Dear Aubrey,

 

I teach in a small community college music department, where we teach the first two years of a music major, including the entire traditional theory sequence, music literature, music appreciation, piano, handbell ensemble, two or three choral groups (depends on the semester) brass ensemble, wood winds, voice and an early music group.....

 

I teach (and have taught) the following:

 

All the theory, music apprec. (online and traditional) piano, voice, women's choir, handbell ensemble, early music, music literature, and conducting....I'm not sure if that's all or not! I think the smaller the enterprise, the more you need to be able to do....and will learn to do. I also run a large church music program, so I use my students there as well. I see it as a challenge, and for the most part, a lot of fun. You are lucky to have the opportunity to engage in so many musical activities with your students. That just broadens the number of students you wil reach!

 I teach in a private independent school where the 9-12 enrollment is 375-400.  Our school is actually JK-12, but I meet only with grades 6-12.  In the Upper School, my load is as follows:

 

Upper School Chorus  --  45-voice mixed chorus, non-audition, meets 4 days per week.

Men's A Cappella  --  15-voice doo-wop/barbershop/pop ensemble, meets 2 days per week.

Women's Chorale  --  10-voice intermediate girls' variety group, meets 2 days per week.

Chamber Singers  --  16-voice auditioned madrigal/vocal jazz/pop ensemble, meets 2 days per week.

Student-Faculty Chorale  --  Upper School Chorus + 12-20 faculty members, meets 1 day per week (90 minutes), 2nd semester only.  Performs extended works (masses,

     magnificats, cantatas, etc.).

Music Theory  --  Small seminar class (usually 3-5 students).  Not aimed at the AP test, but a more practical, real-world approach.  Topics include counterpoint, voice-

     leading, harmonic analysis, functional harmony, tertian extensions and alterations, all directed toward composing and arranging.

 

In addition, I conduct three middle school choruses (grades 6-8), and a music appreciation/experiential/materials of music class for 8th graders.

 

The Fine Arts Department has proposed a midi/technology/composition class to address the need for an advanced music class that is not performance-based.

 

We have a band program, but space and staffing issues currently prevent us from having a strings program.

 

Because academics are very intense here, students frequently are unable to fit music into their schedules.  Continuity and growth are affected, as you might imagine.  Just the same, we tackle worthwhile music of all kinds, and mount a large international performance tour every four years.

 

A modified block schedule with an 8-day rotation was introduced two years ago.  So far, my program has suffered  --  scheduling for electives is now even more difficult.  As a result, my numbers are down 20%, and students taking private instruction fell from 45 to 14 in one year (although the studio is growing again, with about 30 students).   

 

I hope this information is helpful.

 

 

Peace,

Jim Lunsford

 

 

James Lunsford

Director of Choirs

The Latin School of Chicago

jlunsford(a)latinschool.org 

I teach at a catholic high school and as the choral teacher, have 2 choirs (mixed and womens) and 2 classes of Music Appreciation (for Regents requirement) plus a Select Choir after school and the additional responsibility of music director for our yearly spring musical.  My goal is add some type of Music Theory/Sight singing/Voice class specifically for singers.  We additionally have a band program where the band teacher has intermediate band, advanced band, jazz theory, instrumental instruction and 2 after school groups (jazz band and small combo band).  We also have a part-time strings instructor.  How great it would be to just concentrate on choral groups, but not unusual.

Hope this is informative and helpful?

I am the Fine Arts department chair and Upper School music specialist in a Pre-K thru 12 private school.  We average about 250 students in the Upper School and I teach 2 choir classes, a beginning theory class, AP Theory, music history/appreciation class, and several independent studies based on student interests and needs.  In addition I direct a musical each spring.  All of my classes meet 4 days a week (we have an 8 period day, rotating schedule) and students are required two fine arts credits for graduation.  I love teaching the variety of music classes as I have opportunity to work with performance based students as well as those who just want to know more about music.  I would suggest you check into the college board workshops for AP teachers as well as the TIME (music technology) organization.  They have workshops around the country to help incorporate new software, etc to help facilitate teaching theory and history.  Also, check out the following website: www.musictheory.net   My students love it!

Amy

Lexington, KY

I teach at an public urban high school with close to 1000 students 9-12. I teach 4 chorus classes (2 beg. classes, inter., and advanced) plus group piano and music appreciation. Our county requires 1 unit of fine arts, so music appreciation and beg. chorus are dump classes for those that need the credit.  I weed the kids out in beg. chorus and only advance the students with promise further in the program. I have about 80 students in the chorus program; I wish I had more, but I don't have the space in my tiny chorus room. My long term plan is to begin a music technology class, since the state has just begun approval of that curriculum.  We are on the year system, so we don't use block classes; each class is about 50 min. long and students take the classes for an entire year.  I enjoy the diversity in my schedule because I equally love teaching piano, chorus and appreciation. Here are some resources that I use in my classes:

 

www.emusictheory.com

www.essentialsofmusic.com

www.pbs.org

 

I hope this helps.