Classes

Choir
Reinhart Student Teacher

North Georgia Home School Band is offerng Choir at Reinhardt College on Tuesday afternoons (around 3PM). NGHSB is working in conjunction with Reinhardt's Music Education Department. A senior music education student at Reinhardt will be "student teaching" our Choir. Dr. Dennis McIntire, head of Reinhardt's Music Dept., using this as a voice lab and will be in the class observing the student instructor. Age range for Choir classes are: (8yrs-12 yrs) and (13 yrs-18 yrs).

Recorder Classes
Mrs. Jackie Gray

Recorder classes are available at the beginner and intermediate levels to give younger homeschooled students the opportunity to learn how to play music in a group. The children will learn how to read music, play music on the recorder, and understand basic music theory. This is a great way to prepare them for beginner band. The students will also spend a little time each week learning about famous
composers and wonderful musical stories such as Peter and the Wolf.

Beginner Recorder
Mrs. Jackie Gray

This is for students who are at least 6 years old as of September 1st and do not have previous experience playing the recorder. The class will include instruction in the basics of reading music, learning notes on the recorder, and playing simple songs.


Intermediate Recorder
Mrs. Jackie Gray

This class builds on what was learned in Beginner Recorder, adding more notes and techniques, as well as more complicated rhythms and more advanced music. The students are also introduced to the alto recorder and, depending on hand size and ability, allowed to play it as well as the soprano recorder.

Student requirements: Soprano Baroque Recorder, folding wire stand, pencil, and 1” black 3-ring binder with sheet protectors. Beginner Recorder students will also need the Complete Recorder Resource Student Book 1. (The CD is optional, but students enjoy practicing with it.) Intermediate Recorder students need the Complete Recorder Resource Student Book 2. (Again, the CD is optional.) Books can be ordered on or before registration/instrument fitting day (August 27th). After that, parents will need to order them individually. http://www.christmasconcert.com/Recorders/AngelRecorders.htm

Concert Bands

Band instruction is available on two levels, Beginner and Intermediate.
We begin with students who don't know how to read music or assemble their instrument and help them progress to playing more and more complex and difficult music. All music types are explored: Swing, Modern, Traditional, Hymns, Praise, Marches, Sacred, and so much more. Unlike traditional school bands who practice together daily, these kids are highly motivated and spend a great deal of time at home practicing, as well as performing for various family and home school gatherings. Many students perform in their church’s band as a result of their education at NGHSB.


Beginner Band
Mrs. Deborah Scarazzo

Beginner Band is for students 9 years old and up with little or no prior musical training. Beginning Band will work primarily from the Essential Elements Book 1. However, they will also play some works from the Movie Favorites Book by Essential Elements, Concert Fun, and other standard beginning band music. Regularly scheduled individual practice time is the secret to success. Students will be asked to pass off certain section from the book through out the year. The more dedicated each student is to their individual practice time, the more fun and challenging the music will be for the entire band. I look forward to helping each student develop their individual skills to a unified ensemble known as the band.

**These students must atend the instrment fitting in August!
An Instrument Fitting is a time when the students come in, see all of the different instruments used in concert band. We have trained personnel that allow the students to "try-out" the instrments.
With the information gathered at this time, we are better able to determine what instrument your child would enjoy playing based on their aptitudes, abilities, and desire.
See our Calendar page for date and time for the Instrument Fitting.

**If you already have an instrument that your child would like to play, please bring it to the fitting.

**Note: Beginner Band Percussion students must have at least 1 year experience on piano/ keyboard or other band instrument within the past two years. Audition is required for percussion.

Required Materials: Instrument, Music Stand, Pencil, Essential Elements Book 1, 1” black binder and plastic sheet protectors for music, tuner and each student also need to have metronome. (Buying a metronome/tuner, all in one, is less costly then buying them separate.)


Intermediate Band
Mrs. Deborah Scarazzo

Intermediate Band is available for those students who have played at least one year on an instrument. Last year's beginner band students will automatically be enrolled in the Intermediate Band unless they have changed to a new instrument. Intermediate Band will play from the Essential Elements Book 2 and work on scales the first part of the class. They learn the GMEA middle school scales and the more advance students will begin working on the GMEA high school scales. These scales will allow the band to play in a variety of keys. This will enable the band to play more fun and difficult band works. The second half of class will focus on standard band repertoire which includes fun music! There will be at least three band works per semester. Students who are dedicated to there weekly practice schedule will expand their tone, technique, sight reading and over all musicianship. This in turn will develop a skilled and talented band that will perform a variety of band literature.

*An AUDITION is required for all NEW STUDENTS enrolling in this band. Please make a note on registration form, so student can be added to Audition List and Schedule.

Required Materials: Instrument, Music Stand, Pencil, Essential Elements - Book 2, 1” black binder and plastic sheet protectors for music, tuner, and each student also need to have metronome. (Buying a metronome/tuner, all in one, is less costly then buying them separate.)

Jazz
Mr. Chris Walston

We concentrate on jazz, Big Band and swing style music with a great emphasis on teaching students how to improvise. EVERY Student needs to have the Essential Elements for Jazz Ensemble book by the begining of classes, if not they will fall behind, and I do not want that.
Jazz Class will use the Essential Elements for Jazz Ensemble Method. We will spend 30 to 40 minutes of our class time in this book. Each exercise will be fully covered, and the students will have to demonstrate comprehension of the exercise before we move on. The rest of the class time will be spent working on 1 or 2 separate pieces that will reinforce the book materials, and also give the class material for the concert. The goal for the class will be to complete the book by the end of the year, while leaving no student behind.

*Students enrolling in this class have to have prior music experience. All student will have to Audition for entry.

We are looking for Piano, Bass/Electric Guitar students, as well as, Percussionists. Piano students will benefit more if they have an electric keyboard to play when we have concerts away from the church, but are welcome regardless.

Required Materials:Essential Elements for Jazz Ensemble, instument, music stand, pencil, a 1” black 3-ring binder, plastic protector sheets, tuner, and each student also need to have metronome. (Buying a metronome/tuner, all in one, is less costly then buying them separate.)

Guitar
Mrs. Carol See

We are offering guitar classes on Thursday mornings. Our classes are one hour in length and are limited in size. In this way, we can group students according to ability and help them to develop musically at their own level. Beginner guitar students should be at least 9 years of age.

Guitar is such a fabulous instrument to play. Our classes are designed to give you the tools to do so. You will learn the fret board, memorize a variety of different scales, and train your fingers to quickly move from one chord to another. Along the way, you'll learn some musical pieces to play as a group, and work on individual pieces, too. Your success is determined by your diligence and determination.

The goal of the class to have the students divide the different parts of a song (ie soprano, alto, bass, etc.) and successfully play the piece as a guitar ensemble.

There will be a Beginner guitar class and we will be adding classes for intermediate/advanced students based on student registrations.

*A note to any Intermediate/Advanced Guitar student- please be prepared to audition for the instructor at the Instrument Fitting at the end of August.

Beginner students will be learning the basics: the names of the strings, the basic chords they need to know, basic strumming techniques as well as introducing them to reading music and tablature on the instrument.

Requirements: a guitar, pick, pencil and music stand. The book will be announced at a later time by the instructor.

Piano
Mrs. Carol See

We are offering Beginner Piano Class in a group setting. Students will be bring their own keyboards to class and begin to learn basic music theory: names of the keys, names of music notes, rhythms and be able to read music. No previous music knowledge is necessary. Age requirement for this class is 9 years old. There will be a Beginner piano class and we will be adding classes for intermediate/advanced students based on student registrations.
*A note to the Intermediate/Advanced students- please be prepared to audition for the Piano Instructor at the Instrument fitting at the end of August.
Requirements-keyboard, stand, pencil, book/material to be announced by instructor.

Preschool Music Makers
Mrs. Jackie Gray

Preschoolers are given the opportunity to experience music in a group setting. The children learn about rhythm with lots of fun instruments. They will learn the basics of singing and music, and they’ll move around a lot! They will hear different styles of music and have fun with the Carnival of the Animals. Our goal for the children is to develop an ear and a lifelong passion for music.

3-5 Years old.