This yearlong instrumental music class is for those students who have attained an advanced proficiency with their instruments and seek intense performance experiences. The class focuses on performance, preparation, teamwork, and skill development. The groups play a wide variety of music drawn from the jazz, blues, and rock, and classical idioms. Students develop skills in playing music with others, music theory and history, composition and improvisation. Students perform at numerous assemblies, school, and community events such as the GDS Jazz Festival and the Burke Auction. This course is open to 11th/12th graders only and requires the instructor’s recommendation.

Theater is an engaging art form that offers participants the opportunity to explore themselves and the world around them. This introduction to drama course gives students of all experience levels the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of theater for one trimester. By taking part in a series of physical, hands-on activities and exercises, students will come together as an ensemble, develop their skills as actors, and work on a production team as directors, designers, and dramaturgs.

Just like the name says, every day in class, students will perform Improv. Over the course of the trimester, students will learn and play countless improv exercises and games, learning the basics of both shortform and longform improv. The class will culminate with a performance in front of an audience of invited guests. Improv is a fun and engaging class that will keep you laughing throughout the trimester.

This trimester class is for those students who have attained basic proficiency with their instruments and want to play music with others. The class focuses on performance, preparation, teamwork, and skill development. The group plays a wide variety of music drawn from the jazz, blues, rock, and classical idioms. Music theory and history, improvisation, and composition techniques and are studied concurrently. Students perform at assemblies and the Performing Arts Showcase.

This trimester class is for those students who have attained basic proficiency with their instruments and want to develop skills in playing music with others. This one trimester class focuses on performance, preparation, teamwork, and skill development. The groups play a wide variety of music drawn from the jazz, blues, rock, and classical idioms. Music theory and history, improvisation, and composition techniques are studied concurrently. Students perform at an assembly.

This two-trimester instrumental music class is for those students who have attained a more advanced proficiency with their instruments and seek more numerous and intense performance experiences. The class focuses on performance, preparation, teamwork, and skill development. The groups play a wide variety of music drawn from the jazz, blues, and rock, and classical idioms. Students develop skills in playing music with others, music theory and history, composition and improvisation. Students perform at numerous assemblies, school, and community events such as the GDS Jazz Festival.

In this one trimester class students will learn the basics of playing the piano and/or guitar. Students will learn the basics of reading music and by the end of the class will be able to play several solo and group songs.

Creativity is a superpower! Songwriting involves a blend of creative writing, music arranging/production and performance. In this class, students will learn the process of songwriting in a collaborative space. Once songs are created, writers can either perform their creations or choose a willing singer to perform them instead.

High school students will learn and strengthen vocal technique basics and will explore music from different genres, including pop, jazz and classical. Students will have the opportunity to perform with full ensemble, as well as in smaller groupings and as soloists depending on interest and experience. Open to all levels; no prior experience required. Participation in an evening concert on the school calendar distributed at the beginning of the school year is required.