ACADEMICS - Music Department  

Courses

All entering students must take a music placement test to determine at what level they should enter the music curriculum. Students without much previous experience in music will enter the curriculum by taking Music 200 or Music 210. Students who read music and who have played an instrument for several years, but who have not had much formal classroom study, generally enter the curriculum by taking Music 250. Students who read music, who are experienced on an instrument, and who demonstrate proficiency in music history and/or theory will enter the curriculum by taking either Music 260 or Music 270.

Approximately half of entering Juniors will satisfy their diploma requirement in music by taking Music 210, a yearlong, three-hour per week, in-depth version of Music 200. Members of the Junior class who do not take Music 210 will satisfy their requirement in one of two ways. Many of these students will take Music 200 during the Lower year and then complete their diploma requirement by taking either an ensemble for credit (Music 150-180), or any course higher than Music 210. Students who by-pass Music 200 as a result of their performance on the music placement test will satisfy their diploma requirement by taking two courses higher than Music 210.

Entering Lowers must take a total of three trimesters of art and music, with at least one course in each area. Subject to their performance on the music placement test, most will take Music 200. Students who take Music 200 and who then elect to take a second music course to fulfill the diploma requirement in art and music will take either an ensemble for credit (Music150-180) or any course higher than Music 210. Entering Lowers who, as a result of their performance on the music placement test, by-pass Music 200 will take one music course higher than Music 210. If such a student decides to take a second music course to fulfill the third term of the requirement in art and music, then she/he may do so by taking any course higher than Music 210.

Entering Uppers must take a trimester course in either music (200 level or above) or art at the academy. Entering Seniors should take one trimester of either music (200 level or above), art or theatre. Students may take any course below the 200 level at any time and, if they desire, repeatedly during their PA careers. Music 200, or exemption on the basis of performance on the music placement test, is a prerequisite for all upper level electives. All entering students must take a music placement test to determine at what level they should enter the music curriculum. Students without much previous experience in music will enter the curriculum by taking Music 200 or Music 210. Students who read music and who have played an instrument for several years, but who have not had much formal classroom study, generally enter the curriculum by taking Music 250. Students who read music, who are experienced on an instrument, and who demonstrate proficiency in music history and/or theory will enter the curriculum by taking either Music 260 or Music 270.

Approximately half of entering Juniors will satisfy their diploma requirement in music by taking Music 210, a yearlong, three-hour per week, in-depth version of Music 200. Members of the Junior class who do not take Music 210 will satisfy their requirement in one of two ways. Many of these students will take Music 200 during the Lower year and then complete their diploma requirement by taking either an ensemble for credit (Music 150-180), or any course higher than Music 210. Students who by-pass Music 200 as a result of their performance on the music placement test will satisfy their diploma requirement by taking two courses higher than Music 210.

Entering Lowers must take a total of three trimesters of art and music, with at least one course in each area. Subject to their performance on the music placement test, most will take Music 200. Students who take Music 200 and who then elect to take a second music course to fulfill the diploma requirement in art and music will take either an ensemble for credit (Music150-180) or any course higher than Music 210. Entering Lowers who, as a result of their performance on the music placement test, by-pass Music 200 will take one music course higher than Music 210. If such a student decides to take a second music course to fulfill the third term of the requirement in art and music, then she/he may do so by taking any course higher than Music 210.

Entering Uppers must take a trimester course in either music (200 level or above) or art at the academy. Entering Seniors should take one trimester of either music (200 level or above), art or theatre.

Students may take any course below the 200 level at any time and, if they desire, repeatedly during their PA careers. Music 200, or exemption on the basis of performance on the music placement test, is a prerequisite for all upper-level electives.

 

 

Contact: Diane Sachs
© Phillips Academy 1999
Music Department Faculty
Courses
Concert Schedule