Vocal Music - Course Descriptions

COURSE DESCRIPTION
5th and 6th GRADE CLASSROOM MUSIC

     In Classroom Music, students will increase their ability to sing, perform, and understand the elements of music.  Also, they will increase their ability to critically listen and respond to musical examples as well as topics in music.  In 5th grade, students will continue their work on recorder, and both grade levels will play on Orff instruments as time allows.

CURRICULAR CHOIRS - COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

MS CHORUSES

      The Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Grade Choruses are designed for those students who wish to explore singing beyond the general music classroom.  Content emphasis will be placed on group vocal development, basic musicianship reinforcement, confidence in the singing voice, and dealing with the vocal change in middle school singers.  In addition, students will be exposed to unison, two, three, and four-part singing in a large group atmosphere.  Students will perform in a minimum of two concerts per year.

Men's Choir

    Men's choir is designed to provide a small group singing experience to male singers in grades 9 and above.  Content emphasis will be placed on increasing personal and group vocal technique, basic musicianship, and musical independence.  Students will study two, three and four part music of varying styles, genres, and languages throughout the year.  Students will perform a minimum of two concerts per year. 

Women’s Choir

    Women’s choir is designed to provide a small group singing experience to female singers in grades 9 and above.  Content emphasis will be placed on increasing personal and group vocal technique, basic musicianship, and musical independence.  Students will study two, three and four part music of varying styles, genres, and languages throughout the year.  Students will perform a minimum of two concerts per year.

A Cappella Choir

     A Cappella Choir is the flagship choir of the Oil City High School Choir Program, and is designed to provide students in grades 10 – 12 singing experience in a large group atmosphere. Content emphasis will placed on group vocal technique, advanced musicianship concepts, and the performance of the masterworks of choral literature.  Students will study a wide range of music of up to eight parts that will include varying styles, genres, compositional techniques, and languages.  Students will perform in a minimum of three concerts per year.

EXTRA CURRICULAR CHORAL GROUPS - HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL

Rhapsody in Blues

     The Oil City High School Rhapsody in Blues was created to give advanced singers the opportunity to perform in an auditioned group of high musical standards.  Repertoire will   consist of advanced women’s, men’s, and mixed chorus music, focusing primarily on the vocal jazz and contemporary a cappella idioms.  Students are selected for this group in the spring of the previous school year and will perform in a minimum of three concerts per year, with additional community performances at the director and ensemble’s discretion.  Students must be a member of the curricular choirs to be a member of this group.

Women’s Quartet

     Focus in these ensembles is centered on a cappella vocal music in many different styles, including Sweet Adelines (female barbershop), vocal jazz, popular music, and traditional harmonies.  Students are selected by audition for this group, and perform many times during the year, both at school and in the community. Students must be a member of the curricular choirs to be a member of these groups.

Men’s Quartet

     Focus in this ensemble is centered on a cappella vocal music in many different styles, including barbershop, vocal jazz, popular music, and traditional harmonies.  Students are selected by audition for this group, and perform many times during the year, both at school and in the community. Students must be a member of the curricular choirs to be a member of this group.

Senior High Musical

     The annual Oil City High School Musical is an opportunity for high school students to participate in a complete musical theatre production.  Students are involved in all aspects of the production, including the cast, orchestra, and stage tech.  Students will audition at the beginning of the school year, with rehearsals beginning immediately after the final callbacks.  All students in grades 9-12 in the Oil City and Cranberry Area School Districts are eligible to participate in the musical.  Students need not be in choir to audition.  Past musical productions have included You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (2024 - 50 Anniversary), Shrek! the Musical (2023), The Addams Family (2022), Mamma Mia (2021), and many others.

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