Musicianship Core Classes
Music Theory gives students a working knowledge of contemporary music theory fundamentals by covering the basic concepts of notation, rhythm, tonality, and harmony, and emphasizing in-depth understanding of intervals, triads, major and minor scales, and duple and triple meters.
Ear Training provides a contemporary approach to ear training by employing drills that help develop active listening skills and dictation abilities, particularly pitch, interval, chord, and rhythm recognition.
Ensembles applies musicianship, performance technique, and knowledge of stylistic precedent in creating a performing band. The repertoire is drawn from a variety of arrangements of modern worship music and genre-related music material. Students apply these concepts in the contexts of rehearsals and live performances. Participation in an ensemble is audition based.
Ensemble Lab provides an environment for group learning as students apply musicianship and performance techniques learned in ensembles. Through a series of musical and genre-related topics, students learn the techniques required to effectively rehearse a band and perform in a live setting.
Studio Labs utilize a group setting to teach students specific techniques related to their primary instrument. Each Studio teaches concepts directly related to their particular instrument and explores the details of genre specific repertoire.
Private Lessons are designed to familiarize students with fundamental techniques related to their primary or secondary instrument. Students are introduced to proper practice techniques and practice repertoire, and are guided through musical analyses required to prepare a song for performance.
Musicianship Electives
Ableton 1 & 2 introduces students to the fundamentals of using Ableton Live for basic recording and electronic performance. As studies continue, students learn to perform live using accompaniment created with this software.
Class Keyboard 1 & 2 are hands-on courses, designed for non-piano principals to prepare them to play improvisatory material for basic repertoire and worship music.
Intro to Songwriting provides instruction in the basic elements of songwriting, equipping students with the skill set necessary to analyze, create, and revise original and co-written material.
Songwriting Lab is an open forum for students to perform and critique their original songs.
Listening gives students an understanding of the history of modern popular music through listening and analyzing milestone artists, notable songs, and genres.
Pre-Production is an audition-based elective that will adequately define the vision and develop the material for the Ocean’s Edge School CD project.
Media in Ministry provides a basic understanding of how technology and media are used in the modern church with emphasis placed on Sound Reinforcement, Easy worship, PowerPoint, Lighting, and Web-based techniques.
Vocal Harmony focuses on techniques specifically related to singing and instructing vocal harmonies at the level of intermediate theory for the purpose of part-writing.
Secondary Lessons are designed to familiarize students with fundamental techniques related to their secondary instrument. Students are introduced to proper practice techniques and practice repertoire, and are guided through musical analyses required to prepare a song for performance.
