Course Description: Instrumental Music


Course Title: Beginning Strings
Instructor: Mr. Todd Montemayor "Mr. M"

This course is for those who wish to learn how to play the violin, viola, cello, or bass. The students will learn proper technique for posture, holding, and playing the instrument. Furthermore, aside from learning the intricacies of each instrument, the students will establish a strong foundation of music theory by being music literate. By the end of the school year, each student will be comfortable playing their instrument and will know how to read basic music with dynamics and articulations. Traditionally with all string courses, students will be expected to master a set number of scales and arpeggios by the end of the year.

Students in this course will be required to either rent or own their instrument. Encore has a limited inventory of violins and violas which will be made available to the most promising students (determined by application and assessment). Select students will be allowed to play cello or bass (provided by Encore). Rentals or "Rent-to-Owns" can be arranged at our preferred music retailer: DB Music & Sound in Hesperia. Please see Mr. M for more details. 

Course Title: String Orchestra (Intermediate)
Instructor: Mr. Todd Montemayor "Mr. M"

This course is for students who wish to continue their violin, viola, cello, or bass studies. The students will reinforce and continue to develop proper technique for posture, holding, and playing the instrument. The students in this class will be expected to know how to read music with dynamics and articulations. More advanced music concepts including positions and phrasing will be introduced at this level. By the end of the school year, each student will be confident in their playing and will know how to sight read music at a medium-easy to medium level. Students in this ensemble who show exceptional improvement by the end of the year will be recommended to enter into the advanced level orchestra. Traditionally with all string courses, students will be expected to master a set number of scales and arpeggios by the end of the year.
Violin and viola students in this course will be required to either rent or own their instrument. Cellos and basses will be assigned for student use. Encore has a limited inventory of instruments intended for beginners, but can be made available to students in special circumstances (determined on a case-by-case basis). Rentals or "Rent-to-Owns" can be arranged at our preferred music retailer: DB Music & Sound in Hesperia. Please see Mr. M for more details.



Course Title: Chamber Orchestra (Advanced)
Instructor: Mr. Todd Montemayor "Mr. M"

This course is for students who have an authoritative command of their instrument: violin, viola, cello, or bass. The students in this class will be fluent in reading music comfortably above and below their respective staff as well as in third position. Not only will the students play as a conducted ensemble, but the class will periodically divide into trios, quartets, or quintets, depending on the instrumentation available. By the end of the school year, the students will have performed a through mixture of quality classical, romantic, and contemporary music literature in an intensive music setting. Traditionally with all string courses, students will be expected to master a set number of scales and arpeggios by the end of the year.

Violin and viola students will be required to own or rent their instrument. Cellos and basses, if not owned, will be assigned for student use. String instrument accessories or repair should be done at our pred music retailer: DB Music & Sound in Hesperia. Please see Mr. M for more details.



Course Title: Symphony Orchestra (Intermediate-Advanced)
Instructor: Mr. Todd Montemayor "Mr. M"

This course is for students who have a command of their qualifying symphony appropriate instrument: piccolo/flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, percussion, violin, viola, cello, or bass. The students in this class will be fluent in reading music comfortably above and below their respective staff. By the end of the school year, the students will have performed a thorough mixture of quality classical, romantic, and contemporary music literature, including new commissioned works, in an intensive music setting.   

The students in this course will comprise the "Encore Symphony Orchestra" and will perform in 2 concerts per semester and participate in festival adjudication. Furthermore, this ensemble will serve as the flagship group of Encore's orchestra program and will set the standard for advanced-level performance that younger students will look up to. The Encore Symphony Orchestra will take part in recruiting events and community performances.

Course Title: Drum Line
Instructor: Mr. Todd Montemayor "Mr. M"

This course is designed to develop the skills and knowledge that will enhance your understanding and enjoyment of music. The course is for those who are committed to the development of percussion skills and wish to enhance their performance. This ensemble requires all students to know how to read music containing intermediate to advanced level rhythms. Students in this class will be held to physically demanding performance standards. Students will also build upon a foundation of music theory through which they will aesthetically value the aural art. They will also have memorized several cadences for use through the year.

The “Pirate Drum Line” will be vehicle for school spirit and excitement at school functions.

Course Title: Beginning Band
Instructor: Mr. Cameron Nabhan "Mr. N"

Beginning band is a one-year course designed to teach beginning instrumental skills to students with no, or very little, previous experience. In this course you will learn : to assemble and maintain your instrument, produce a good quality sound/tone on your instrument, read and write traditional music notation, learn performance skills and etiquette, and basic music theory. Students in this course will be required to either rent or own their instrument. The following instruments are available to start in beginning band: flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, french horn, trumpet, trombone, baritone, tuba, and percussion (snare drum and bell kit).  Students who are unable to rent an instrument or who choose to play Tuba, Baritone, Bass Trombone, and Bass Clarinet may be eligible to check-out a school instrument.  Beginning band has one performance a semester. 

Course Title: Intermediate Band
Instructor: Mr. Cameron Nabhan "Mr. N"

Intermediate Band is a one-year course designed to teach intermediate instrumental skills to students with one or two years previous experience. In this course you will learn: to maintain your instrument optimally, to produce a good quality tone on your instrument, read intermediate level music (Grade 2/3), refine performance skills and etiquette, and music theory. Intermediate band participates in one concert a semester, and one regional festival that occurs in the spring.

Course Title: Concert Band
Instructor: Mr. Cameron Nabhan "Mr. N"

Concert Band is a one-year course designed for students who have a command of wind, brass, and percussion instruments. In this class you will be comfortable with reading music above and below your instrument's respective staff. By the end of the school year, you will have performed a thorough mixture of quality band literature in a constructive music setting. Concert band participates in one concert a semester, and one regional festival that occurs in the spring. 



Course Title: Symphonic Winds
Instructor: Mr. Cameron Nabhan "Mr. N"

Symphonic Winds is a one-year course that is for students who have an advanced, authoritative command of wind, brass, or percussion instrument. In this class you will be fluent in reading music comfortably above and below your respective staff. Not only will you play in a conducted ensemble, but the class will periodically divide into chamber ensembles, depending on the instrumentation available. By the end of the school year, you will have performed a thorough mixture of advanced quality band literature, including new commissioned works, in an intensive music setting. Symphonic Winds participates in one concert a semester, one regional festival that occurs in the spring, and community/school recruitment tours.



Course Title: Jazz Band I
Instructor: Mr. Cameron Nabhan "Mr. N"

Jazz Band I is designed for students who have at least one year of jazz experience, and possess intermediate instrumental skills. In Jazz Band I you will have the opportunity to learn and perform the following styles of music: pop, swing, funk, Latin, and rock. Creativity, improvisation, transcribing melodies and rhythms, and refined aural skills are fostered in this band. It is expected that you will practice on a daily basis to master the jazz style and to develop the art of improvisation. In this course you will: perform various styles of jazz music (Grade II to Grade IV), demonstrate proper playing position: posture and embouchure formation, produce a quality and rich tone on your instrument, demonstrate a variety of jazz articulations, and transcribe and perform various jazz melodies and rhythms. Jazz Band I will perform in one concert a semester, school events such as Carnival and school rallies, competitive jazz festivals in the spring, and other community "gigs" that become available.



Course Title: Jazz Band II
Instructor: Mr. Cameron Nabhan "Mr. N"

Jazz Band II is the advanced jazz band at Encore High School. This band is designed for students who have at least three years jazz experience; by audition only. In Jazz Band II you will master and perform each style of jazz: swing, funk, Latin, rock, and pop. Creativity, improvisation, transcribing melodies and rhythms, and refined aural skills are fostered in this band. It is expected that you will practice on a daily basis to master the jazz style and to develop the art of improvisation. In this course you will: perform various styles of jazz music (Grade IV to Grade VI), demonstrate proper playing position, produce a quality and rich tone on your instrument, demonstrate a variety of jazz articulations, transcribe and perform various jazz melodies and rhythms, improvise melodies over simple and complex chord changes, develop knowledge of jazz history, and become proficient on all blues scales and modes. Jazz Band II performs frequently throughout the year at school events, concerts, competitive festivals, and other community gigs. 

Course Title: Music Theory
Instructor: Mr. Cameron Nabhan "Mr. N"
  
This course is designed to develop musical skills that will lead to a thorough understanding of music composition and music theory. This class is a serious academic-centered class within the field of music, and is most appropriate for high school juniors and seniors. This class is a requirement for conservatory cords in music (vocal or instrumental) for graduation. The emphasis will be on the rules of theory and composition, ear training, and sight singing. While the main emphasis is placed on music of the common period (1600-1750), music of other stylistic periods will also be studied. Students are prepared to take the AP Music Theory Exam, if applicable, when they have completed the course. Students planning to major in music in college may be able to enroll in an advanced music theory course, depending on individual colleges AP policies.  



Course Title: Guitar 1 
This course will continue the study of the guitar, moving into upper positions, and more complex music. More keys will be explored, as well as moveable-barré chords, the circle of fifths. 
 The curriculum will include both flat picking technique and basic classical finger style technique.

This course is designed to develop skills and knowledge that will enhance one’s understanding and enjoyment of music. It is for students who wish to learn to play a band instrument and to become a part of the award-winning Encore Band Program. Instruction in flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, saxophone, trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba, and percussion (drums, mallets, auxiliary) is offered. A reasonable amount of practice is required of all students.



This is a one-year course designed for students who have not played guitar, but are willing and dedicated to learning. The course will cover fundamentals of guitar playing and note reading on guitar using standard notation. The class will focus on playing first position, major, minor and dominant seventh chords in first position. Both flat picking technique and beginning classical finger style technique will be introduced, and students will become familiar with different playing musical styles, including basic blues. In the second semester, the class will begin studying upper positions.

Course Title: Guitar 2 

Pre- Requisite: Guitar 1 class or prior experience playing and reading music on guitar, with a thorough knowledge of the notes in first position. Instructor’s permission needed for entrance.

Course Title: Guitar 3

Pre-Requisite: Intermediate Guitar Class (Level 2), or have substantially covered the same course work in private study, with a thorough knowledge of the notes in first and fifth position. Instructor’s permission needed for entrance.
The Guitar Class 3 is a one-year course designed for students who have complete the In the Guitar Class 3, students will learn significantly more complex pieces, from first to twelfth position, leading towards college level material, in a wide-variety of styles. Areas covered will include advanced chord playing and harmony, use of scales and modes in improvisation, ear training, solo guitar and ensemble pieces.

Course Title: Piano I

This class is for the students who have never taken piano classes or lessons. This class will focus on basic music theory, note reading, counting rhythm (eighth, quarter, half, dotted half and whole note and rest), and piano techniques (legato and staccato). The piano is known as "king of instruments" due to its tonal range, broad dynamic range and its ability to be used as a solo instrument as well as accompaniment for any other instruments including singers. Students will be able to experience the concepts of piano. This class is meant to introduce music and wake their interests not only for piano but also for other instruments. It gives a broader experience as to what music really is and that it entails. Music teaches students to practice being patient not only in class but in everyday life.

Course Title: Piano II

This class is for the students who already completed piano I or equivalent. This class will focus on music theory, note reading (with multiple ledger lines), counting rhythm (sixteenth, dotted eighth and triplet) and piano techniques in early intermediate level. Students will be encouraged to bring their choice of songs and work in the class. They are strongly recommended to participate in our piano recital.

Course Title: Piano III
This class is for the students who already completed piano I and II or equivalent. This class will focus on advanced music theory with all the chords, note reading (multiple ledger lines and octave sign), basic improvisation, counting rhythm (compound rhythm, thirty second etc.) and advanced piano techniques (4 octave scales will be played together in every class and required to memorize all the major and minor scales). Students will be encouraged to bring their choice of songs and work in the class. They are required to participate in our piano recital. They will be assigned to play at least one ensemble piece in each semester (piano duet or accompaniment for other instrument or singer). The work/book will be assigned individually to purchase.

Course Title: Piano IV
This class is for the students who already completed all piano I, II and III or equivalent. This class is more for college preparation and students will work on the repertoires that most college require for their audition. This class will focus on advanced music theory, basic music history, piano techniques (Hanon 60 finger exercises) and basic composition. Students will be asked to play at least one major work by a classic well known composer in each semester and are required to perform in the piano recitals in both semesters. Also they will be assigned to play with an ensemble group and perform in the advanced music recital. The work/book will be assigned individually to purchase.