Performing Arts

In this class students learn a variety of dance styles (contemporary, jazz, ballet, and hip-hop) as well as explore improvisational and choreographic exercises. This class is open to all students interested in exploring creative expression through movement and working to gain greater kinesthetic awareness. The group will participate in an informal performance during the school day at the end of each semester. No prior dance experience required.

This course may be taken multiple times.

All Class VI students take Music VI as a part of a quarterly rotation with Visual Arts, Drama, and Computer Science. Music VI is a project-based introduction to music composition, giving students the opportunity to create a number of original musical compositions, exploring a variety of techniques and styles. They will learn several online applications for creating and editing music. The first part of the course focuses on basic music literacy and music notation using Noteflight. In the second half of the course they learn the basics of music production and editing techniques, working with Soundtrap.

Music V is a semester-long elective in which students will explore the principles—both creative and technical—of producing music for film and video. Students will see and hear a wide variety of examples of how music is used in film. This includes informative videos by renowned film score composers discussing the process. Using GarageBand, students will produce a number of original works of increasing complexity and length.

The Wind Ensemble is open to wind players, percussionists, and a few keyboard players. It rehearses twice a week and plays a variety of music, with a focus on various styles of concert band literature. Repertoire is chosen with regard to the size, instrumentation and skill level of the ensemble. The band performs in the Winter and Spring Concerts and occasionally in assembly. Ensemble members must already know how to read music and play their instruments. This course may be taken multiple times. Musicians in this group are strongly encouraged to take private lessons. Students are encouraged to audition for the Eastern Massachusetts District Music Festival.

Students with strong interest and superior vocal and instrumental abilities may request simultaneous participation in the Middle School Chorus and either the Middle School Wind Ensemble, and the Middle School Chorus, or Middle School String Ensemble for the year on their course selection form. Students may only participate in two of the three ensembles per semester. The directors will schedule a short audition at the start of the school year to ensure that the student can manage the music load for both groups while attending only half of each group's rehearsals, on alternating weeks.

Students normally participate in this ensemble for the full year.

The Middle School String Ensemble is elective and open to students who play violin, viola, cello, and upright bass with the consent of the conductor. Membership in our instrumental program presupposes that the student has acquired a reasonable amount of experience on their instrument. The String Ensemble rehearses twice a week and plays a variety of music, with a focus on various styles of string literature. This course may be taken multiple times. Musicians in this group are highly encouraged to take private lessons. Students are encouraged to audition for the Eastern Massachusetts District Music Festival.

Students with strong interest and superior vocal and instrumental abilities may request simultaneous participation in the Middle School Chorus and either the Middle School Wind Ensemble, and the Middle School Chorus, or Middle School String Ensemble for the year on their course selection form. Students may only participate in two of the three ensembles per semester. The directors will schedule a short audition at the start of the school year to ensure that the student can manage the music load for both groups while attending only half of each group's rehearsals, on alternating weeks.

Students normally participate in this ensemble for the full year.

The Middle School Chorus is open to all in Classes V and VI regardless of previous singing experience. The group rehearses twice a week and sings a varied selection of repertoire ranging from classical choral material to Broadway/popular music to music from cultures around the world. The Chorus performs in both main stage choral concerts. Emphasis is placed upon proper choral singing, good rehearsal habits, music reading, and aural skills. Students are encouraged to audition for the Eastern Massachusetts District Music Festival.

Students with strong interest and superior vocal and instrumental abilities may request simultaneous participation in the Middle School Chorus and either the Middle School Wind Ensemble, or Middle School String Ensemble for the year on their course selection form. Students may only participate in two of the three ensembles per semester. The directors will schedule a short audition at the start of the school year to ensure that the student can manage the music load for both groups while attending only half of each group's rehearsals, on alternating weeks.

Students normally participate in this ensemble for the full year.

Drama is taken as part of the quarterly rotation with Visual Arts, Music, and Computer Science in Class VI. Drama VI focuses on ensemble, staging, movement, voice, and improvisation. Teamwork, problem solving, and creative risk-taking are emphasised! The actor's job is to communicate the story to the audience; in Drama VI we explore all the tools at our disposal to do that job (and have plenty of fun too).

Drama V is a semester course that strengthens and expands on Class VI, as students explore a wide range of topics chosen by each individual class. In previous and current semesters, students have chosen to focus on scene study, reading plays, the business of theatre, theatre design, movement, Greek theatre, Non-Western theatre, experimental theatre, playwriting, and more.

Jam Band is an introduction to performing groove-based music. The group meets one day a week during a new, third M-Block to develop a varied repertoire incorporating student input. In the process students learn about ensemble playing in a variety of styles including Jazz, Latin, and many styles of popular music, and may experiment with simple improvisation in a safe setting if they so choose. The band performs in two concerts during the year and occasionally in assembly. Musicians in this group are strongly encouraged to study privately.

Students normally participate in these ensembles for the full year.

The Middle School Learn-to-Sing group is open to all students in Classes V and VI regardless of previous singing experience. It is intended primarily for those with little to no experience singing in an ensemble. The group meets twice a week and focuses on basic singing technique and musicianship. The primary goal is for students to gain confidence singing with each other, while expanding their vocal range and understanding of essential musical and vocal concepts: beat and rhythm, breath control, diction, and vocal improvisation. The group will participate in an informal performance during the school day at the end of each semester.

The Middle School Drum Ensemble is open to all in Classes V and VI regardless of previous musical experience. It is intended primarily for those with little to no experience playing in an ensemble. This group rehearses twice a week during the academic day and performs music using a wide array of percussion instruments and techniques, while learning how to play various time feels, grooves, and sticking combinations. The group will participate in an informal performance during the school day at the end of each semester.

Subject to availability, students may only be able to take this class once.

The Half-Notes is Nobles' Middle School a cappella group. Students audition for this ensemble at the beginning of the Fall or Spring semesters. The repertoire they sing is contemporary a cappella, with a strong emphasis in multi-part singing. Rehearsals are held one day a week during a new, third M-Block. Members of the Half-Notes are strongly encouraged to participate in Middle School Chorus and/or MS Wind Ensembles/MS Strings.

Students normally participate in these ensembles for the full year.

All students are welcome to take private music lessons at Nobles through the Applied Music Program (AMP). The AMP offers on-campus private lessons on wind, brass, string and percussion instruments, as well as voice, piano, guitar and electric bass, and jazz improvisation. Lessons take place every 7 school days during study halls/free periods. The cost for lessons is not covered by tuition and is billed separately. Families receiving financial aid automatically qualify for proportional support for the AMP fees. There are approximately 21 lessons a year.

Academic credit is not available for music lessons.

Students may take beginner lessons on a new instrument through the program, provided that the student has access to an instrument, or continue to take lessons if the student has prior experience through another program/teacher. Students participating in music ensembles at Nobles are also strongly encouraged to take private lessons in their instrument.

Nobles' co-ed Gospel and Multi-cultural ensemble open to all students and faculty and staff regardless of prior singing experience. The group rehearses one evening per week. Imani performs in two major concerts each year, morning assembly, and other outside of school events.