The music education program begins in kindergarten. Students in Grade k-5 are offered music once a week for 45 minutes and an extra 45 minute music class for 10 weeks out of the school year. The general music curriculum is aligned with the New York State Standards for the Arts.
Elementary School
The elementary schools offer chorus to all students in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade. These extra curricular groups meet before or after the regular school day. The elementary schools also participate in ECMEA all-county chorus, which is an auditioned group for outstanding chorus members throughout Western New York.
Middle School
Students have many vocal performing groups from which to choose; 6th Grade Chorus, 7th Grade Chorus, 8th Grade Chorus, and Singcopations (an auditioned vocal ensemble). Choruses meet every other day during the school day. The schedule is such that any student participating in chorus is still able to particpate in band or orchestra. Singcopations meets before the Middle School day.
All sixth-graders take General Music which meets every day for 10 weeks. In 7th and 8th grade, students choose between a performing group or General Music. 7th Grade General Music meets every day for 10 weeks and 8th Grade meets every other day for 20 weeks.
High School
At the high school level, Music in our Lives, Guitar, and Music Theory are offered as music electives, along with many vocal ensembles. Music in our Lives is geared toward the non "Music major". Different types of music are investigated. How music effects us in our daily lives and why we like/dislike certain kinds of music is also disussed. This is a half-year course earning .5 credit toward graduation. An open mind and a sense of humor is required!
Beginning guitar is also offered. It meets every day for one semester and carries .5 credit. Students learn a few basic chords along with strumming, finger-picking techniques, how to play a melody and the basics of note and tablature reading.
The high school, also, offers a comprehensive vocal program with two curricular choirs, three extra-curricular choirs, and small group vocal lessons. There is an emphasis on music literacy and sound vocal technique in the curriculum for Choir and Concert Choir. The choirs meet daily and earn a credit towards graduation requirements in the arts. Students in these ensembles are active in All-County Chorus, Area All-State festivals, as well as, Conference All-State, NAfME Conference All-East, the New York State Summer School of the Arts School of Choral Studies and NYSSMA Solo festivals.
Madrigal Singers, The Dominant Force (men's chorus) and Women of Note (women’s chorus) provide extra-curricular opportunities for singing in all possible genres. These groups meet once a week outside the school day. Madrigal Singers (an auditioned ensemble for men and women) is a highly select group of dedicated singers who perform as musical ambassadors in the community. The Music Department produces a fully staged musical annually and all students are welcome to participate. These productions offer opportunities on stage (singing, dancing, acting), in the pit (playing instruments), and off/back stage (stage-crew, light board, sound board, set construction, make-up, costumes), to a great range of students.
