Classical Performance Core Curriculum

This course meets four days per week with the purpose of studying how musical ideas can be communicated to an ensemble. Students will develop skills in score study, interpretation, transposition, movement exploration, score reading, leadership, advanced musicianship, and rehearsal techniques. This is a year-long course that culminates in a performance conducting their peers. Seniors and Post-graduates are eligible to enroll in the course. Students must be enrolled in or have passed Theory C.

This course meets four days per week with the purpose of studying how musical ideas can be communicated to an ensemble. Students will develop skills in score study, interpretation, transposition, movement exploration, score reading, leadership, advanced musicianship, and rehearsal techniques. This is a year-long course that culminates in a performance conducting their peers. Seniors and Post-graduates are eligible to enroll in the course. Students must be enrolled in or have passed Theory C.

In this year-long course, students clean, polish and reassemble a junk instrument, restoring its raw brass finish and making it playable again. The second semester focuses on the physics of brass instrument design, formulating modifications to improve restored instruments, metal tempering, and more. Students will need to provide the following materials: Tape measureAdjustable ball gauge setDigital CalipersSharpieTriangular scraperSafety glassesApronLeather ShoesJunk brass instrument (available on Ebay/Craigslist)

Class Guitar 1 is designed to help students without previous formal guitar training to start using the guitar as a tool for writing and performing songs. We will explore the guitar as an accompaniment instrument. Techniques include power chords, major, minor, and seventh chords, moveable chords, left-hand shifts, strumming patterns, fingerstyle patterns, common riffs and licks.

Class Guitar 2 is designed to help students with some previous formal guitar training to develop intermediate guitar skills, and to approach the guitar as a tool for writing and performing songs and improvisation. We will explore the guitar as an accompaniment instrument and as a melodic instrument. We will develop sight-reading skills across the fretboard. Techniques include moveable chords and chord extensions, left-hand shifts and slurs, strumming patterns, fingerstyle patterns, common riffs and licks.

Class Guitar 4 is designed to help students with previous formal guitar training to develop intermediate and advanced guitar skills, and to approach the guitar as a tool for writing and performing. We will explore the guitar as a solo instrument, an accompaniment instrument and as a melodic instrument for improvisation. We will develop sight-reading skills across the fretboard. Techniques include moveable chords and chord extensions, left-hand shifts and slurs, strumming patterns, fingerstyle patterns, common riffs and licks.

Using the piano lab in a group setting, this course teaches students to read fluently from the grand staff, develop a process of effectively learning multi-part music, and to play piano repertoire with a healthy technique. Students learn sight reading and keyboard theory. Class Piano is paced for the motivated student beginning with no keyboard skills. More advanced students supplement the pace with additional repertoire and technique.

The first semester of Fretboard Harmony covers the fundamentals of the guitar fretboard and some advanced skills used by modern guitarists to negotiate the fretboard. Topics include sight-reading, intervals, triads and extensions; fingering and score editing approaches from 19th Century pedagogues (such as Sor and Aguado), the Segovia approach and contemporary editions.

The second semester of Fretboard Harmony is devoted to Arrangements, Transcriptions and Tablature. A large portion of the guitar repertoire consists of arrangements and transcriptions of music originally written for other instruments, for example J.S. Bach's lute suites and Isaac Albeniz' solo piano works are considered cornerstones of the guitar repertoire. This course examines the depth and breadth of arrangements, transcriptions and intabulations that are ubiquitous throughout the guitar repertoire, and explores the variety of approaches for making successful guitar transcriptions.

This semester covers the repertoire, personalities and significant historical events that shaped the progression of the lute, theorbo, baroque guitar and 19th Century guitar from the Renaissance to 1900. Topics include tablature and notation practices, instrument design, performance practice, ornamentation, and major artistic movements from the Enlightenment to the Industrial Revolution.

This semester covers the repertoire, personalities and significant historical events that influenced the progression of the guitar from 1900 to the Present Day. Beginning with the "Torres" model guitar and continuing through electric guitar designs and modern electronics, this course examines a tumultuous historical period that shaped (and in some cases was shaped by) innovations in the guitar world.

In this course, students will have the opportunity to create and play music for ballet, character dance and modern dance. Depending on the student's interest or ability, they will be involved in composing, arranging and performing music in a variety of idioms for the group. In addition to hands-on accompanying, students will watch videos and discuss how music and dance come together to make a unique work of art.

The Private Lesson is individualized and tailored to the level, background, and needs of each student. It stresses a solid foundation in technical skills and covers a wide range of literature. Private study includes studio classes which provide students an opportunity to perform for their peers in an informal setting.

The Private Lesson is individualized and tailored to the level, background, and needs of each student. It stresses a solid foundation in technical skills and covers a wide range of literature. Private study includes studio classes which provide students an opportunity to perform for their peers in an informal setting.

The Private Lesson is individualized and tailored to the level, background, and needs of each student. It stresses a solid foundation in technical skills and covers a wide range of literature. Private study includes studio classes which provide students an opportunity to perform for their peers in an informal setting.

The Private Lesson is individualized and tailored to the level, background, and needs of each student. It stresses a solid foundation in technical skills and covers a wide range of literature. Private study includes studio classes which provide students an opportunity to perform for their peers in an informal setting.

The Private Lesson is individualized and tailored to the level, background, and needs of each student. It stresses a solid foundation in technical skills and covers a wide range of literature. Private study includes studio classes which provide students an opportunity to perform for their peers in an informal setting.

The Private Lesson is individualized and tailored to the level, background, and needs of each student. It stresses a solid foundation in technical skills and covers a wide range of literature. Private study includes studio classes which provide students an opportunity to perform for their peers in an informal setting.

The Private Lesson is individualized and tailored to the level, background, and needs of each student. It stresses a solid foundation in technical skills and covers a wide range of literature. Private study includes studio classes which provide students an opportunity to perform for their peers in an informal setting.

This course is designed to help trumpet players learn to play in an efficient manner, with a great sound in all musical styles. Emphasis on the musicians core fundamentals, sound production, scales/modes, flexibility, multiple tonguing, finger technique, practice techniques, transposition, sight reading and range are developed in accordance to the individual students needs.The course is tailored to fit the individual trumpeters needs, strengthening the individuals challenges in regards to playing the trumpet.

This course prepares students with the fundamental basics required to launch a successful career in music. Emphasis is given to conservatory and music university audition preparation; however, equal standards are applied for students who apply to academic institutions. Students learn an efficient and sustainable method of performance proving the skills for a lifelong connection with music.

The Private Lesson is individualized and tailored to the level, background, and needs of each student. It stresses a solid foundation in technical skills and covers a wide range of literature. Private study includes studio classes which provide students an opportunity to perform for their peers in an informal setting.

This course is an extension of private lessons. It addresses many of the same concepts, but in a group setting. It is designed to be flexible to meet the varying levels and needs of students.

Theory I focuses on the fundamentals of music. During the fall semester we will study reading in all clefs, intervals, scales, key signatures, and triads. We will learn about rhythm notation and meter. In addition, students will work on projects creating their own musical material and participate regularly in Musicianship Skills (singing, rhythm work, ear training, etc.). The class will meet four days a week. This course continues through the spring semester.

The IAA Orchestra performs major pieces of the symphonic repertoire, full staged ballets, concerti, new music and classic as well, and performs with choir and other ensembles. The Orchestra presents numerous concerts each year and frequently collaborates with renowned guest artists and conductors. Woodwind, brass and percussion students are placed into either Orchestra or Wind Symphony based on preliminary auditions. 

The IAA Wind Symphony provides a wide variety of performance experiences. Rehearsals offer the opportunity to develop and refine fundamental playing technique and ensemble skills.  The Wind Symphony presents multiple concerts annually of original compositions, representative transcriptions, and works for smaller ensembles. Placement within the ensemble is determined by audition with the studio faculty. 

Academy Choir is a requirement for all Voice majors and is open to all students. The choir participates in numerous concerts during the year, performing works from a diverse range of styles, time periods and composers.

This select ensemble is one of the most popular concert groups on the campus. The twenty-piece ensemble in big band instrumentation, studies and performs the music of the foremost big band composers, past and present. Students must audition for placement in the Jazz Ensemble.

This ensemble focuses on the development of ensemble skills and brass pedagogy through rigorous rehearsal and performance of major brass ensemble compositions. The ensemble skills include individualism, group participation, intonation, style, leadership, communication and professional commitment and responsibility. 

This ensemble performs music from the baroque period through the twentieth century.  Melodic and non-melodic instruments are stressed equally.

Chamber music is designed to provide students with a performance opportunity in small ensemble repertoire. Various ensembles are formed using woodwind, brass, string, and piano students. These ensembles may include:  woodwind quintet, clarinet quartet, flute quartet, brass quintets, string quartets, and other various ensembles based on the repertoire and available players. 

The jazz combo is a select group of musicians. During the course of the year, the students involved in the combo, work to improve their understanding of various styles of small group jazz. Consistent growth as creative improvisers is expected. The jazz combo performs on all of the concerts with the large jazz ensemble. Auditions for the Jazz Combo occur in conjunction with the Jazz Ensemble auditions.

Semesters I and II

Required Courses
Private Lesson / MUS0XX
Studio / MUS099
Large Ensemble / MUS049-068

Instrument-Specific Required Courses
Reed instrument majors: Reed-making class
Percussion majors: Percussion Ensemble

Elective Courses
Choir / MUS055
Brass Ensemble / MUS065
Chamber Music / MUS069
Piano Lesson (30-minute) / MUS074
Composition Class / MUS213

Sample Academic Courses 
Algebra I; Biology; English I; French I

Semesters III and IV

Required Courses
Private Lesson / MUS0XX
Studio / MUS099
Music Theory / MUS101-502
Large Ensemble / MUS049

Instrument-Specific Required Courses
Reed instrument majors: Reed-making class
Percussion majors: Percussion Ensemble

Elective Courses
Choir / MUS055
Brass Ensemble / MUS065
Chamber Music / MUS069
Introduction to Audio Technology and Production / MPE091-92
Class Piano / MUS203
Composition Class / MUS213

Sample Academic Courses 
Geometry; World History; English II; French II

Semesters V and VI

Required Courses
Private Lesson / MUS0XX
Studio / MUS099
Large Ensemble / MUS049
Music Theory / MUS101-502

Instrument-Specific Required Courses
Reed instrument majors: Reed-making class
Percussion majors: Percussion Ensemble

Elective Courses
Choir / MUS055
Brass Ensemble / MUS065
Chamber Music / MUS069
Introduction to Audio Technology and Production / MPE091-092
Music Business / MUS109
Class Piano / MUS203
Jazz History / MUS209
Composition Class / MUS213
Jazz Improvisation I / MUS307

Sample Academic Courses
Algebra II; U.S. History; English III; Chemistry

Semesters VII and VIII

Required Courses
Private Lesson / MUS0XX
Studio / MUS099
Large Ensemble / MUS049

Instrument-Specific Required Courses
Reed instrument majors: Reed-making class
Percussion majors: Percussion Ensemble

Elective Courses
Choir / MUS055
Brass Ensemble / MUS065
Chamber Music / MUS069
Introduction to Audio Technology and Production / MPE091-092
Music Business / MUS109
Class Piano / MUS203
Jazz History / MUS209
Composition Class / MUS213
Jazz Improvisation I or II / MUS305-308
Conducting / MUS407
Music Theory III | MUS317-318

Sample Academic Courses 
Precalculus; Ecology; English IV