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. Students will work together to create a culminating performance to be shared with friends and faculty. No prior dance experience required.

This course may be taken multiple times.

Music VI is taken as part of the quarterly rotation with Visual Arts, Drama and Computers. Music V may be taken as a one-semester elective course in Class V. These project-based courses introduce students to the craft of music composition, through a study of rhythm, melody, harmony and form, as well as recording and production techniques. Students compose many short original works as well as a final project. Students will be introduced to Noteflight (cloud-based music notation software) and GarageBand/SoundTrap (sequencing/production software).

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 know how to read music and play their instruments already. This course may be taken multiple times. Musicians in this group are strongly encouraged to take private lessons.

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 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 these ensembles 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 all main stage 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 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, and as a semester course in Class V. The Class VI course focuses on ensemble, staging, movement, voice, and improvisation. The Class V course strengthens and expands actors' sense of storytelling and explores play analysis, monologues, scene work, writing for the theatre, and comedic and dramatic improvisation.

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. This course may be taken multiple times. Musicians in this group are strongly encouraged to study privately.

Students normally participate in these ensembles for the full year.

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 weekly 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 22 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.