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Carteret Junior High School
Resilient, Aspiring, Motivated, Bold Leaders who are Educated and Ready for Success
Mrs. Tara Romero Mr. Christopher Tullo
Principal, Carteret Middle School Vice-Principal
Music Department
Course Offering Guide- 2023-2024
Mr. Michael Gonzalez, Choral Director
Mr. George Velasquez-Franceschi, Band Director
Mission Statement:
At Carteret Junior High School, we believe music and the performing arts are a form of expression that are an integral part of a child’s education. Music provides aesthetic, creative, academic, and cultural values that provide necessary skills of quality learning. We believe in helping all children understand and appreciate music, as well as discovering and growing the talent within these students.
We ask our young musicians to work and perform at their highest artistic abilities, consistent with the experience and maturity of their group, while meeting the needs of our individuals. We emphasize cooperative effort, acceptance of differences, and the goal of self-discipline, responsibility, and integrity.
Studying and performing, whether on an instrument or vocally, alone or in an ensemble, offers endless opportunity and enjoyment for our Rising Ramblers. The skills and disciplines learned here, along with the social and team-building aspects of an ensemble, are a foundation of our Rising Rambler pledge as well as key qualities in a good citizen of CJH and the Carteret community.
Mr. George Velasquez-Franceschi, Band Director
gfranceschi@carteretschools.org
Mr. Michael Gonzalez, Choral Director
Student Tracks
A lot of music courses are now available at Carteret Middle School, and the needs for our prospective music students vary greatly, depending on their own hobbies and interests. Some students may have started band and choir in elementary schools, while other students just want to explore music through listening and discussions, while others might want to explore an instrument like piano. Updated for the 2023-2024 school year, we have created recommended tracks for students to follow depending on their interests.
The following is a suggestion for students that want to get the most out of their musical experience.
Instrumental Track Students
7th Grade: Band 7 and another one of: Jazz Band 7, Piano 7, or Musical Theatre 7
8th Grade: Band 8 and another one of: Jazz Band 8, Piano 8, or Musical Theatre 8
Choral Track Students
7th Grade: Chorus 7, EssenCe (A Cappella- audition only), one of Piano 7 or Musical Theatre 7
8th Grade: Chorus 8, EssenCe (A Cappella- audition only), one of Piano 8 or Musical Theatre 8
Band/Choral Hybrid Track Students
7th Grade: Band 7, Chorus 7, Piano 7
8th Grade: Band 8, Chorus 8, Piano 8
*It is important to know that if you choose to do both band and choir at the same time, you will be unable to audition for the honors classes, Jazz Band & EssenCe, due to schedule restraints*
Piano Track Students
7th Grade: Music 7, Piano 7
8th Grade: Music 8, Piano 8
Appreciation (General) Track Students
7th Grade: Music 7, option of Piano 7 or Musical Theatre 7
8th Grade: Music 8, option of Piano 8 or Musical Theatre 8
Course Offerings
SEVENTH GRADE
MUSIC THEORY - Mr. Franceschi/Mr. Gonzalez- Marking Period Class
This course covers basic music theory concepts of Pitch, Rhythm, Dynamics, and Tempo, and students learn to apply these concepts into more higher-level tasks, such as Scalar patterns, compound time signatures, endings and coda, and complex rhythmic patterns. Students will continue to develop composition and notation skills and will begin and develop keyboard skills on digital pianos and/or glockenspiels.
PIANO METHODS- Mr. Gonzalez- Marking Period Class
Students in Piano will apply the basic concepts of Music Theory to a keyboard methods class. Students will explore grand staff reading, middle C and standard C position, parallel and contrary motion, scalar and chord patterns, and perform pieces of appropriate difficulty.
INTRO TO MUSICAL THEATRE- Mr. Gonzalez- Marking Period Class
Students in Musical Theatre will apply the basic concepts of Music Theory to the inclusion of a musical theatre experience. Students will explore and learn basics for various theatrical concepts, such as improvising, script reading and analysis, context, blocking, and stage direction. Students will also be introduced to musical elements of live theatrical performance, such as singing and dancing.
7TH GRADE CONCERT BAND- Mr. Franceschi- Double Period- Full-Year Class
Concert Band is a performance class in which class activities emphasize the development of instrument technique, tone production, tuning, fundamentals of music theory, music reading, and listening skills. Students are required to perform at a Winter and Spring concert as well as at 8th grade graduation.
Students in Concert Band work together and challenge themselves in grade-level repertoire.
7TH GRADE JAZZ BAND- Mr. Franceschi- Half-Year Class
*AUDITION ONLY*
Jazz Band is a half-year performance class that includes learning the history, style, and improvisation of Jazz music. Students will explore unique instrumental techniques, scales, and chord progressions that encompass the genre. Students will be expected to perform at our various Winter performances, and perform solos in various settings.
7TH GRADE CONCERT CHOIR- Mr. Gonzalez- Half-Year Class
Spring Choir is a half-year performance class that teaches and reinforces the concepts of confident choral singing and musicianship. Students learn and perform a varied repertoire of three or four songs that includes selections in different styles and languages. Students learn how to read choral music and perform with proper vocal technique, while learning about the rapport and professionalism expected of them in making music together.
Students in 7th Grade Choir will be responsible for a Spring Concert and will have the opportunity to perform at a spring music festival.
EIGHTH GRADE
8TH GRADE JAZZ BAND- Mr. Franceschi- Half-Year Class-
*AUDITION ONLY*
Pre-Requisite- Students must complete 7th Grade Concert Band with an A or B
Jazz Band is offered to 8th Grade students by audition.
Jazz Band is a half-year performance class that includes learning the history, style, and improvisation of Jazz music. Students will explore unique instrumental techniques, scales, and chord progressions that encompass the genre. Students will be expected to perform at Black History Night, perform a Spring Jazz Showcase in May, and perform solos in various settings.
MUSIC THEORY - Mr. Franceschi/Mr. Gonzalez- Marking Period Class
This course covers basic music theory concepts of Pitch, Rhythm, Dynamics, and Tempo, and students learn to apply these concepts into more higher-level tasks, such as Scalar patterns, compound time signatures, endings and coda, and complex rhythmic patterns. Students will continue to develop composition and notation skills and will begin and develop keyboard skills on digital pianos and/or glockenspiels.
PIANO METHODS- Mr. Gonzalez- Marking Period Class
Students in Piano will apply the basic concepts of Music Theory to a keyboard methods class. Students will explore grand staff reading, middle C and standard C position, parallel and contrary motion, scalar and chord patterns, and perform pieces of appropriate difficulty. Students entering in 8th grade will begin the focus of study presented in the 7th grade offering. Students coming in for a second year after 7th grade will continue along and begin more challenging repertoire all while reinforcing scalar and chordal concepts, rhythmic bass, and advanced hand positions and intervals.
INTRO TO MUSICAL THEATRE- Mr. Gonzalez- Marking Period Class
Students in Musical Theatre will apply the basic concepts of Music Theory to the inclusion of a musical theatre experience. Students will explore and learn basics for various theatrical concepts, such as improvising, script reading and analysis, context, blocking, and stage direction. Students will also be introduced to musical elements of live theatrical performance, such as singing and dancing.
8TH GRADE CONCERT BAND- Mr. Franceschi- Double Period- Full-Year Class
Concert Band is a performance class in which class activities emphasize the development of instrument technique, tone production, tuning, fundamentals of music theory, music reading, and listening skills. Students are required to perform at a Winter and Spring concert as well as at 8th grade graduation.
Students in Concert Band work together and challenge themselves in grade-level repertoire.
In addition to concerts, students in 8th Grade Concert Band will have the opportunity to perform at a spring music festival.
8TH GRADE CONCERT CHOIR- Mr. Gonzalez- Half-Year Class
Spring Choir is a half-year performance class that teaches and reinforces the concepts of confident choral singing and musicianship. Students learn and perform a varied repertoire of three or four songs that includes selections in different styles and languages. Students learn how to read choral music and perform with proper vocal technique, while learning about the rapport and professionalism expected of them in making music together.
Students in 8th Grade Choir will be responsible for a Spring Concert and will have the opportunity to perform at a spring music festival.
ALL GRADES
HONORS- EssenCe- CARTERET MIDDLE SCHOOL A CAPPELLA CHOIR
Mr. Gonzalez- Double Period- Full-Year Class- *AUDITION ONLY*
EssenCe is offered to 7th and 8th Grade students by audition.
EssenCe is a full-year, double-period course. In addition to the expectations of our Spring Concert Choir classes, this a cappella ensemble is responsible for exploring and practicing content from Music Theory as well as Piano Methods classes. We will focus on developing student musicianship through choral music study, experience, and performance. Students will be introduced to a variety of challenging music literature, basic and advanced music theory, proper vocal technique, and performance opportunities as a whole group and as a soloist.
EssenCe will perform at yearly events such as assemblies and dances, school culture nights, town culture and pride events, Winter and Spring concerts, and various music festivals in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Wandering Winds- Carteret Junior High Honors Wind Ensemble
Mr. Franceschi- After School- Two Days a Week *AUDITION ONLY*
Wind Ensemble is offered to 7th and 8th Grade students by audition.
CJH Wind Ensemble is a performance group dedicated to challenging our concert band students that want to explore higher-level repertoire and pursue more performance opportunity. In addition to the expectations of our Concert Band classes, this ensemble will explore Music Theory and Music Appreciation. We will focus on developing student musicianship through study, experience, and performance. Students will be introduced to a variety of musical literature.
CJH Wind Ensemble, as a new ensemble, will begin to perform at yearly events such as assemblies and dances, and winter and spring concerts.
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