HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM

HIGH SCHOOL BAND

The North Allegheny High School Bands have a long and fine tradition of musical excellence.  The Bands at North Allegheny have traveled all over the United States, Canada, and Europe.  The North Allegheny High School Band Program is made up of three concert groups in grades 9-10 and three concert groups in grades 11-12.  The program also offers the nearly 300 member "Tiger" Marching Band, three Jazz Ensembles, a Percussion Ensemble, and other chamber groups.  Alumni of the North Allegheny Band Program have gone to on to major in both music education and/or music performance at some of the finest colleges and universities in the country including Michigan State University, Syracuse University, Indiana University, Youngstown State University, Slippery Rock University, The University of Northern Iowa, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Duquesne University, Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Belmont University, Mercyhurst College, Vanderbilt University, Penn State University, Appalachian State University, and Ithaca College. Other non-music majors have also continued to play and study their instruments at such fine institutions as Ohio State, Notre Dame, The University of Pittsburgh, Duke University, Kent State University, Case Western University, Penn State University, Slippery Rock University, Cornell University, Clemson University, The University of Delaware, The University of Dayton, Appalachian State University, and Carnegie Mellon University.

Check out the NA High School Band website!

Percussion: 

Band:

HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR

The North Allegheny Senior High School Vocal Department serves grades 9-12, over 350 choral students daily in eight different choral ensembles. Each ensemble meets one full period every day. The North Allegheny Senior High School Honors Chamber Choir consists of students grades 10-12, and is a weighted honors course with membership attained by audition only. The senior high choirs perform three major concerts per year and partake in a major tour/adjudication to Disney Orlando, Florida every other year.

The North Allegheny Senior High School Choral Parents Association is and will continue to be the backbone of the organization. It is led by an executive board that handles all fundraising, chaperoning, and business transactions for all choral students grades 9-12.

HIGH SCHOOL ORCHESTRA

The North Allegheny High School Orchestra is made up of students in grades 9-12 with experience playing the violin, viola, cello, and string bass. These students meet during the school day and perform several concerts throughout the year. Additionally, all of the orchestra students participate in and perform with the Golden Strolling Strings. 

The orchestra travels and performs on a trip every year and has performed in cities such as Atlanta, Virginia Beach, Myrtle Beach, Washington, D.C., Orlando, and Toronto. The orchestra regularly receives "Superior" ratings. The NASH Chamber Orchestra has performed several times at the PMEA convention, most recently at the 2016 state convention held in Hershey, PA. In 2017, the NASH Chamber Orchestra and NAI Chamber Orchestra were both selected to be demonstration groups at the National ASTA Convention. Students are regularly accepted to participate in Honors Festivals at the local, regional, state and national level.

The Golden Strolling Strings was organized in 1988 by Mrs. Christine Loverti. The popular performing group is treated as a co-curricular activity and consists of all string orchestra students from grades 9-12. These students play music of all styles including: classical, folk, popular, seasonal and dance music. Selection may include the following: "Canon in D" by Pachelbel, "Sleeping Beauty Waltz" by Tchaikovsky, The William Tell Overture" by Gioachino Rossini, and folk medleys from Ireland, Italy, Mexico and America. Much in demand, the Golden Strolling Strings have been invited to perform for national conventions with 1000 people in attendance, church dinners, country club parties, weddings and other school and community functions. In April  of 1997, the Golden Strolling Strings performed for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Conference banquet in Monroeville, Pa. The North Allegheny Golden Strolling Strings continue to receive appreciative responses from the community. 

Visit the NA Orchestra website!

Twitter: @orchestra199

HIGH SCHOOL GENERAL MUSIC

There are many high school general music classes offered that stress the creation of music.

MUSIC PRODUCTION (LEVELS 1, 2, & 3)

This course provides the foundation for all other music classes.  The focus is on mastering the basics of music.  The student will learn how to hear, read, write, analyze, and compose music from diverse genres. They will learn to become independent musicians that can transfer their skills to any instrument, ensemble, or composition.
 
This course is an absolute must for anyone considering a career in music and for anyone who simply loves music. Music Production 1 will foster valuable skills that will enable each learner the ability to understand and enjoy music. Students do not have to be able to play an instrument to take this course nor is any prior music background required. The student will learn how to operate electronic music-making equipment, how to program and play a sound synthesizer and a music computer.

Music Production 2 includes more advanced studies of melody and harmony. The student will continue to develop skills needed to read, write, analyze, and compose music. The student will learn how to operate electronic music-making equipment, how to program and play a sound synthesizer and a music computer.

Music Production 3 improves a students’ listening, reading, performing and creating skills. The student will learn how to operate electronic music-making equipment, how to program and play a sound synthesizer and a music computer. The student will study a wide range of musicians, composers,  and styles of music to help create original music projects.   Students do not have to be able to play an instrument to take this course.

MUSIC TECHNOLOGY & SONGWRITING (LEVELS 1-4)

This course is designed to give students the ability to create original music, and learn to use different kinds of instruments and sound-generating equipment. Students will express ideas to others by writing, performing, and recording music. Included is arranging for various instrument kinds, learning how artists develop their musical idea, and how to develop a musical idea into a final project. Topics covered include: melody, harmony, rhythm, texture, form, and various song styles.

Level 2 students will create projects through the use of recording techniques, sound synthesizers and computers. The course also includes activities to improve the student’s listening and analysis skills.

Level 3 includes more advanced studies of melody and harmony. The student will continue to develop skills needed in order to compose and perform music. Topics covered include: advanced melody, advanced harmony, advanced rhythm, advanced texture, advanced form, and various song styles.

Level 4 activities include: Creating original music, learning to use different kinds of instruments and sound-generating equipment, and how to express ideas to others by writing, performing, and recording music. Included is arranging for various instrument kinds, learning how artists develop their musical idea, and how to develop a musical idea into a final performance. Topics covered include: melody, harmony, rhythm, texture, form, and various song styles. 

AP MUSIC & HONORS MUSIC

These classes are a necessity for any student who wishes to continue music study after high school graduation. This class is offered as yearlong courses. Successful completion of Music Theory 1 and 2 is a prerequisite. Some students choose to take the Advanced Placement Music class both in eleventh and twelfth grade.  The units in the Advanced Placement Music classes are integrated with history units so students can relate their learning to periods in time. Along with these history units, Honors Music Theory and Advanced Placement Music students deal with developing their ear. These listening units are also integrated with the theory units. These aural units begin with improving students’ awareness of sound. A music teacher’s goal for students should include being able to write what they hear. To help achieve this goal, some of these units engage the students in singing of humming activities. These activities start with a single pitch and progress to complex melodies. This will help to strengthen their tonal memory.

MULTIMEDIA ARTS & ADVANCED MULTIMEDIA ARTS

In this course the students design and create original media rich web sites and computer interactive multimedia presentations  that include animation, digital video, photography, graphics, sound and MIDI music.  Students will learn to use digital cameras, scan and edit photographs.  They will shoot and edit digital video.  Students create animation and dynamic web content.  Students learn sound recording, sound editing, and design and compose MIDI music. In the independent final project, students are encouraged to work to their interests and strengths, emphasizing a particular subject or artistic discipline.  Projects have included digital art or music portfolios, web site development, online exhibits, learning games, multimedia stage performances, and interactive presentations on a variety of topics.

The course emphasizes conception and planning, solving design challenges, personal artistic expression and communication through new media technology.  The course provides a foundation for careers in the growing field of web and multimedia design.  The course is taught by art and music faculty. 

We will conceive, plan and create original multimedia artworks that express an idea, feeling or point of view, individually or as a member of a creative team.
We will use new media and traditional media in a craftsman like way that explores the boundaries of the media.
We will shape the elements of sight and sound; time, space, color, light and texture, timbre, pitch and volume to express our ideas and to create interest, exorability, and beauty.
We will view and listen to a wide array of work by artists, composers, filmmakers and other media artists, including student work, to analyze, critique and understand the work and the context in which it was made.
Our evaluation of your work and your grade is based on the above standards and goals for your learning and accomplishments in Multimedia Arts.
In each artistic project we will evaluate:
craftsmanship; the effective use of media tools, software, an work process.
design and composition; the effective arrangement of visual and sound elements.
original expression; unique, personal development of a theme or vision.
In verbal and written responses to the works of art of others and your own we will evaluate your:
critical analysis of the formal and expressive features of the art work.
interpretation of the themes and ideas of the artwork.
understanding of the historical and cultural context of an artist and artwork.
More course information