Courses in music theory and ear training are a mandatory part of every student’s study and complement private instruction. Regular attendance is required.
Elementary Theory provides students with a fundamental background in the development of coordination and rhythmic awareness, listening awareness, responses to pitch, dynamics and tempo, and emphasizes basic reading skills.
This level involves study of scales, intervals, chords, melody harmonization, and form with appropriate analysis and creative work. The ear training levels stress the singing, aural recognition, and writing of all elements studied in the theory classes. The materials used are selected from music literature appropriate to the age level and degree of advancement of the students.
This level is a comprehensive study of the elements of music from rudiments through chromatic harmony. Areas covered include melody, harmony, part writing, form and analysis, counterpoint, orchestration, and some elementary compositional techniques. Corresponding ear training courses cover rhythmic solfège, melodic sight singing, rhythm and movement, diatonic-modal improvisation, harmonic perception, contemporary sight singing, dictation, and advanced choral literature survey.
This course covers jazz theory on a basic level, and it is designed to help students develop the necessary theoretical foundations in order to be able to improvise, arrange, and compose.
The Jazz Theory II curriculum involves a study of topics such as chord function, extension and alteration, common chord progressions, scales, key relationships, superimposition, form, modulation, re-harmonization, rhythmic permutation, voice leading, counterpoint, composition, arranging and ear training. Traditional or classical harmonic principles and their relevance in jazz settings will also be studied.
Jazz Theory III focuses on the practical application of theory to the students' writing and playing. Subjects covered in Jazz Theory I and II will be reviewed and utilized as a basis for compositional techniques.
This course will include guided instruction in jazz arranging and composition using the tools and techniques learned in Jazz Theory I, II, and III. Laboratory groups will include members of the class as well as school ensembles.
This class will cover, with an emphasis on fluency, intervallic dictation and singing, rhythmic dictation and tapping, simple harmonic dictation to the 7th degree, simple sight-singing, and simple melodic dictation, as well as an introduction to the art of transcription of jazz solos.
This class will cover, with an emphasis on fluency, melodic dictation, sight singing, harmonic dictation to the 9th degree, and harmonic singing (arpeggios of common chord progressions to the 9th degree in jazz standards), as well as a continuation of the art of transcription of jazz solos.
This course provides a yearlong overview of the history of jazz music, including its major innovators, trends, and musical examples. Students will learn about artists and their work and will acquire critical listening skills.
This course is a continuation of Jazz History/Styles/Analysis 1 and serves to broaden the base already provided by using more in-depth listening, research, and comparative analyses of works.
Electives are offered in a variety of subjects. With the exception of chamber ensembles, all classes must have a minimum of five students.
See Tuition and fees page for details >
A class primarily for voice majors of high school age but open to all students who wish to learn more about stage presence, acting, and audition techniques. Audition required for non-vocal majors.
Brass Ensemble offers Precollege brass students an opportunity to be challenged both technically and musically while focusing on improving each player’s ensemble skills. Using repertoire ranging from the Renaissance through Contemporary periods, the class focuses on developing a group sound while refining intonation, blend and balance. Recent performances have included works by Bach, Cheetham, Ewald, Ewazen, Gabrieli, Hindemith, Holst, Ives, Koetsier, Mozart, and Purcell among many others.
Clarinet Ensemble explores the rich variety of repertoire available to clarinets, including arrangements from the standard repertoire and pieces written expressly for clarinet ensemble. The group will perform several times throughout the year. Students are offered the opportunity to switch parts, affording them the experience of playing solos as well as inner voices.
Students interested in composition are placed in small groups according to their levels, which range from beginning to advanced. Students receive individual attention and develop techniques and skills for writing for small ensembles and orchestra. Exploration of style, both traditional and experimental, is encouraged.
A class in which students learn the fundamentals of orchestral conducting techniques and score reading. Two levels, beginning and intermediate, are offered.
The objective of this course is to provide students with a basic understanding of 20th century music, specifically, music that is based on systems other than traditional major-minor tonality. Students will engage the music through various activities aimed at offering different views of the pieces being studied. Activities will include listening, playing, sight-singing, composition exercises and basic post-tonal analysis. Students must have completed or passed out of JR/HS Theory I and JR/HS Ear Training A.
Introduction to film scoring provides the student with an overview of the fundamentals he /she needs to acquire in order to function in this medium. Film scoring is a highly specialized, creative, knowledgeable and unique form of composition. The film composer must combine traditional and contemporary training as well as have a wide understanding of the technical, historic and creative aspect of marriage between picture and sound, some understanding of the film making process and considerable compositional skills. The class will cover a wide variety of topics with strong emphasis on student projects & participation.
Flute Ensemble is open to all MSM Precollege flutists as well as woodwind doublers wishing to improve their skills as a flutist and ensemble player. This ensemble provides students with a broad performance experience of repertoire written for flute ensemble - from trios to larger flute ensemble pieces, and pieces for multiple flutes with piano, and on occasion with solo vocalists. Each semester the Flute Ensemble performs on a Performance Showcase and also presents a formal concert towards the conclusion of each semester. Repertoire is selected from the Baroque Period to the 20th Century, which provides members of the Flute Ensemble with a valuable ensemble experience and knowledge of available flute ensemble music.
Guitar Ensemble is a class in which guitar majors explore the growing repertoire for multiple guitars. Works examined and performed are written by prominent contemporary composers for the growing number of professional ensembles around the world. There is also a sizeable number of transcriptions of works by the great masters, such as J. S. Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, and Franz Josef Haydn. Rehearsal skills are stressed, sight-reading is enhanced, and the sense of belonging to a musical community is a goal of the class. All Guitar Ensemble students must be currently enrolled in a primary or secondary guitar lesson with a Precollege Faculty member.
Harp Ensemble is designed to introduce each student to the range of professional harp literature. The class is a combination of harp ensemble and study of music drawn from the orchestral, choral, opera and ballet repertoire. Each semester, students will become familiar with a large number of pieces through listening and preparation of excerpts.
Harp Workshop is step-by-step introduction to the harp offered in a group setting, covering basic to intermediate harp technique and repertoire. While the class is open to all instruments and levels, a background in piano is helpful (but not required).
In this course, students explore the origins, development, and performance of jazz piano music in the United States. We move chronologically from the late 19th century to the end of the 20th century. Emphasis is on piano music but not to the exclusion of other genres. The origins of various styles - including the blues, ragtime, stride and boogie woogie - are examined along with other sundry styles such as swing, bebop, cool jazz, hard bop, and fusion to name a few. Some jazz jargon and theoretical terms are explained, such as the "bridge," "head," and "changes." The study of this subject is enhanced by an extensive array of recordings as well as special guests.
Jazz Improvisation for Non-Majors is a course designed to provide the classical major with fundamental concepts needed to compose spontaneously. Blues and basic jazz forms are covered through performance and recordings. Exploration of jazz rhythm is central to the class.
This course is an introduction to common jazz keyboard techniques, chord symbols, and chord voicings. The focus is on current jazz performance practice.
In this course, pianists are introduced to the principles of score-reading of both chamber music and full orchestral scores. Skills such as transposition, figured bass, and multiple clefs are emphasized. Pianists also gain an understanding of German lieder through reading and transposing these works at sight. Advanced theory skills are applied to the keyboard, particularly with regard to the practice of building chords over a figured bass-line. Aside from building necessary skills for pianists, the curriculum may aid students in testing out of some or all of the college requirements
Musical Theater focuses on contemporary Broadway literature through a combination of applied voice, acting, and movement technique. The first semester is devoted to developing the skills necessary to perform this exciting and ever evolving genre, while the second semester is spent working on a performance project selected to utilize the gifts of the ensemble. Audition required.
The Opera Workshop is designed for high school students who are interested in musical theater or opera performance. The class works on performance and auditon techniques and presents a public performance at the end of the spring semester. Auditions are required.
A class in elementary to intermediate piano for non-piano majors. Students having some or no prior training may register.
A survey of the literature written for piano from Bach to the present with emphasis on the performing legacy left by the great pianists of the past such as Horowitz, Michelangeli, Hess, and Lipatti. History of works will be presented, and in addition to listening to recordings, student will be invited and encouraged to perform the works being studied.
Saxophone Ensemble is a workshop which includes highly motivated saxophonists (majoring in classical or jazz) who are encouraged to write and perform their own transcriptions, arrangements, and original compositions. Assigned repertoire consists primarily of classical and contemporary selections, chosen to facilitate a thoughtful chamber music experience. The ensemble (usually a quartet) performs one concert per semester, and is responsible for determining the concert order and providing program notes. Students, performing without a conductor, learn to take responsibility for elements of tone quality, intonation, dynamics, phrasing, style, and stage presentation. Discussions include saxophone history, performance practice, and how to prepare for a career in music as a saxophonist.
A class for high school pianists who are interested in learning skills that are necessary in order to be a successful accompanist. Students will cover repertoire including art songs, Broadway selections, concert and operatic arias, choral music, and popular music. Skills covered in the class include sight-reading techniques, preparation of the score, improvisation, transposition, matters of style, and ensemble issues specific to singers. Students will have the opportunity to accompany professional singers as well as students.
Woodwind Ensemble is open to all Precollege instrumentalists studying flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and French horn. The Woodwind Ensemble was created to give students an additional opportunity to experience playing in a woodwind section in addition to their orchestral experience. Repertoire has included Dvorak’s Serenade for Winds, Cello and Bass, wind serenades by Mozart and Beethoven, music for double woodwind quintet and various mixed woodwind ensemble repertoire. Past semesters have also included themed concerts such as a focus on operatic transcriptions for woodwind ensemble and 20th-century repertoire. The Woodwind Ensemble presents several performances each semester.
Brass, woodwind, percussion, flute, guitar, saxophone, double bass, and harp ensembles explore the various literature. (See above under the Electives heading for descriptions of these classes.)
Chamber ensembles are an elective and placement is by the Precollege Administration. Pianists are required to audition for chamber music. Because of the difficulties in matching students by level and requests, there is no guarantee that all students will be placed in a chamber ensemble each semester. Pianists are permitted to take a chamber ensemble elective as the large performance ensemble in their basic tuition. Students wishing to be considered for chamber music must complete the Chamber Music Request Form by May 1st of every year.
The Precollege Division stresses performance and thus offers several opportunities in the form of recitals, showcases and concerts. Students are not required to attend each week, but they are always invited to listen.
Performers showcase gives students the opportunity for individual and group performances. Performers Showcase takes place approximately once a month, and is open to the public. To sign up for a showcase, students will need to submit an agreement form to the Precollege office. Forms are accepted three weeks before each scheduled showcase. Forms will not be accepted before this three-week window. Spots are available on a first come, first serve basis.
Click here to download a Performers Showcase Agreement Form >
PERFORMERS SHOWCASE APPLICATION DEADLINES (2011-12)
PERFORMANCE DATE
ACCEPT DATE
ACCEPT TIME
12/17/2011
11/19/2011
8:30 am
1/28/2012
1/7/2012
Studio recitals are an opportunity for students to perform with other members of their teacher's studio. Non-graduating student recitals and studio recital requests are submitted by the teacher.
A graduating senior is permitted, but not required, to schedule and perform an entire 40-minute graduation recital. Graduating students must schedule their own senior recital by submitting a Senior Recital Application.
Get information on scheduling and submit a program for a senior recital >
Precollege students are required to attend one approved Precollege concert per semester in order to fulfill the Precollege concert attendance requirement. Concert attendance credit will be given only for concerts attended during the semester for which the grade is given. Concert attendance credit may not be made up in subsequent semesters. The Precollege encourages students to attend more than the minimum requirement each year.
Juries will occur once a year at the end of each spring semester. Juries occur to ensure that a student's progress merits continuation in his or her program of study. Jury scores are also a determining factor in evaluating eligibility for scholarship for the following year.
A student who is absent from his or her jury must make up the jury before the end of the spring semester. The only excused absences for juries are illness and family emergencies. Those who do not make up their juries or fail their jury will not be allowed to return to the Precollege Division the following year.
Students are officially excused from juries if:
Download the Precollege Division Jury Requirements >