Junior High String Orchestra meets every other day. Course requirements for orchestra include weekly lesson attendance (based on a rotating schedule) and participation in all orchestra performances. Students will gain more advanced techniques as related to their instruments. Please note that orchestra is a two-year commitment and students are required to participate during 7th & 8th grade.

Music dept grading policy

Lessons – 40%

Each student will be graded for each lesson. This grade will reflect the student’s preparedness, participation, and effort.

Participation – 30%

Participation will be determined by the student’s preparedness, punctuality, and effort level while in their rehearsals. Gum chewing, talking, lateness, and other disruptive acts that detract from the effectiveness of rehearsal will result in a lowered participation grade.

CONCERT ATTENDANCE: A significant portion of each student’s participation grade will be determined by concert attendance, punctuality, preparedness, and overall demeanor while in the warm-up room and on “stage”.

Assessments – 30%

This portion may include written quizzes, written tests, playing tests, proficiency exams, midterms, and finals.

Students will gain experience in performing traditional orchestral works through various outlets. They will also gain more advanced techniques as related to their instruments. There will be a minimum of three evening performances. Other course requirements include weekly lesson attendance (based on a rotating schedule). Exceptional BHS Orchestra students may be eligible to participate in New York State School Music Association events (All-State, All-County, and Solo Festival).

Music dept grading policy

Lessons – 40%

Each student will be graded for each lesson. This grade will reflect the student’s preparedness, participation, and effort.

Participation – 30%

Participation will be determined by the student’s preparedness, punctuality, and effort level while in their rehearsals. Gum chewing, talking, lateness, and other disruptive acts that detract from the effectiveness of rehearsal will result in a lowered participation grade.

CONCERT ATTENDANCE: A significant portion of each student’s participation grade will be determined by concert attendance, punctuality, preparedness, and overall demeanor while in the warm-up room and on “stage”.

Assessments – 30%

This portion may include written quizzes, written tests, playing tests, proficiency exams, midterms, and finals.

Any student not enrolled in Junior High Chorus, Band or Orchestra will take Music Appreciation. This is a required two-year course for all Junior High students without performing ensemble experience. This survey course is designed to help students gain a sense of the aesthetic values of music and develop a lasting appreciation and enjoyment of this universal art form. Students will explore a wide variety of musical styles and genres ranging from classical to current popular music and will have hands on musical experiences with guitars, keyboards, and various percussion instruments. The curriculum includes, but is not limited to, basic musical concepts, notation, music history, various instruments, and Broadway musicals. Class meets every other day.

Music Theory 1 is an advanced music course designed to provide students with a comprehensive study of the treatment of the elements of music (music theory, composition, ear training, music history, conducting, performance, and critical analysis). This course is designed for serious students who wish to explore the many facets of music as an art and as a profession. While geared towards those students who already sing or play an instrument, this course is also open to non-music students who already possess the ability to read music (upon approval of the instructor). Students who plan to enter the field of music and students who are serious about musical study should consider this course. Upon completion, students are eligible to elect to take AP Music Theory. This course may serve to fulfill a theory requirement in the major sequence of music.

Grading policy:

Unit Tests: 40% 

Weekly Assignments/Quizzes: 30% 

Dictation Exercises: 20% 

Sight-Singing Exercises: 10%

“The ultimate goal of an AP Music Theory course is to develop a student’s ability to recognize, understand, and describe the basic materials and processes of music that are heard or presented in a score.” (The College Board AP Music Theory Handbook 2012.)The Babylon AP Music Theory curriculum will help students develop aural, sight-singing, penmanship, composition, and analytical skills through use of online resources such as teoria.com, musictheory.net and thepracticeroom.net. The curriculum will also implement lessons from texts including Music in Theory and Practice Vol. 1 by Bruce Benward and Marilyn Saker, and Music for Sight Singing by Robert Ottman.

AP Courses offer students an opportunity to take a course taught at a college level. Intensive classroom work, independent study and research are an integral part of the classroom. Students must take the AP exam to receive weighted course credit: If a student doesn’t take the exam, it’s not possible to tell if he/she learned the content one would expect of an AP course. Requiring a student to take the exam ensures that the grade in the class is aligned with the student’s mastery of the course content knowledge.

Students are expected to pay the associated College Board for fee for the exam.

Grading policy:

Unit Tests: 40% 

Weekly Assignments/Quizzes: 30% 

Dictation Exercises: 20% 

Sight-Singing Exercises: 10%