Music

Experience Required: NONE!

This year-long course is open to any current 6th, 7th, or 8th grade student who wants to learn how to play a brass, woodwind, or percussion instrument.  No prior experience playing an instrument or reading music required. Over the course of the school year, students will learn how to assemble, clean, and maintain their instruments, how to read basic music notation, and how to make a characteristic sound on their instrument.  Students will perform in four concerts throughout the school year, as well as during school wide assemblies and other events. 

Experience required: one year of school band (5th grade) and basic note-reading skills

Our 6th grade band is geared towards students who have at least some experience playing an instrument prior to the 6th grade. Students will cover the same concepts of learning how to read and understand music notation (rhythms, pitches, vocabulary, etc.), making a characteristic sound on their instrument, and performing in four separate concerts. Our 6th grade band is a year-long course, offering free instruction on all the major brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. School instruments are available, but some students may need to provide an instrument.

Students may select from any of the following instruments to learn (depending on availability at NMS and/or local music stores):

• Woodwind: Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Bari Saxophone
• Brass: Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Baritone/Euphonium, Tuba
• Percussion: students will need a snare drum/bell kit for home practice as well as a stick bag with timpani/snare drum/xylophone mallets, but will perform on percussion instruments from Komachin while at school.

Experience required: none!

Orchestra is for students who wish to learn to play string instruments. In this year-long class, students will explore a myriad of skills needed in Orchestra including: beginning elements of reading music, caring and maintaining your instrument and proper playing and practice technique. Students are required to have an instrument which can typically be rented from a music store or the school and should be willing to commit to daily practice. Participation in concerts is required and is part of the students’ grade in the course.

Experience required: one year of school orchestra (5th grade) and basic note-reading skills

6th Grade Orchestra is a year-long class where Orchestra students will expand their string skills including – tuning themselves, shifting, beginning vibrato, and new bowing styles. Students are required to have an instrument which can typically be rented from a music store or the school and should be willing to commit to daily practice. Participation in concerts is required and is part of the students’ grade in the course.

Students may select any of the following instruments to learn, (depending on availability at NMS and/or local music stores):

• Violin
• Viola
• Cello
• String bass