The Fine Arts Department at Montgomery Blair offers a wide variety of courses to all students in both music and visual art. All public high school students in the state of Maryland need one fine arts credit (two semesters) for graduation, but many students take a fine arts course every semester in their high school career. Blair’s fine arts courses are open to all students, although, as indicated below, some courses may have prerequisites. Unless otherwise indicated, all are full year (two semester courses). NOTE: In year-long courses students may NOT take semester 2 without having taken the semester 1 course. For more information about the Fine Arts Department and courses, please browse the tabs of our navigation bar to the left. For specific questions you may contact Sara Josey, the Fine Arts Resource teacher, at joseysar@mbhs.edu
**Please note that these classes are ones that will be available to freshmen in the 2008-2009 academic year. For a full listing of all our courses click on "Courses" to the left.
General Music Courses:
Beginning Guitar A and B (#6585/6586) - Focuses on guitar playing basics and music reading. Students can play chords and melodies in a very short time.
Advanced Guitar A and B (#6591/6592) - Focuses on advanced guitar techniques and music reading. Class performs as ensemble at concerts and present guitar projects once a semester. Audition Required.
Beginning Piano A and B (#6520/6521) - Focus is on piano playing techniques, music reading. Students can play simple songs from the first day in class.
Advanced Piano A and B (#6535/6536) - Focus on advanced piano techniques, music, beginning composition and improvisation. Music history as it influenced keyboard music and composers is studied. Audition required.
Choral Performance Courses:
Blazer Choir (#6711/6712) (also called Chorus 1, 2 or 3 depending on student’s year in chorus.) - Open to all students who enjoy singing a wide variety of music in concerts, festivals, and on local and extended trips.
Choral, piano, and guitar students have the opportunity to perform at two coffeehouses with solos and small groups. Students must be enrolled in a choral group in order to audition for county and state honors groups. Piano students are often chosen to play for special events both in school and in the community.
Instrumental Performance Courses:
Concert Band (#6821/6822) (grades 9-12) - open to all students
String Orchestra (#6851/6852) (grades 9-12) - open to all students
Percussion Ensemble (#6811/6885) (one semester course, repeatable for credit) - open to all students (called Beginning Band in course bulletin)
SPECIAL NOTE: Freshmen of exceptionally high ability may audition during April and May with the instrumental teachers for consideration for the following groups:
Honors Symphonic Orchestra (#6868/6869) - (register for String Orchestra and placement will be changed if student meets audition requirements.)
Symphonic Band (#6826/6827) - (register for Concert Band and placements will be changed if student meets audition requirements)
Beginning Jazz Band (#6871/6872) - (register for Concert Band and placement will be changed if student meets audition requirements)
All instrumental groups perform at many local venues throughout the school year. Groups perform at county and state festivals and some groups travel on extended trips. Students are required to be enrolled in a performing group in order to audition for county and state honors groups and to participate in solo and ensemble festival. All honors students are expected to participate in extra concerts, solo and ensemble festival, and to audition for county and state honors groups. Marching band is open to all students and is an after-school activity.
Teacher e-mail contacts for music questions and auditions:
- General music -- Mrs. Josey joseysar@mbhs.edu
- Choral/Guitar Performance – Mr. Newport newportp@mbhs.edu
- Instrumental Music (symphonic band, orchestra, percussion) – Mr. Doyle doyledus@mbhs.edu
- Instrumental Music (concert band, strings, jazz bands, marching band) – Ms. Roberts roberm16@mbhs.edu
Information on this page was updated Nov 2, 2007.
