Music Department Homepage

Holland Patent High School offers a variety of elective and extracurricular music opportunities for students, including: 

AP Music Theory: an Advanced Placement/MVCC elective course that can earn students up to 9 college credits. The course challenges students to develop their aural, written, and analytical music skills.  

Guitar 101: an elective course that meets every other day designed to teach students the basics of guitar playing, including tab, chords, melodies, and various picking/strumming techniques. 

Chamber Orchestra: an ensemble open to all string students in grades 9-12 that performs classical, popular, and contemporary pieces. The ensemble performs at the Veterans Day, Winter, and Spring concerts for the public. 

Jazz Ensemble: an extracurricular ensemble that meets after school once per week. The ensemble is open to all students, including those with guitar, bass, and piano experience. The Jazz Ensemble performs at the Winter Concert as well as Cabaret. 

Mixed Chorus: a credit-bearing ensemble open to all students in grades 9-12. The Mixed Chorus studies a wide range of music, from popular to patriotic. They perform at the Veterans Day, Winter, and Spring concerts for the public. 

Select Chorus: a credit-bearing ensemble open to students in grades 9-12 that is an additional opportunity to sing. The ensemble performs more challenging selections than the Mixed Chorus, and performs at the Veterans Day, Winter, and Spring concerts for the public. 

String Ensemble: an extracurricular pops orchestra that is open to string students in grades 9-12 by invitation. The ensemble meets in the evenings once per week and performs music that is more challenging than the standard orchestra repertoire in the Winter and at Cabaret. 

Vocal Ensemble: an extracurricular show choir that is open to any student in grades 9-12. The group meets once per week after school, and performs in the Winter and at Cabaret. 

Wind Ensemble: a credit-bearing ensemble open to students in grades 9-12 with prior band experience. The ensemble performs a wide variety of music that challenges students to develop their overall musicianship and appreciation for music. Performances include the Veterans Day, Winter, and Spring concerts as well as NYSSMA Majors for evaluation. 

*Students who participate in Chamber Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and Mixed or Select Chorus receive a lesson once every 6 school days on a rotating schedule. 

Holland Patent Middle School offers a variety of opportunities to advance student musicianship including:

Elementary Concert Band: an ensemble for students in grade 6 who play a wind, brass, or percussion instrument. The ensemble meets every other school day and performs at the Winter and Spring concerts, and frequently for an evaluation at NYSSMA Majors. 

Middle School Symphonic Band: an ensemble for students in grades 7-8 with prior band experience. The ensemble meets every other school day and performs three times a year, as well as for an evaluation at NYSSMA Majors. 

Concertino Strings: an ensemble for students in grade 6 who play a string instrument. The ensemble meets every other day and performs twice a year at the Winter and Spring concerts. 

Sinfonia Orchestra: an ensemble for students in grades 7-8 with prior string playing experience. The ensemble meets every other school day and performs three times a year. 

Elementary Chorus: an ensemble for students in grade 6; no prior singing experience is required. The class meets every other day and performs twice a year at the Winter and Spring concerts. 

Middle School Chorus: for students in grades 7-8. The ensemble rehearses every other day and performs three times a year. 

Classroom Music: All students in grade 6 receive 10 weeks of classroom music instruction, which includes music theory, piano, and African drumming units. Students in grade 7 who do not participate in a performing ensemble also take 20 weeks of classroom music, which discusses music history and the use of technology in music. 

Jazz Ensemble: an extracurricular ensemble for students in grades 6-8 who are proficient on a band instrument, piano, guitar, or bass. The ensemble meets after school once per week and performs styles such as funk, rock, swing, and blues in the Winter and Spring. 

String Ensemble: an extracurricular ensemble open to string students in grades 7 and 8 by invitation. The ensemble meets once per week in the evening and performs music that is more challenging than the standard repertoire in the Winter as well as at Cabaret. 

*Students who participate in band, chorus, or orchestra receive a lesson once every 6 school days on a rotating schedule. 

Music students can also participate in additional opportunities, including Elementary and Junior High All County festivals as well as NYSSMA Solo Festival. 

Our elementary music program is proud to offer students in grades Pre-K through 5 a well-rounded education and opportunities to perform at each grade level. The program includes: 

Classroom Music: Classroom music is offered to students in grades Pre-K through 5 once every six school days. The curriculum surpasses the state and national music standards and provides students with unique opportunities, such as ukulele instruction at HPE. All students in grades PK-3 perform once per year at a themed grade level concert during the school day. 

Concert Band: The Concert Band program offers students in grades 4 and 5 the opportunity to begin or continue their study of a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument. All participating students receive small group instrumental lessons on a six-day rotating schedule during the school day. These lessons focus on developing fundamental skills such as tone production, technique, music reading, and ensemble playing. Students will also have the opportunity to rehearse and perform with their peers as part of a larger ensemble experience. After completing a year of lessons, students are invited to participate in the 5-6 Concert Band, which meets on days 2 and 6 from 7:40 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. at the Middle School. The ensemble performs at the Winter and Spring concerts. 

Elementary Chorus: This ensemble is open to any student in grades 4-5. The Elementary Chorus meets on days 1 and 5 from 7:40 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. at the Middle School. Performances include the Winter and Spring concerts. 

Elementary Orchestra: The Holland Patent orchestra program welcomes students in grades 3-5 who wish to play the violin, viola, cello, or bass. After completing a year of lesson instruction, students are invited to participate in Concertino Strings, a performing ensemble that meets on days 2 and 6 from 7:40 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. at the Middle School. This ensemble performs at the Winter and Spring concerts. 

 

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