Popular Performance Core Curriculum

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. 

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 hands-on, project-based course introduces students to the fundamental concepts and tools of audio technology and music production. Students explore the science of sound, including waveform characteristics such as amplitude, frequency, harmonic content, and phase. The class explains room acoustics, resonance, and signal flow—from sound source to listener—while developing an understanding of microphones, speakers, and equalizers. Through visits to our own performance venues, practical PA setup exercises, and guided DAW instruction, students gain experience with recording, mixing, and stereo mic techniques. The course culminates in the creation of original music using the Digital Audio Workstation of their choice.

Music theory classes at Interlochen offer instruction in musicianship skills essential for the serious music student. The class objectives are to provide complete and thorough training in all basic musicianship skills; to offer advanced, college-level theory for the highly motivated student; and to stimulate and encourage exploration of the creative process through music creation (classical) and arranging (contemporary). 

This course focuses on the core concepts of songwriting. Understanding rhyme schemes, prosody,  and meter in lyric writing along with accompaniment exploration is the focus in the first semester.  The second semester explores a wide variety of genres, helping students write outside their natural gravitation and musical influences.  Students also begin to look at their rhythmic choices for melody and accompaniment delving into various time signatures. First semester welcomes non music majors, second semester is for songwriting majors, others upon approval from Associate Director of Contemporary Music.

While listening to vinyl recordings spanning from the 1960s to the present, students explore and examine music in the book series 33 ⅓. Class discussions surround what is highlighted in the book series, examining each recording's significance, recording process, writing, performance, lyrics, arrangement, and more. 

In this course, students explore the following questions: How much do you know about how you perform? Are you effective outside the technical skills of execution? What makes the audience want to keep coming back to watch you? Through self evaluation, peer feedback, and teacher guidance, students dig deeply into what challenges and strengths they have in their ability to perform. Topics include the self editor, presence, intention, the role of the audience, and how to get ready to have a healthy, positive performance experience. This course introduces positive performance practices. Additionally, this course also supports College Audition Prep.

In this course, students explore the business of contemporary music.  Topics discussed include copyright, music supervision, how to build a team, crowdfunding, publicity (bios, branding, cyber PR and printed), touring, PRO’s, publishing, establishing yourself as an artist with the IRS, good book keeping, write-offs, entertainment law, and more.

This course explores the use of the keyboard in contemporary styles, and is designed for students with a background in music and some theory knowledge (Music Theory I is a prerequisite). Students will expand their keyboard abilities and develop approaches to accompaniment in a variety of contemporary styles. The course will focus on keyboard technique (scales, triads, seventh chords, inversions), and on learning repertoire from contemporary music sources. Students will learn to read and interpret chord charts and lead sheets, including rhythmic notation. Grades for this class are participation based – class attendance and individual practice outside class will be essential.

Jazz Improvisation is divided into sections based on skill set.  In this class the students apply jazz rhythm, harmony, and melody to their instrument in order to successfully improvise over a variety of song forms.  The application of scales, chords, scale and melodic patterns to the chosen music, and transcribing solos from recordings form the basis by which the student learns to improvise.

Contemporary Theory begins with a review of fundamentals including intervals, triads, seventh chords, scales, keys, and chord inversion. Students study extended chords (jazz harmonies), diatonic harmonic function, cadence, and chromatic chords, particularly secondary dominants and related ii chords. Students learn the broad strokes of Nashville Numbers and have projects including transcription and arranging for individual instruments and small groups. Students will also build musicianship skills including ear training, sight-singing, and rhythm work. This class is required for all students in songwriting and popular music who attend Interlochen Arts Academy for multiple years. Passing Theory I is a requirement. 

This course explores popular songs from the past in a performance-focused setting. Students are placed into bands and work together to match the tone, style, and feel of an original recording, and present the song as a polished performance. Students learn how to hear and delegate parts, how to rehearse as a band, and how to realize a performance that is audience-focused and enjoyable to watch. This is a prerequisite for Popular Music Ensemble.

These ensembles perform a variety of contemporary music styles. The ensemble serves as the standing band for the Singer-Songwriter program. This ensemble is by audition only and Performance Lab must be completed for all majors unless permission is obtained by the Associate Director of Contemporary Music.

Students work with songwriting studio faculty to develop an individualized project. Past student projects have been to record an album and all the parts needed for a full album release. These parts include collaborating with film students on several different types of music videos, press release photos along with long bio, short bio, and elevator pitch. Under the direction of their faculty mentor, they will create a timeline for the release itself along with singles and other social media marketing culminating in the booking of a summer tour if the student is interested and able. This is open to three and four year students only.