Vocal Music

• Open to all Grade Levels

• Credits: 5 per semester

• College Prep Course

Vocal Performance Ensemble is a BEGINNING level singing ensemble open to all students.  No experience needed. No audition is required.  Everyone is welcome.

Students will acquire skills in reading music notation and in vocal production.  Through singing, students will express themselves creatively.  During the course of the year, students will gain historical and cultural perspective by studying, analyzing, and performing music from across the historical spectrum.  Through written and oral analysis of texts and music being performed, students will connect and apply analytic skills learned in other courses.  Through participation in concerts and festivals, singers will respond to and assess the technical and aesthetic aspects of choral performance.  By working with varied instrumental ensembles in concert and by working with guest conductors and vocal specialists, students will gain an understanding of the choral art in relation to other performance disciplines and will develop an awareness of the various facets of the music profession. 

What can students expect to learn in Vocal Performance Ensemble:

1. Learn music literacy and performing skills

2. Develop vocal technique and musicianship skills

3. Perform in choir concerts

4. Make new friends

5. Express yourself creatively through music

6. Gain life skills that will transfer to other academic classes

7. Have a great time making life-long memories

Students are expected to attend all rehearsals and performances of the Vocal Performance Ensemble.

• Open to all Grade Levels (Audition Required)

  • Audition Info

• Credits: 10 credits per year

• College Prep Course

Viva Cantar is an INTERMEDIATE singing ensemble open to all students that sing in the higher, treble range.  Open to 9-12 grade. Memberships by audition only. Auditions are in May of the previous school year.

What students can expect to experience in Viva Cantar:

1. Expand intermediate level music literacy and performing skills

2. Develop vocal technique and musicianship skills

3. Perform in choir concerts

4. Make new friends

5. Express yourself creatively through music

6. Gain life skills that will transfer to other academic classes

7. Have a great time making life-long memories

Students are expected to attend all rehearsals and performances of the Viva Cantar.

• Open to all Grade Levels (Audition Required)

  • Audition Info

• Credits: 10

• College Prep Course

The IHS Chorale is an INTERMEDIATE  Tenor & Bass singing ensemble open to 9-12 grade students. Selection for IHS Chorale is dependent upon appropriate balance between tenors and basses. Membership is by audition only.

Students will acquire skills in reading music notation and in vocal production.  Through singing, students will express themselves creatively.  During the course of the year, students will gain historical and cultural perspective by studying, analyzing, and performing music from across the historical spectrum.  Through written and oral analysis of texts and music being performed, students will connect and apply analytic skills learned in other courses.  Through participation in concerts and festivals, singers will respond to and assess the technical and aesthetic aspects of choral performance.  By working with varied instrumental ensembles in concert and by working with guest conductors and vocal specialists, students will gain an understanding of the choral art in relation to other performance disciplines and will develop an awareness of the various facets of the music profession. 

What students can expect to experience in Chorale:

1. Expand intermediate music literacy and performing skills

2. Continue developing strong vocal technique

3. Perform in choir concerts and a festival

4. Make life-long friends

5. Express yourself creatively through classical and pop styles

6. Gain life skills that will transfer to other academic classes

7. Have a great time making life-long memories

• Open to all Grade Levels (Audition Required)

  • Audition Info

• Credits: 10

• College Prep Course

Canta Bella is an ADVANCED singing ensemble open to all students that sing in the higher, treble range. Selection for Canta Bella is dependent upon appropriate balance of voice parts. Membership is by audition only.

Students will acquire skills in reading music notation and in vocal production. Through singing, students will express themselves creatively. During the course of the year, students will gain historical and cultural perspective by studying, analyzing, and performing music from across the historical spectrum. Through written and oral analysis of texts and music being performed, students will connect and apply analytic skills learned in other courses. Through participation in concerts and festivals, singers will respond to and assess the technical and aesthetic aspects of choral performance. By working with varied instrumental ensembles in concert and by working with guest conductors and vocal specialists, students will gain an understanding of the choral art in relation to other performance disciplines and will develop an awareness of the various facets of the music profession.

What students can expect to experience in Canta Bella:

1. Advance your music literacy and performing skills

2. Develop advanced vocal technique and musicianship

3. Perform in choir concerts, festivals, and community performances

4. Make life-long friends

5. Express yourself creatively through classical and pop styles

6. Gain life skills that will transfer to other academic classes

7. Have a great time making life-long memories

Students are expected to attend all rehearsals and performances of the Canta Bella.

• Open to all Grade Levels (Audition Required)

  • Audition Info

• Credits: 10

• College Prep Course

Irvine Singers is an ADVANCED mixed singing ensemble that specializes in the performance of challenging literature of diverse genres.  Membership is by audition only.

Students will acquire skills in reading music notation and in vocal production.  Through singing, students will express themselves creatively.  During the course of the year, students will gain historical and cultural perspective by studying, analyzing, and performing music from across the historical spectrum.  Through written and oral analysis of texts and music being performed, students will connect and apply analytic skills learned in other courses.  Through participation in concerts and festivals, singers will respond to and assess the technical and aesthetic aspects of choral performance.  By working with varied instrumental ensembles in concert and by working with guest conductors and vocal specialists, students will gain an understanding of the choral art in relation to other performance disciplines and will develop an awareness of the various facets of the music profession. 

What students can expect to experience in Irvine Singers:

1. Advance your music literacy and performing skills

2. Develop advanced vocal technique and musicianship skills

3. Perform in choir concerts, festivals, and community performances

4. Make life-long friends

5. Express yourself creatively through classical and pop styles

6. Gain life skills that will transfer to other academic classes

7. Have a great time making life-long memories

Students are expected to attend all rehearsals and performances of the Irvine Singers.  

• Open to all Grade Levels

• Credits: 5 per semester

• College Prep Course

Music Theory is open to all students. It is recommended for sophomores and/or juniors who plan to enroll in Advanced Placement Music Theory. However, it is also for those wishing to simply acquire a broader understanding of music. Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:

1. Demonstrate fluency with all major and minor scales.

2. Demonstrate ability to perform difficult rhythmic passages.

3. Demonstrate understanding of intervals.

4. Analyze a harmonic passage of medium difficulty.

5. Write two-part melodies from dictation.

• Advanced Placement

• Credits: 10 (Weighted GPA)

• College Prep Course

Designed for student musicians with advanced skills and strong interest in music, this course prepares students for the Advanced Placement Examination.  The course integrates aspects of melody, harmony, texture, rhythm, form, and to some extent, history and style.  Ability to read and write basic music notation is required.

Because of the abundance of collegiate and professional musical performances in the area, students will be expected to attend many concerts and provide written evaluations of those performances. 

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:

1. Earn college credit for Freshman Music Theory by passing the Advanced Placement Test.

2. Demonstrate speed and fluency in working with basic musical notation.

3. Demonstrate skill in melodic, harmonic and rhythmic dictation.

4. Demonstrate ability to sight-sing four to eight measure melodies in major and minor tonalities.

5. Demonstrate appropriate compositional and analytical skills, and

6. Demonstrate awareness of major stylistic periods in music history.