Music

Instrumental Music (Band)

Grade Level: 9 - 12 Credits: .25/semester Length: All Year Prerequisite: Middle School Band Considerations: Learning to play a musical instrument successfully takes several years of focused effort. It helps to have a few years of experience playing a musical instrument and being able to read music when you join the Mid-Prairie High School band program. If you don’t have experience playing an instrument, you are still welcomed into the band program. There is place for you in this band program and there are several school-owned instruments that you can play. Course Description: The MPHS band season starts with marching band. The Golden Hawk marching band has five days of band camp in August before school starts. When the school year begins, the band rehearses on Tuesday and Thursday and most Friday mornings at 7:00 am. The marching band performs at all home football games, the homecoming pep rally, Kalona Fall Festival and our Stadium Echoes concert. The marching band typically competes at two marching band competitions: the Wilton Festival of Bands and State Marching Band Contest. Both of these events take place on Saturdays in October. As soon as marching band season is over, we begin concert band and jazz band rehearsals. All students enrolled in the band program participate in marching band and concert band. Jazz band is an extra curricular ensemble that rehearses on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from late October to early May. Enrollment in the MPHS band program is required for membership in the jazz band. The MPHS pep band typically performs at 8 to 10 home basketball and wrestling meets during the winter season. All students enrolled in the band program are required to be in the pep band. Students enrolled in the MPHS band program also have opportunity to perform in the River Valley Conference Honor Band, State Solo/Ensemble Contest, and the pit orchestra for the annual school musical in the spring.

Music Theory

Grade Level: 9 - 12 Credits: .25/semester Length: One, two or three semesters starting after marching band season Considerations: Music theory is offered for any student who wants to learn more about the subject of music. You do not need to have studied or played music to enroll in this class. Course Description: Music Theory at MPHS uses Alfred’s Essentials of Music Theory as the course of study. There are also three levels of jazz theory to study if you chose. During the course there are written tests at the end of each unit of study and a small

amount of home work, In this course you will have the opportunity to write and perform your own music based on the skills and concepts learned in the class.

Mixed Choir

Grade Level: 9-12 Credits: .25/semester Length: All year Considerations: Basic music theory is also taught in this class. While we do have performances throughout the year, students need to understand this is a class which requires homework, quizzes, and tests. Course Description: The Mid-Prairie Mixed Choir is comprised of freshmen through seniors, and typically has an enrollment of around 70 students. Basics of music theory are taught throughout the year. It is of great benefit to all the members of the choir for everyone to study these basics both in and out of the classroom. Mixed Choir is a non-auditioned choir which meets for the entire year. Students in Mixed Choir perform at the Fall Festival in Kalona, a Madrigal Dinner, Carols for Kindness, Pops & Pie, a 6-12 grade choir concert in May, and at the graduation ceremony. Students are expected to be at all performances, and must remain in good academic standing and not violate the Good Conduct Policy to be eligible to perform. The Madrigal Dinner is the most intense performance of the year, with a 3+hour performance during the first Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of December. The Mixed Choir also participates in the Iowa Music Association State Large Group Contest every year.

Ladies’ Lyrica

Grade Level: 9-12 Credits: .25/semester Length: All year Considerations: Basic music theory is also taught in this class. While we do have performances throughout the year, students need to understand this is a class which requires homework, quizzes, and tests. Course Description: Ladies’ Lyrica is comprised of freshmen through seniors, and typically has an enrollment of around 30 students. Basics of music theory are taught throughout the year. It is of great benefit to all the members of the choir for everyone to study these basics both in and out of the classroom. Freshmen girls who are not in band will be enrolled in Ladies’ Lyrica to gain a deeper understanding of basic music fundamentals. Ladies who wish to enroll in both choirs are more than welcome to do so & will receive credit for both choirs. Ladies’ Lyrica is a non-auditioned choir which meets for the entire year. Students in Ladies’ Lyrica perform at the Fall Festival in Kalona, a Madrigal Dinner, Carols for Kindness, Pops & Pie, a 6-12 grade choir concert in May, and at the graduation ceremony. Students are expected to be at all performances, and must remain in good academic standing and not violate the Good Conduct Policy to be eligible to perform The Madrigal Dinner is the most intense performance of the year, with a 3+hour