Other Opportunities WESTFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The co-curricular offerings represent opportunities for students to employ, in a variety of performance mediums, the skills outlined in the MA Curriculum Frameworks. These groups are some of the most exciting and enjoyable musical activities at Westford Academy. You don’t have to be a member of a curricular offering to participate in the co-curricular program. These activities include:

Marching Band This musical group rehearses during the fall and spring. The music performed reflects the latest in popular and standard march music. This is the band Curriculum Benchmarks that represents our school and community at civic functions, football games and parades. Grades 9-12 Colorguard This auxiliary group provides flash and color to General Music marching band performances. It utilizes choreographed routines and employs visual effects to make the music come alive. Westford Academy

Jazz Ensemble The Jazz Ensemble performs a wide variety of jazz ensemble, big band and popular literature. Instrumentalists and vocalists are admitted by audition. Compiled by The Arts Curriculum Task Committee

Small Ensembles A variety of groups are formed based upon student “Shaping the future one child at a time” interest. They include: Guitar Ensemble, Flute Choir, Brass Choir, Clarinet Choir, Jazz Quintet, Woodwind Visit our website at: westfordk12.us Quintet, Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Vocal Ensemble, and String Quartet. Updated April 2011 After School Chorus/WAcappella This is a mixed chorus (male and female ) that meets one afternoon a week. It performs the latest a cappella pop vocal music and standard choral literature. Piano accompanists welcome! In dance, music, theatre, and the visual arts, people Music Theory AP Advanced Songwriting express ideas and emotions that they cannot express • Identify, analyze, and write the elements of • Understand advanced-level concepts regarding in language alone. In order to understand the range music used to create compositions modern musical composition. and depth of the human imagination, one must have • Notate aural melodies and harmonic progressions • Analyze musical compositions in terms of meter, knowledge of the arts. • Sight sing diatonic exercises rhythm, melody, harmonic progression, and – Massachusetts Arts Curriculum Framework Core Concept • Realize and analyze figured basses overall aesthetic in a mature and detailed • Harmonize a given melody manner. Westford Academy Music Department • Take the AP exam • Compose and arrange in modern music styles at The music department provides students with a an advanced level. variety of opportunities to study, create, and perform Keyboarding • Compile final projects into a class album. music of different styles, periods, cultures and ethnic • Prepare and perform piano compositions within groups that reflect the Massachusetts Arts individual ability Lyricwriting Frameworks. The only requirements for participating • Demonstrate an understanding of standard • Examine lyric writing through song composition, in musical activities are an open mind, enthusiasm musical notation and basic music theory structure, and form. and a love of music. • Identify effects of sound, form, imagery, Beginning Guitar metaphor, and ambiguity in lyrcis. The offerings of the music department are divided • Demonstrate ability to read and play guitar music • Compose lyric material in a variety of styles. into two main categories: in standard notation • Collaborate with other student to co-author lyric • Perform using a variety of strumming and content. General Music: fingerstyle patterns • AP Music Theory • Perform as a soloist and in small ensembles Sound System Design • Keyboarding • Understand acoustic phenomenon. • Musical Theater Advanced Guitar Ensemble • Design complete sound systems for a variety of • Beginning Guitar • Demonstrate ability to read and play guitar music events, performances, and venues. • Advanced Guitar Ensemble in standard notation at an advanced level • Implement sound reinforcement systems into • Ensemble for the Gigging Band • Play in a variety of styles dramatic productions or large-scale musical • Lyricwriting • Expand known chord and scale forms performances. • Songwriting • Perform as a soloist and in small ensembles both • Operate sound systems for performances and • Advanced Songwriting in and out of the classroom productions. • Sound System Design • Engage in proper maintenance and handling Ensemble for the Gigging Band techniques of all hardware. There are also opportunities for students to be • Work with other students’ to create new involved in advanced work through Independent collaborative musical works in different styles. Musical Theater Study. Goals of these courses are formulated through • Compose and learn music by ear and by written • Prepare and perform auditions for solos and discussion between the instructor and the student. notation of several standard conventions. ensemble pieces from American musicals • Create self-promotion and marketing materials. • Demonstrate an understanding of proper vocal • Create a business plan for a performing techniques ensemble. • Perform in a showcase event at least once per year Songwriting • Understand fundamental elements of music composition. • Analyze musical compositions in terms of rhythm, melody, and general aesthetic. • Compose in modern music styles. • Compile final projects into a class album.