Curriculum Overview:

Band

Over 1400 students participate in our award-winning fourth through twelfth grade program. In each grade, the band performs a minimum of two concerts a year. Students in grades six through twelve may audition to participate in our jazz programs (saxophone, trumpet, trombone, drum-set, bass & piano) and all high school students may participate in marching band. Each year there is an all NA band festival, “ExtravaBandza”, where students play in honors ensembles.

Elementary School - Beginning Band lessons and ensembles are only offered in grades four and five, scheduled weekly, as pull-out classes. Instruments offered include: flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, horn, trombone, baritone and percussion.

Middle School - Students who enroll in middle school band have prior experience on their band instrument. The class is a co-curricular performance class with students grouped according to grade level and instrument choice, in a graded, scheduled class which meets every other day. In the small group setting, students focus on many concepts, skills and information learned in elementary band, with an emphasis is placed on proper breath support, embouchure development, tone quality, aural skills, intonation, instrument technique, music reading, listening skills, ensemble playing and teamwork. Within this curriculum, students can expect to perform a varied repertoire of music. Students will also learn appropriate rehearsal and concert etiquette.

High School - Students may enroll in elective courses such as Jazz Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble and Honors Wind Ensemble. Some of these courses are selected by audition. Students may also participate in the co-curricular NA Tiger Marching Band.

Choir

The choral program is offered to students in grades four through twelve. Over 3000 students participate in our award-winning fourth through twelfth grade program. In each grade, choirs perform a minimum of two concerts a year. Students in grades ten to twelve can audition to participate in our chamber chorus programs. Each year there is an all NA choral festival, “NA Choral Fest”, where students sing in honors ensembles.

Elementary School - In elementary school, large choral ensembles are offered as a weekly pull-out class.

Middle School - Students who enroll in middle school choir continue with a natural progression from the elementary choral program. It is a graded, scheduled class which meets every other day. The goal of middle school vocal music is to support and develop the adolescent changing voice by performing literature that is vocally age-appropriate. Students in the middle school choral program will sing a diverse repertoire that teaches them about the development of choral music. The courses include instruction in healthy vocal technique, proper tone production, and comprehensive musicianship. Within each grade level, there is an emphasis on independent musicianship including skill development, reading music, and part-singing depending on the grade and level of ensemble.

High School - Students may enroll in elective courses such as Chorus, Choral Ensemble, Concert Choir and Honors Chamber Choir. All of these classes are selected by audition only.

General Music

The general music program is offered to all students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. General Music is the study of music performance, history, theory, technology, and appreciation of the arts across various cultures approached by the study of guided listening, moving to music and analyzing music examples.

Elementary School - All students from kindergarten through fifth grade are scheduled to attend these classes one to two times each week.

Middle School - General Music students study and create music by improvising, composing, and arranging music for voices, instruments, computers and electro-acoustical instruments. It is a graded, scheduled class which meets every other day. General Music includes instruction in African Drumming, Guitar Playing, Keyboard Playing, Music History, Music Theory and Composition.

High School - students may enroll in elective courses such as Music Theory, Electronic and Advanced Electronic Music, Song Writing, Honors Music Theory and Advanced Placement. Along with the theory-based music electives, North Allegheny offers a Multimedia Arts course where students design and create original media-rich websites and computer interactive multimedia presentations.

Adapted Music – Students who enroll in middle school Adapted Music are learners in the Life Skills or Autistic Support Classroom. Class activities may include reading, writing and performing music using the voice, pitched/non-pitched percussion, sometimes using visual association of instruments and musical symbols. Students may use locomotor and non-locomotor movement, including dance sequencing in moving to music, often to a steady beat.

Orchestra

Over 1700 students participate in our award-winning third through twelfth grade program. In each grade, the orchestra performs a minimum of two concerts a year. Students in grades nine through twelve can audition to perform in our chamber orchestra programs. Players in grades six through twelve may participate in the North Allegheny Fiddlers. High School students participate in the Golden Strolling Strings. Each year there is a “Beginner String Festival,” including third grade orchestra students, middle school orchestra students and Golden Strolling Strings.

Elementary School - Beginning Orchestra lessons and ensembles are offered in grades three through five, scheduled weekly, as pull-out classes. Instruments offered include violin, viola, cello & bass.

Middle School - Students who enroll in middle school orchestra have prior experience on their string instrument. The class is a co-curricular performance class with students grouped according to grade level, in a graded, scheduled class which meets every other day. Students focus on many concepts, skills and information learned in elementary orchestra, with an emphasis placed on proper hand position, bowing styles, tone quality, aural skills, intonation, instrument technique, music reading, listening skills, ensemble playing and teamwork. Within this curriculum, students can expect to perform a varied repertoire of music. Students will also learn appropriate rehearsal and concert etiquette.

High School - Students may enroll in full-year elective courses such as String Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, and Honors Chamber Orchestra. Some of these courses are selected by audition. Students also participate in the co-curricular Golden Strolling Strings.

Band, Choir, and Orchestra

Many North Allegheny students perform in PMEA Honors, District, Regional, and All-State Festivals. There have been students who also perform in the NAfME (National Association for Music Education) All-East festival. North Allegheny honors ensembles for band, choir, and orchestra are in the curriculum for grades 11-12. Each high school ensemble has an audition procedure for placement that each student must participate in yearly.

List of Secondary Music Courses