Music
Our performing arts department engages students in the techniques and tools to be a successful performer and showcase the mastery of their art. Students are educated on the culture of performing arts in our community and throughout the world. We foster the skills students need to succeed in the classroom and on the stage.
Band
Divine Child High School bands have been providing the musical backdrop for DC events for five decades. Whether performing locally, nationally or internationally, our Falcon musicians have joyfully shared their considerable talent and represented Divine Child with pride.
| 2023-2024 Band Concerts | |
|---|---|
| Halloween Concert | Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, 2 p.m. |
| Christmas Concert | Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, 2 p.m. |
| Winter Concert | Sunday, March 3, 2024, 2 p.m. |
| Spring Concert | Sunday, May 5, 2024, 2 p.m. |
Band Curriculum
Concert Band
The Concert Band is a freshmen level band of Divine Child HS. Emphasis will be placed on developing student’s musical skills and techniques on their instrument. Upperclassmen may take this class to practice a 2nd instrument. The Concert band may participate in M.S.B.O.A. Sponsored events (solo and ensemble, and band festival). This band will join the Symphonic Band during the concert season. This course is a full year commitment.
There is a participation fee for this class.
Symphonic Band
The Symphonic Band will meet to produce and appreciate the finest music in wind ensemble literature. Emphasis will be placed on advancing skills and techniques on the instruments of the symphonic band. The Symphonic Band may participate in M.S.B.O.A. sponsored events (solo and ensemble, and band festival). The Symphonic Band is for the more serious musician and those musicians are strongly urged to practice outside of normal class time. The band will prepare four concerts—Autumn, Holiday, Winter, and Spring. This course is a full year commitment.
There is a participation fee for this class.
Non-School Day Courses
Marching Band
The marching band’s primary purpose is to support the football team at all home games. The marching band will also promote the school at various venues such as M.S.B.O.A. competitions, parades and visits to college band days. The goal of the marching band is to produce an excellent instrumental unit that can march and play, look uniform in appearance, and to proudly represent D.C. H.S. and the community. Two years of participation in the Marching Band meets the graduation requirement for Physical Education.
There is a participation fee for this class.
Jazz Band
The DC jazz Ensemble meets once a week after school and prepares three concerts as well as a concert tour to local elementary schools. Enrollment for the jazz ensemble is by audition in the fall. The band will also attend college workshops and festivals. Emphasis will be based on improvisation and the history and style of jazz literature. The student is given a PASS/FAIL grade.
There is a participation fee for this class.
Band Boosters
The Divine Child Band Boosters provide the volunteer and financial support necessary to continue Divine Child’s tradition of musical excellence. All band parents are automatically members of this vital organization!
The Boosters coordinate fundraising, concerts, afterglows and equipment moves to and from concert sites. For more information, please contact Bob Bush.
Choir & General Music
Divine Child offers multiple choirs for students to master vocal training. Our chorus receives rave reviews for their concerts throughout the area! For students interested in the technical and historic aspect of music, we offer music appreciation and theory classes.
Choirs & General Music Curriculum
- Chorus
- Advanced Chorus
- Music Appreciation
- Piano Keyboarding
- Advanced Piano Keyboarding
- Advanced Placement Music Theory
Chorus
Advanced Chorus
Music Appreciation
This course will develop the skill of listening intelligently to music with emphasis upon the development of music as an art. Classroom discussions, listening lessons and readings will guide the student to an understanding of various types, forms and styles of instrumental and vocal music of the world, stimulating perception and enjoyment of music. Representative works of all periods and cultures, including contemporary developments, will be studied.
Piano Keyboarding
Advanced Piano Keyboarding
This class is for those piano/keyboard players at the intermediate and advanced levels, as well as those students who took basic keyboarding. Music Theory, music notation, and music vocabulary will be discussed throughout the course. Students will be evaluated on performance as well as written assessments.
Advanced Placement Music Theory
This Advanced Placement course will be introducing and developing the student in musicianship, theory, musical materials, and procedures. This is not just for those in band and choir. It may emphasize aspects of music, such as harmony; more often, however, it integrates aspects of melody, harmony, texture, rhythm, form, musical analysis, elementary composition, and, to some extent, history and style. Musicianship skills such as dictation and other listening skills, sight-singing, and keyboard harmony are considered an important part of the theory course. Students are required to take the Advanced Placement Exam to receive the A.P. designation on the transcript and have the additional honor point calculated into the grade point average.