Music Department
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Name
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Subject(s)/Grade Level
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Contact Information
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Stephen Kogut
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Chorus
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Mark Taylor
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Orchestra
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Robert Zazzara
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Band
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General Music Program
In Fairfax County Public Schools over 40,000 students are enrolled in the music elective programs of band, chorus, general music, orchestra and guitar. Our vocal and instrumental ensembles are seen and heard worldwide as well as throughout the Unites States. Locally our ensembles perform at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, George Mason Center for the Performing Arts, and the White House.
Performing groups have been selected to appear at the American Choral Directors Association Conference, the Mid-west Clinic, the Music Educators National Conference, the National Concert Band Festival, the Virginia Music Educators Association Conference, and numerous other events.
FCPS provides general music education for all students Kindergarten through sixth grade, orchestra instruction beginning in fourth grade, and band and chorus instruction beginning in fifth grade in every elementary school. In grades seven through twelve a wide variety of music course offerings is available to meet students' interests and ability levels.
Band Program
Instruction on band instruments is offered to students in grades five through twelve. Elementary students meet once a week for a forty-five minute period of instruction. Beginning, intermediate, and advanced band is offered as electives to middle and high school students. Small ensembles, jazz ensembles, and music theory classes are also offered in high school.
The Fairfax County Music Program of Studies for band is aligned with the Virginia Standards of Learning as well as the Music Educators National Association National Standards. It documents content and achievement benchmarks for students enrolled in the FCPS band program.
School bands present concerts, participate in marching and concert competitions, take field trips, and enjoy numerous other activities. In addition, there are many opportunities for a high school graduate to play a band instrument in the future. Learning to play an instrument and participating in band provides a lifetime of musical enjoyment.
Chorus Program
Chorus is offered to FCPS students from 5th to 12th grade. Elementary chorus students learn choral literature and vocal skills and in a large group setting. Middle and high school students have an elective choice of small or large group courses which include concert choir, beginning, intermediate, and advanced level women’s or men’s ensemble, show choir, madrigal ensemble, jazz choir, or barbershop quartet.
Chorus is a progressive skill based program that prepares students to graduate from high school literate in choral music. Students develop knowledge of choral music through the following four strands at the beginning, intermediate, advanced, and artist levels. These strands are outlined in the Music Program of Studies.
In addition to vocal skills, choral students learn to work as a team. Choral directors strive to teach each student to become a knowledgeable consumer of vocal music. Many of our high school graduates continue to sing in university choirs, participate in community ensemble, become music educators, or pursue a professional career in vocal performance. Choral singing adds enrichment to lives and is a vital piece of a liberal arts education.
Orchestra Program
Instruction on the stringed instruments (violin, viola, cello, and bass) is offered to students in grades four through twelve. Elementary students meet once a week for a forty-five minute period of instruction. String orchestra is offered as an elective to students in middle and high school. Classes in chamber ensemble, full orchestra and theory are also offered in high school.
The Fairfax County Music Program of Studies for orchestra is aligned with the Virginia Music Educators Association Learning Standards and the National Standards for Arts Education. It documents content and achievement benchmarks for students enrolled in the FCPS orchestra program.
School orchestras present concerts, participate in competitions, take field trips and enjoy numerous other activities. In addition, the opportunities of playing a stringed instrument after high school are abundant with many universities offering scholarships for orchestra participation. Learning to play an instrument and belonging to an orchestra opens up a new world of friendship and fun.
- Curriculum content and essential knowledge and skills for each grade level and course
- Approved instructional resources
- Assessment activities
Virginia Music Standards of Learning
Web Resources
DISCLAIMER
This web site contains links to one or more web pages that are outside the FCPS network. FCPS does not control the content or relevancy of these pages.
Music Bach Central Station Bands of America Big Ears Children's Music Web Energy in the Air: Sounds from the Orchestra Essentials of Music Instrument Encyclopedia http://www.kidskonnect.com/MusicalInstruments/InstumentsHome.html
Internet Resources for Music Scholars http://hcl.harvard.edu/research/guides/music/resources/index.html
K-12 Resources for Music Educators http://www.isd77.k12.mn.us/resources/staffpages/shirk/k12.music.html
Mozart Project Music Education Resource Links http://www1.chapman.edu/soe/faculty/piper/cpiper/musiced.htm
Music Notes Music Simply Music Music Teacher's Resource Site musicked.com San Francisco Symphony Kids MusicStaff.com Piano Education Page Piano Nanny Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum-Lesson Plans Spotlight on Music Teaching Ideas World Wide Web Virtual Library-Classical Music