Academics
With an array of undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as summer, international, and precollege offerings, Berklee College of Music provides options for students of all levels to explore and achieve their artistic, academic, and career potential.
This course analyzes orchestration for wind, string, and percussion groups as used at the secondary school level. Students explore principles of score layout and arranging for concert band and high school orchestra. Students apply this principles to the scores they create for instrumental ensembles at the secondary school level.
This course introduces fundamental beat patterns, basic conducting technique, phrasing and articulation, and problems of tempo. Students discuss and study applicable terminology. Additionally, students participate in lab sessions for choral application of classroom skills, which are geared to the needs of public school music educators.
This course introduces students to fundamental beat patterns, basic conducting technique, phrasing, articulation, and problems of tempo. Students discuss and study score analysis and take part in lab sessions for instrumental application of classroom skills. Students should be able to play one or more secondary instruments. This course is geared to the needs of public school music educators.
This course is designed to prepare students to effectively design, lead, and assess choral rehearsals. It examines vocal repertoire for school music groups with extensive analysis and application of rehearsal techniques for specific elementary, middle, and high school ensemble settings. As part of the course, students develop score analysis and rehearsal techniques as they apply skills and knowledge in lab sessions.
This course examines a variety of rehearsal strategies and teaching techniques for use with K-12 instrumental ensembles. Additionally, this course requires students to perform on a secondary instrument; to arrange music for the instrumentation in the class; to plan, implement, and assess instruction in a rehearsal setting; and to conduct a final performance of the repertoire covered in the class.
The ability to analyze and dissect musical scores is an essential skill for the instrumental music educator. This course will focus on techniques for analyzing scores and using this information to develop structured and sequential rehearsal plans for the repertoire studied. The application of musically appropriate conducting gestures that effectively convey the intended artistic interpretation will also be covered.
This Concert Choir ensemble focuses on materials and literature for secondary school music (i.e., choral ensembles for students in grades 6-12). It is designed for those preparing to be music educators as well as singers interested in studying repertoire and vocal techniques for adolescent musicians. This ensemble prepares a program and performs in music education department recitals.
This course provides a functional study of the trumpet and French horn. Students master technical fundamentals of classroom instruction in trumpet and French horn. They also learn representative elementary and secondary school methods and materials for trumpet and French horn.
This course provides a functional study of the trombone, euphonium, and tuba. Students will demonstrate the technical fundamentals necessary for instruction of the trombone, euphonium, and tuba in a K-12 school setting. Students will also learn developmentally appropriate elementary and secondary school methods and materials for trombone, euphonium, and tuba and will perform an exam on each instrument that demonstrates proficiency similar to that of a middle school (second or third year) performer.
This course is a graduated piano study for beginning keyboard students. Students learn note reading, rhythm, and technique. Students practice materials that range from separate hand studies to simple two-voice pieces. They also learn simple melodies with chordal accompaniment. Students are introduced to harmonization. They also learn techniques that involve scales and coordination studies with fingering for various two-hand patterns.
This course introduces coordination studies for keyboard students. Students learn a simple chorale style as well as transposition of simple melodies with accompaniment (major keys). Students deepen their knowledge of scale studies and chordal patterns relating to harmonization.
This course further develops the techniques necessary for functional piano playing in public school teaching. Students master full chorale style with the aid of graduated coordination studies. Students also master rhythmicized accompaniment patterns and transposition of material based on standard school music (major keys with secondary dominants). Students also learn chorale-type accompaniments based on various styles.