The Dalton Orchestra is open to string players. Drawing upon the core classical repertoire for strings, we perform a diverse repertoire representing many styles and eras. Special attention is paid to the development of historically informed playing styles for music of the Baroque, Classic, Romantic, and Contemporary eras. Recent performances have included works by Bach, Haydn, Sibelius, Telemann, Bizet, and contemporary works by guest composers.

The orchestra performs several concerts, assemblies and special events each year. Prominent guest artists and Dalton instrumental specialists offer coaching and sectional rehearsals. Prospective orchestra students should contact the instructor for a placement interview to assess proficiency playing several major scales, a short sight reading selection, and a short solo of their choice.

Full Year Course, 0.50 credits    

The Dalton Orchestra is open to string players by consultation with the instructor. Drawing upon the core classical repertoire for strings, students strive to perform a diverse repertoire representing many styles and eras. Special attention is paid to the development of historically appropriate playing styles for music of the baroque, classic, romantic, and contemporary eras.  Recent performances have included works by Bach, Haydn, Sibelius, Telemann, Bizet, and contemporary works by guest composers.

Percussion Ensemble is a course designed to allow students exploration of a full-range of percussive techniques, traditions and repertoire. Programming will draw on music from Africa, Asia, the Americas and Caribbean, Europe, popular music, classical music, and improvisation, with a particular focus on student-initiated projects. Students will explore historical and cultural context of music that is studied, and are encouraged to approach music as an object of academic study and appreciation alongside performance. Students will continue in their development of important musical skills, including: fluency in notation reading; deeper senses of rhythmic, pitch, and tone production; unique applications of creativity; and communication through ensemble playing. The Percussion Ensemble will perform twice a year and combine with other HS ensembles throughout the year.

Full Year Course, 0.5 credits

This course examines standard jazz repertoire as a source to inspire students to compose and perform their own compositions for instrumentalists in the group. Basic jazz theory, music notation, instrument ranges and transpositions, and score and part preparation will be addressed as part of the composition process. Students will also learn how to rehearse their pieces in preparation for a performance. Activities include ensemble playing, improvisation, and presenting performances.

 

Full Year Course, 0.50 credits

Requires Preapproval 

This group will explore and perform music in the Afro- Latin and Brazilian jazz tradition. We will explore the son clave and Brazilian rhythms as they relate to repertoire. Social and cultural influences affecting performance practice will also be covered. Activities include ensemble playing, improvisation, and presenting performances.

 

Full Year Course, 0.50 credits

Requires Preapproval

This group will explore and perform music in the Afro- Latin and Brazilian jazz tradition.  Students will explore the son clave and Brazilian rhythms as they relate to repertoire. Social and cultural influences affecting performance practice will also be covered. Activities include ensemble playing, improvisation, and presenting performances.

Exploring and performing a wide variety of styles, from bebop and beyond. This may include modal, post- bop, jazz- rock, and free jazz periods. Reimagining past and/or present music by living composers will also be within the scope of prepared music. Activities include ensemble playing, improvisation, and presenting performances.

 

Full Year Course, 0.50 credits

Requires Preapproval

Prerequisite: experience on a wind instrument
Full Year Course, 0.50 credits

A thorough survey of the foundations of musical language ("music theory") that will aid students in arranging, composing, performing, analyzing and listening to music. This class will cover clefs and note reading, intervals, chords, harmony, keys, and key relationships. Students will learn to harmonize a melody using basic voice leading rules, and learn to describe harmonies and musical language using appropriate terminology. Students will regularly complete short composition and part-writing assignments as well as brief written analyses.  Special projects will illustrate these topics using examples from existing musical literature. In addition, the Western classical tradition, jazz, and world music will be contextualized through special units with guest presenters. 

Spring Semester Course, 0.25 credits

Independent studies are opportunities for 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students to pursue ideas and passions not covered by current course work.  

Students must complete this form to apply for preapproval.

Requires Preapproval
Graded Pass/Fail
Fall or Spring Semester Course, 0.25 credits

The Dalton Chorus gives students the opportunity to develop a passion for music through the craft of singing, musicianship and performance skills. Students cultivate and stretch their abilities and knowledge in every area of the curriculum-including vocal technique, music reading, part singing, improvisation, aesthetics, expression and ensemble skills. Varied repertoire, including classical, world music, jazz, Broadway and pop, is performed throughout the year.

Prerequisite: None
Fall or Spring Semester Course, 0.25 credits
Full Year Course, 0.5 credits

Jazz and Contemporary Music Performance is a course for students playing saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, guitar, bass, and drums (other instruments upon approval). A wide variety of styles will be explored and performed, from Charlie Parker and Ornette Coleman to current progressive jazz and American music artists, jazz standards to Oliva Rodrigo. This may include modal, post-bop, jazz-rock, pop, electronic, and free jazz periods. Reimagining past and/or present music by living composers will also be within the scope of prepared music. Activities include ensemble playing, jazz theory and improvisation, and presenting performances. Students enrolled in this course will be placed in one of multiple sections based on instrumentation needs.

This  course examines standard jazz repertoire as a source to inspire students to compose and perform their own compositions for instrumentalists in the group. Basic jazz theory, music notation, instrument ranges and transpositions, and score and part preparation will be addressed as part of the composition process. Students will also learn how to rehearse their pieces in preparation for a performance. Activities include ensemble playing, improvisation, and presenting performances.

 

Full Year Course, 0.50 credits

Requires Preapproval

The Music Capstone is an opportunity for seniors who have shown a dedication to musical study and who wish to develop a unique project that reflects their interests as musician-scholars. The Capstone is designed to be flexible to allow various entry points from musical fields including performance, composition, history, theory, ethnomusicology, popular music, education, cultural studies, sound studies and technology/ production, as well as interdisciplinary projects that significantly overlap with musical practices. Throughout the term, students will attend seminars to discuss representative research in musical fields as well as have significant time to work on and present their own research. Students will develop a two-part project over the course of the Fall term with connected Creative and Research components, culminating in a public presentation of their work.

Fall Semester, 0.50 credits
Prerequisites: Seniors only, requires Departmental Approval via application process

Requires Preapproval

The goal of Composition Workshop is to unlock each composer’s musical imagination. Students explore the architecture of music and develop a transferable music vocabulary through experiential activities. Multiple tools are utilized—from pencil and paper to midi-keyboard, sequencers, and music writing programs—alongside multi-media elements where possible. Free/low-cost tools, inclusive software, and/or accessible instruments are emphasized.
 
Historical and cultural context (including non-traditional and/or non-western viewpoints) and the elements of music (rhythm, melody, form, texture, harmony, dynamics and articulation) are explored and developed through a mixture of individual and collaborative projects. Clarity of expression is emphasized, and various forms of musical literacy are explored.
 
Students should be prepared to share work in a “workshop” setting, and to give and accept input from peers. Process, rather than product, is emphasized. Whether you are, or aspire to be, a songwriter, beatmaker, poet or symphonic composer, Composition Workshop is an opportunity to stretch boundaries, expand skill sets and develop a relationship to your muse.

Prerequisite:  None

The goal of Composition Workshop is to unlock each composer’s musical imagination. Students explore the architecture of music and develop a transferable music vocabulary through experiential activities. Multiple tools are utilized—from pencil and paper to midi-keyboard, sequencers, and music writing programs—alongside multi-media elements where possible. Free/low-cost tools, inclusive software, and/or accessible instruments are emphasized.
 
Historical and cultural context (including non-traditional and/or non-western viewpoints) and the elements of music (rhythm, melody, form, texture, harmony, dynamics and articulation) are explored and developed through a mixture of individual and collaborative projects. Clarity of expression is emphasized, and various forms of musical literacy are explored.
 
Students should be prepared to share work in a “workshop” setting, and to give and accept input from peers. Process, rather than product, is emphasized. Whether you are, or aspire to be, a songwriter, beatmaker, poet or symphonic composer, Composition Workshop is an opportunity to stretch boundaries, expand skill sets and develop a relationship to your muse.

Prerequisite:  None
Fall Semester Course, 0.25 credits

This class provides students a space to explore a broad range of music-making in small unconducted groups. Students of any instrument/voice and skill will be placed in groups to learn, rehearse, and discuss music along with regular coaching by a music department faculty member. Pre-formed small groups can sign up together by speaking to a department chair prior to registration, or students can register independently. Student interest and experience will dictate the repertoire from a variety of styles including classical, pop, rock, R&B/hip-hop, singer/songwriters, and other genres. Students are encouraged to participate in public performance opportunities throughout the year.

Prerequisite: None (students wanting to work together need preapproval)
Fall/Spring semester course, 0.25 credits, can enroll multiple times

An introduction to music technology software and hardware, focused on seminars and workshops addressing basic acoustics, digital audio, MIDI, and MIDI sequencing and notation software. Lab activities will place an emphasis on the operation and components of the typical MIDI and digital audio lab (hardware and software). Students will produce projects in areas such as digital audio, music notation, and MIDI sequencing.

Spring Semester Course, 0.25 credits

This course is a thorough survey of the foundations of musical language ("music theory") that will aid students in arranging, composing, performing, analyzing and listening to music. This class will cover clefs and note reading, intervals, chords, harmony, keys, and key relationships. Students will learn to harmonize a melody using basic voice leading rules, and learn to describe harmonies and musical language using appropriate terminology. Students will regularly complete short composition and part-writing assignments as well as brief written analyses.  Special projects will illustrate these topics using examples from existing musical literature. In addition, the Western classical tradition, jazz, and world music will be contextualized through special units with guest presenters. 

A thorough survey of the foundations of musical language ("music theory") that will aid students in arranging, composing, performing, analyzing and listening to music. This class will cover clefs and note reading, intervals, chords, harmony, keys, and key relationships. Students will learn to harmonize a melody using basic voice leading rules, and learn to describe harmonies and musical language using appropriate terminology. Students will regularly complete short composition and part-writing assignments as well as brief written analyses.  Special projects will illustrate these topics using examples from existing musical literature. In addition, the Western classical tradition, jazz, and world music will be contextualized through special units with guest presenters. 

Semester Course, 0.25 credits, two meetings per week

Percussion Workshop is a course designed to allow students exploration of a full-range of percussive techniques, traditions and repertoire. Programming will draw on music from Africa, Asia, the Americas and Caribbean, Europe, popular music, classical music, and improvisation, with a particular focus on student-initiated projects and collaborative compositions and arrangements. Students will explore the historical and cultural context of music that is studied, and are encouraged to approach music as an object of academic study and appreciation alongside performance. Students will continue in their development of musical skills, including: fluency in reading notation; deeper sense of rhythmic, pitch, and tone production; unique applications of creativity; and communication through ensemble playing. The Percussion Workshop will perform and combine with other HS ensembles throughout the year.

Fall or Spring Semester Course, 0.25 credits

Full Year Course, 0.5 credits

The history of popular music is a rich site for musical, cultural, and critical analysis and discussion. Pop music is a collaborative form that is easily accessible, omnipresent in contemporary culture, and reflects changing societal tastes and technologies. This class will serve as a survey introduction into a historical study of pop music while also responding to current events in the pop music landscape.

Materials will be drawn from recordings, books, articles, liner notes, podcasts, various reporting formats, and music videos based on student interests and current events. Students will be strongly encouraged to make connections with other areas of study and approach their work in an interdisciplinary mode. As a culminating project, students will generate a researched and annotated playlist to draw connections among songs, artists, styles, geographies and topics. 

Spring Semester, 0.25 credits