Music is powerful.
Music has the ability to forge relationships between unlikely people, to unify a group of diverse individuals behind the common goal of musical expression and artistry, to create a special bond between performers, conductor, and audience, and to allow the performer to express his or her own heart.
In our program, we teach students how to be thinkers, doers, dreamers, performers, and creators through music and engaged, hands-on learning. We develop scientists, scholars, and leaders who know how to create with the mind and the heart.
In the Lower School, we offer a co-curricular program in music. Students get to explore and make joyful noise together with singing and a variety of instruments through the year. They learn how to match pitch, identify and understand rhythms, improvise, compose, and listen to and evaluate musical performances.
In their first year of Middle School in the fifth grade, students rotate through all arts courses throughout the year and have the chance to experience each discipline, including band and orchestra. As they reach 7th and 8th grade, students may select electives by choice. In addition to band and orchestra, piano, guitar, and jazz band are options for 7th and 8th grade students.
In the Upper School, students can commit to joining the most advanced ensembles at Mount Pisgah, where they are led to a higher level of creative achievement in multiple performances throughout the year. Additionally, there are alternate electives available for students interested in other areas of music.
High-achieving students committed to the Mount Pisgah Music program may apply to join the Tri-M Music Honor Society.
Upper School COURSES OFFERED
| BAND |
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Upper School Band is a large ensemble that focuses on bringing the foundations of musical skills and knowledge together into comprehensive music education. Over four years, this class covers a comprehensive study of music history, group performance, music theory, and composition. |
| ORCHESTRA |
| Students in the MPCS String Orchestra build on their foundation of playing string instruments as they achieve a high level of mastery in reading, notating, and interpreting music. Over four years, this class includes the study of music history, group performance, music theory, and composition. |
| AP MUSIC THEORY (OFFERED EVERY OTHER YEAR) |
| This is a college-level class where students learn to read, write, arrange, and compose. The course will also include an intensive listening component for advanced ear training and sight singing development. |
| MUSIC TECHNOLOGY AND COMPOSITION |
| In this course, students will be introduced to the world of digital score writing. They will develop compositional techniques frequently used in writing music for film and video games. Throughout this course, students will use a variety of music-making software, including GarageBand, Chrome Music Lab, soundtrap, and more. |
| INTRODUCTION TO GUITAR |
| In Intro to Guitar, students learn basic techniques of playing the guitar and music theory. Beginning with simple songs, students will play solo and in groups and may learn songs of their own choosing. This class is designed to provide students with a way to experience music with or without prior musical knowledge. |
| INTRODUCTION TO PIANO |
| In Intro to Piano, students learn basic techniques of playing the piano and music theory. This class is designed to provide students with a way to experience music with or without prior musical knowledge. |