced level with a serious interest in applied music may petition to receive academic credit. This credit will be in addition to the required six major credits, and will be granted during the spring term. One 45-minute lesson plus a minimum of four 45-minute practice sessions per week. Fee: $30 per lesson.

MUS412 Advanced Applied Music II

Half credit. Offered winter and spring only. Open to juniors, seniors, and postgraduates. Prerequisites: Advanced proficiency level and application process through the director of the music program.

This course is for upper-level students who are preparing for auditions and/or major recitals. In addition to a weekly 45- to 60-minute lesson period, students are expected to spend eight hours per week practicing and doing research on the music and composers they are studying. They must perform in public sometime during the term, and appear before a faculty panel for a final assessment at the end of the term. Fee: $30 per lesson.

MUS 511 Advanced Placement Music Theory and Harmony

One credit. Prerequisite: Introduction to Theory (see Minor Courses) or equivalent, and permission of instructor.

This in-depth study of music theory leads to the AP exam in May, with particular emphasis on listening skills, tonal analysis, and four-part writing.

Minor Courses

AUDITIONED MUSIC GROUPS 

The following auditioned music groups are scheduled as minor courses. Students who successfully complete a full year of participation earn half an academic credit.

MUS 811 Chamber Orchestra

Half credit for yearlong participation. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

The Chamber Orchestra is composed of selected string players augmented occasionally by solo wind players. It performs music of all periods, but specializes in literature of the baroque. This group performs at Family Day, Christmas Vespers, Sacred Concert, and occasional off-campus venues. Participation in Symphony Orchestra is required.

MUS 812 Select Women’s Ensemble

Half credit for yearlong participation. Prerequisite: Audition.

This group of selected women singers performs a wide repertoire from sacred and secular literature. In addition to working on repertoire, the group learns vocal techniques, sight reading, and good choral skills. The ensemble performs at various school concerts and occasionally travels off campus as well. Participation in Concert Choir is required of those in the Select Women’s Ensemble.

MUS 813 Northfield Mount Hermon Singers

Half credit for yearlong participation. Prerequisite: Audition.

This group of selected singers performs a wide repertoire from sacred and secular literature. Basic music, singing, and choral skills are studied. The NMH Singers perform at various school concerts and off-campus presentations, and often take small performing tours during school vacations. Participation in Concert Choir is required of those in the NMH Singers.

MUS 814 NMH World Music Combo

Half credit for yearlong participation. Prerequisite: Audition.

The World Music Combo is a diverse group of advanced student musicians who already understand song-form structure and have learned basic jazz improvisational skills. Reflecting the multiple cultures of our NMH student body, musical styles include jazz standards, Latin, African, Chinese, Indian, classical, fusion, rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and others. The group performs at all-school events, concerts, campus meetings, open houses, and off-campus events. Occasionally, members of the Combo are also required to perform as a part of the Jazz Ensemble, Concert Band, or Symphony Orchestra.

Non-Auditioned Music Groups

Jazz Ensemble

Open to all interested wind, brass, and percussion players and vocalists, this group rehearses and performs literature from a wide variety of jazz, swing, and contemporary styles.

Symphony Orchestra

The orchestra performs at most major musical programs, sometimes in conjunction with the choirs. Its repertoire is chosen from standard orchestral literature.

Concert Choir

A mixed choir open to all students; no experience necessary. Sings a wide variety of literature: folk, classical, and multicultural. Instruction in singing technique and reading music.

Concert Band

Open to any wind, brass, or percussion player. Performs standard concert band repertoire and literature from the big-band era.

NMH Strings

This class is for string players interested in playing introductory orchestral music. The group will focus on rudimentary techniques and ensemble playing for the beginning through intermediate player. Open to all beginning violin, viola, cello, and string bass players. This course meets two 45-minute periods per week.

Chamber Music Seminar

An opportunity for intermediate and advanced students to rehearse, be coached, and perform chamber music from a wide repertoire geared to their own levels. For intermediate and advanced instrumentalists.

Beginning Guitar Workshop

A user-friendly, hands-on workshop in the essentials of guitar playing while learning a song each afternoon. Basic chords, strumming patterns, and tablature will be given. Folk, rock, pop, and jazz styles will be included.

Guitar Workshop II

For students who have had the Beginning Guitar Workshop or have studied before but are a bit rusty. Knowledge of strumming techniques and basic chords is assumed. We will advance the students to intermediate level so they can continue to progress on their own or move into private lessons. This course meets two 45-minute periods per week.

African and Afro-Caribbean Hand Drumming

Students in this course will learn to play drums and other hand percussion in various styles originating from West Africa. Our primary focus will be learning to play the rhythms, but we will also discuss cultural and artistic contexts for the music. We will learn rhythms from West Africa, Cuba, and Brazil as time allows. Drums, bells, shakers, and sticks will be provided, however, students who have any of these instruments are encouraged to add them to the ensemble. This course meets two 45-minute periods per week.

Introduction to Music Theory

An introduction to the skills of basic musicianship: reading and writing rhythmic and melodic notation in treble and bass clefs, and understanding major and minor scales and intervals. Computer assisted. Recommended as the prerequisite for AP Theory and Harmony. This course meets two 45-minute periods per week.