Hello and thank you for visiting Carson Graham’s Music Program.
We’re delighted that you're here. If you are a prospective student, this is the space to find out everything you need to know about our music program. The Carson Graham Music Department is a big, diverse program, with many opportunities to get involved with an award-winning program. Within the music department, we give you the experience of an inclusive program where students are empowered to strive towards excellence. There is always a place for you to discover and reap the benefits or learning this language towards creating beautiful art. These classes open up the world through travel and connecting with like-minded people abroad.
Choral Music
CONCERT CHOIR & VOCAL JAZZ
The Concert Choirs and Vocal Jazz Choirs are performance-based courses designed to give students the opportunity to derive educational experiences from participating in a choral ensemble. Through performance in an ensemble, students shape and refine their ideas and integrate their knowledge and attitudes with their technical skills. Students develop musicianship, incorporating technical competence, music literacy and artistry. Through participation in the rehearsal and performance process, students can gain confidence, self-esteem, and a sense of commitment to a team, and the self discipline needed to succeed in all subject areas.
CONCERT CHOIR 8/9/10/11/12 (4 credits)
This course will cover a wide range of choral repertoire from traditional to contemporary literature. Students will learn proper singing technique, sight singing skills as well as music theory. No less than two concerts are part of this course. Uniform is mandatory. The supplemental fee allows the instructor to enhance and reinforce the regular curriculum through workshops with guest clinicians, as well as performances at festivals and concerts. This class takes place in addition to all required courses and takes place outside.
Course Fee $35
EQUAL VOICE CHOIR 8/9/10/11/12 (4 credits)
Equal Voice Choir is an auditioned advanced choral experience for students interested in developing their vocal abilities and increasing their knowledge of musical theory. Students will expand their repertoire to include many diverse and challenging works of music. Uniform is mandatory. This course is by audition only -do not self- select. Students should select Concert Choir on their course selection sheet and know they will automatically be moved into Equal Voice Choir if the audition is successful. Auditions and or consultation with the Music Director are held in May of the previous school year.
Course Fee $35
CHAMBER CHOIR 8/9/10/11/12 (4 credits)
Chamber Choir is an auditioned advanced choral experience for students interested in developing their vocal abilities and increasing their knowledge of musical theory. Students will expand their repertoire to include many diverse and challenging works of music. Uniform is mandatory. This course is by audition only -do not self- select. Students should select Concert Choir on their course selection sheet and know they will automatically be moved into Chamber Choir if the audition is successful. Auditions and or consultation with the Music Director are held in May of the previous school year.
Course Fee $35
VOCAL JAZZ 8/9/10/11/12 (4 credits)
This course is for students committed to the study of jazz and who wish to explore challenging repertoire within the vocal jazz idiom. The course will cover some jazz theory and history. Beginning improvisation and solos are part of this course. Students must be enrolled in Concert Choir to participate in Jazz Choir. Jazz Choir takes place outside of the timetable. Uniform is mandatory. The supplemental fee allows the instructor to enhance and reinforce the regular curriculum through workshops with guest clinicians, as well as performances at Festivals and concerts. Taken outside of the timetable in addition to the eight core Grade 8 courses.
Course Fee: $35
MUSIC COMPOSITION AND PRODUCTION 8/9/10/11/12 (4 credits)
This course is a requirement to take along side of Chamber Choir and Equal Voice Chamber Choir. Students will dive deeper developing their music theory skills to have a better understanding of the compositions that they currently are studying. It will also have an emphasis of the music production side where students will understand and learn the business side of creating a music concert. They will be working with members of the industry to explore the ins and outs of this field. Students will have a better understanding of what is available as a career in this industry.
Course Fee: $20
General Music
MUSIC 8 (Arts Rotation)
This is a music course that explores aspects of guitar performance, notation, composition, history, and technology. Students in this course will learn skills in open chords, strumming, standard and tab notation, and composition. A variety of repertoire will be studied. Students will develop their skills in guided group practice, as well as individual and group work.
Course Fee $35
Instrumental Music
BEGINNING BAND & CONCERT BAND
The Beginning Band and the Concert Bands are performance-based courses designed to give students the opportunity to develop educational experiences by participating and performing in a band ensemble. Musically, students will study ensemble skills such as intonation, blend, and technical facility. Emphasis will be placed on developing rhythmic accuracy and sight-reading skills. In addition, the proper musical phrasing and interpretation of various styles of concert band music will be studied. Socially, through the vehicle of music, students will also learn the significance of celebrating every success, however small or big, the necessity of collaborating with other musicians, and most importantly, the comradery and community that students feel and create in our Carson Graham music family.
BEGINNER BAND 8/9/10/11/12 (4 credits)
This course is intended for students who appreciate music and would like to learn a concert band instrument (flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, tuba, bass guitar or percussion). Students will learn how to read music, how to play with the proper posture, embouchure, hand position, and other fundamental musicianship skills. Prior musical experience is not required, however students will prior musical skills, such as playing piano, will progress quickly. The Beginning Band students will have the opportunity to participate at the Loon Lake Music Retreat in January. Students will spend three days and two nights at the beautiful Loon Lake Retreat Centre in Maple Ridge learning music with other professional musicians. This is a year-long course that meets outside the timetable.
Course Fee $35
CONCERT BAND 8/9/10/11/12 (4 credits) It is a continuation of the band program.
Students must have a minimum of two years of band experience (either at the elementary school or secondary school level), or have demonstrated a level of musical ability on their instrument to be in this course. Challenging music, from a variety of genres, will be performed. Students will continue to build on their technical facility, tone production, musicality, music theory skills, and listening skills. This is a year-long course.
Course Fee: $35
JAZZ BAND
Jazz Band is open to students in grade 8 to 12 who are also in Concert Band courses. In any given year, Carson Graham will have up to two jazz bands at two levels of difficulty (typically Junior, and Senior Jazz Band). Students are placed into the appropriate level of Jazz Band depending on the experience.
JAZZ BAND RED 8/9
Jazz Band Red is a course that explores fundamental concepts of the jazz canon. These include concepts of swing 8th notes, ensemble performance, history, improvisation, and style. This course is designed to be paired with the student also taking a large ensemble. Students in this course will learn skills in major and minor scales, modes, intonation, and 12 bar blues. A variety of repertoire will be studied. Students will develop their skills in guided group practice, as well as individual and section work. This is a year-long course.
Course Fee: $35
JAZZ BAND BLACK 10/11/12 (4 credits)
Jazz Band Black is a music course that explores advanced concepts of the jazz canon. These include swing 8th notes, ensemble performance, history, improvisation, and style. This course is designed to be paired with the student also taking a large ensemble. Students in this course will learn skills in playing in all 12 keys, major and minor scales, modes, intonation, and 12 bar blues. A variety of repertoire will be studied. Students will develop their skills in guided group practice, as well as individual and section work. This is a year-long course.
Course Fee: $35
GUITAR
The guitar ensembles are skill development based courses designed to give students the opportunity to derive educational experiences from learning a variety of repertoire on the guitar. Through performance and practice in an ensemble, students shape and refine their ideas and integrate their knowledge and attitudes with their technical skills. Students develop musicianship, incorporating technical competence, music literacy and artistry. Through participation in the rehearsal and performance process, students can gain confidence, self-esteem, and a sense of commitment to a team, and the self discipline needed to succeed in all subject areas.
BEGINNER GUITAR 9/10/11/12 (4 credits)
Beginner Guitar is a music course that explores aspects of guitar performance, notation, composition, and technology. Students in this course will learn skills in open chords, strumming, notation, and composition. A variety of repertoire will be studied. Students will develop their skills in guided group practice, as well as individual and group work.
Course Fee $35
INTERMEDIATE GUITAR 9/10/11/12 (4 credits)
Intermediate Guitar is an elective course that explores aspects of guitar performance, notation, composition, and technology. Students in this course will expand on their music and guitar knowledge learned in Fine Arts 8 and beginner guitar. Students will develop skills in open and barre chords, strumming, finger picking, notation, improvisation and recording. A variety of repertoire will be studied.
Students will develop their skills in guided group practice, as well as individual and group work.
Course Fee $35
SENIOR GUITAR 11/12 (4 credits)
Senior Guitar is an elective course that explores aspects of guitar performance, notation, composition, and technology. Students in this course will learn skills in open and barre chords, advanced auxiliary voicing, strumming, finger picking, notation, improvisation, altered tunings, and recording. A variety of repertoire will be studied. Students will develop their skills in guided group practice, as well as individual and group work.
Course Fee $35
