Music Curriculum

The Music Department at Haverford provides a wealth of experiences in active music making from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Students sing, dance, play percussion instruments, study guitar, use equipment on the cutting edge of music technology to orchestrate, arrange, compose music, and study the works of the master composers. They perform in orchestras, choirs, and select vocal and instrumental ensembles. As practicing musicians and music educators who are dedicated to bringing out the best in each boy, we strive to share our love of our art.

Our music program is rich and varied, offering opportunities for beginners and experts alike.

Through musical study, students learn the value of practice, repetition, memorization, and the ability to recognize patterns. They learn to attend for extended periods of time, and develop an inner discipline that has a tremendous impact on their classroom studies and social relationships.

In addition to our robust Lower and Middle School music offerings, Upper School boys may engage in the following courses:

Fundamentals of Music

This is a yearlong introductory level course focused on understanding, reading, writing, and creating music. It is intended for students who want to pursue their passion for music but need help building the fundamental aspects of musicianship such as listening, sight-singing, written/ compositional, and analytical skills. While the reading and writing of musical notation will be the first and primary focus, as the course progresses students will proceed to higher level musical tasks such as dictation (rhythmic, melodic and harmonic), keyboard harmony, and composition. Students will be expected to begin their mastery of rhythms in various meters, as well as note identification in multiple clefs in every key signature. Intervals, scales, triads, and seventh chords will be introduced both visually and aurally as well as popular song structures/ forms, allowing for both analysis and composition of songs. In order to reinforce these concepts, students will sing and play instruments such as guitar and keyboard. They will also use digital tools such as MIDI controllers, notation software (Dorico, Musescore), and digital audio workstations (Garage Band, Logic Pro, FL Studio). This course will function as a prerequisite for other higher-level music classes unless a firm grasp of the concepts and skills is demonstrated to the teacher.

MUSIC COMPOSITION SENIOR THESIS*

Form VI
Prerequisite
This yearlong course requires a synthesis of skills developed in all previous music courses. Students will identify an area of musical focus and develop a portfolio of work centered around that focus. Students may choose to work on composition or performance-based projects. Possible areas of focus could include film scoring, video game music composition, choral arranging, songwriting, conducting, etc. 

Music Production & Recording

Form VI, V, IV
This course is designed to help students compose and produce music. A brief study of some modern compositions will inform us, but the bulk of the course will be the art of writing and producing your own songs. Students will learn how to compose using digital and traditional methods, but in the end will have significant authority in deciding what kind of music they are interested in writing. Students will learn the art of writing a good melody, the art of writing effective harmonies, understanding the texture, layering of multiple parts in music, analyzing the components of compositions from various genres, the technological aspect of using digital software to compose music including both music production software such as Garage Band, Logic and music notation software such as Dorico and the art of lyric writing or being a librettist. They will also learn how to use MIDI and digital instruments to enhance their compositions and how to set up microphones to record voices and/or instruments, and how to produce a finished product.

Music Theory & History

Form VI, V, IV
Prerequisite

This yearlong honors level course will build upon the concepts students have mastered in the Fundamentals of Music Theory course and will include the study of major musical influences in music from around the world. Several aspects of musicianship will be deepened including aural, sight-singing, written/ compositional, and analytical skills. As the course progresses, we will proceed to higher-level musical tasks such as dictation (rhythmic, melodic and harmonic), keyboard harmony, and composition. These skills will be reinforced through a chronological study of music history, using stylistic trends to illustrate the theoretical concepts we are exploring. Beginning with the Middle Ages, we will observe the evolution of music through time up to the current hits that are popular today. We will analyze what it is that makes music affect us the way it does and learn how to manipulate sound the same way great musicians have throughout history.

ADVANCED ENSEMBLE: ROCK BAND

Prerequisite
A performance-based music course that explores the history and evolution of rock music while developing students’ instrumental, vocal, and collaborative skills. Students will study major artists, styles, and cultural movements in rock history and apply this knowledge through rehearsal and performance. Emphasis is placed on ensemble musicianship, listening, creativity, and professionalism.