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Welcome to the Orchard Park Music Page!

The Orchard Park Music Department has distinguished itself three times in as many years by placing in the top three groups in the CBC Canadian Music Class Challenge and walking away with $8000 in prizes after achieving two firsts and one third place. Students have garnered attention and honourable mention from various media including CBC radio, Breakfast Television, 97.7 CHTZ-FM, The Hamilton Spec. and Toronto Star, with accolades from Sony Entertainment Canada who featured the band’s performance of “Hallelujah” on Leonard Cohen’s Facebook page. Last year, our CBC contest video entry of “River” was placed on Joni Mitchell’s official website.

Orchard Park Musicians have been inspiring students from our elementary schools to participate in the program for over 40 years and, notwithstanding the Covid complications, we continue to invite students into a collection of special experiences that reward them on many levels and promote lifelong connections to their peers.

Check out our recent remote recording of Alanis Morissette’s “Hand in My Pocket”.  Our group placed first in the 2020 CBC Canadian Music Class Challenge Senior Instrumental category!

 

To kick off the holiday break with a little of our traditional festive cheer, we decided to create our own Music Christmas Card with a virtual performance of “Jingle Bell Rock”.     Use the link below to listen to this classic tune.   We are looking forward to being able to perform together in person again when our in-school extra-curricular program resumes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgWmaBuKtBY

Here is the link to a spot on “Breakfast Television” where our first remote recording project of “Bare Necessities” was featured.

https://www.bttoronto.ca/videos/bt-bright-spot-hamilton-ontario-high-schools-virtual-rendition-of-bear-necessities/

You can watch the complete performance using the link below.  Special appreciation goes out to Sahib for his amazing video editing which has made each of our remote projects sparkle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B-_ymsqqLg

In 2018, the Senior Band placed first in the CBC Canadian Music Class Challenge Senior Instrumental category with our submission of “Hallelujah” recorded in the Learning Commons.  We were subsequently featured on Leonard Cohen’s Facebook page.  This video has received over 20,000 views!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjc527B9fm8

In 2019, we entered the CBC Contest with Canadian icon, Joni Mitchell’s “River” and placed third in the Senior Instrumental category.  This performance was enhanced with our new timpani drums, purchased with proceeds from various fund raising  activities, our $5000 CBC prize money and generous donations from alumni, the Winona Men’s Club and Sony Music Entertainment Canada.  Our video was also put up on Joni’s website as shown in the photo below.  To watch the remote performance use this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUTPryqwsis&list=PLwz1WTRJS24IMK7lUMH8jREK7hvEUW8PG&index=8

To see behind the scenes of our Music Program, check out https://www.youtube.com/user/soundofm and take the O.P. Music Video Tour, or have a look at any of the other demonstrations of what the students have achieved over the years by clicking on “Videos” at the top of the page.

EXPERIENCE THE MUSIC PROGRAM AT OP!

 


Music Staff 

M. MacDougall (Dept. Head)
W. Young / Mr. B. Sorensen

If you wish to contact the Music Department you may do so via the school site: www.hwdsb.on.ca/orchardpark  or

call the school at (905) 662-3838  extension (3727) and leave a message on the teachers voice mail.

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Course Information

Grade Course Code Course Name
9 AMI1O1 Music: Instrumental – Band, Open
10 AMK2O1 Music: Keyboard, Open
10 AMI2O1 Music: Instrumental – Band, Open
10 AMR2O1 Music: Repertoire, Open
11 AMR3O1 Music: Repertoire, Open
11 AMH3M1 Music: Stage Band, University/College
11 AMI3M1 Music: Instrumental – Band,  University/College
11 AMK3O1 Music: Keyboard, Open
12 AMH4M1 Music:  Stage Band, University/College
12 AMI4M1 Music: Instrumental – Band, University/College
12 AEA4O1 Exploring and Creating the Arts, Open         
10 AMG2O1 Guitar, Open
11 AMG3O1 Guitar, Open

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grade: 9

Course Code: AMI1O1
Course Name: Music: Instrumental – Band, Open
Description: Students will continue to study the brass, woodwind or the percussion instruments learned in elementary school or in private lessons.  Grade 8 students should not be concerned about their limited time with instruments as a result of the Covid restrictions.  The instruction will accommodate to the level of experience shown by the students when they begin the course.  A practical approach to theory, listening, and creating skills will be taken to compliment their instrumental studies.  Students are requested to list their concert band instrument in the space provided on their option sheet.

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Grade: 10
Course Code: AMK2O1
Course Name: Music: Keyboard, Open
Description: Students will learn to play the keyboard in conjunction with basic theory, listening, and creating.
Open to students in grades 10, 11 & 12 with no previous keyboard training/experience.  This is a beginner class.  Those who have taken private piano/keyboard lessons are recommended to audition for placement in the second level course, AMK 3O1.

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Grade: 10
Course Code: AMI2O1
Course Name: Music: Instrumental – Band, Open
Description: Students will continue to develop their skills on the instruments studied in AMI1O1, through band repertoire, solo and small ensemble work.   Theory, listening, and creating skills will also be further enhanced in this course.
Recommended course: AMI1O1 or successful audition.


Grade: 10
Course Code: AMR2O1
Course Name: Music: Repertoire, Open
Description: Students will use their instrumental music experience and abilities to plan, prepare, and perform musical productions in collaboration with their classmates.   They will attend and review live professional performances at their own expense. (Fund raising opportunities are available to supplement the cost of these excursions.)  Music in film will also be studied.
This is an all year course held outside of regular classroom hours (before & after school and may be taken as a 9th credit).
See a music teacher for specific details.
Recommended course: Enrolment in AMI2O1 or successful audition.

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Grade: 11
Course Code: AMR3O1
Course Name: Music: Repertoire, Open
Description: Students will use their instrumental music experience and abilities to plan, prepare, and perform musical productions in collaboration with their classmates.  Students will attend and review live professional performances at their own expense. (Fund raising opportunities are available to supplement the cost of these excursions.) Music in film will also be studied.
This is an all year course held outside of regular classroom hours (before & after school).
See a music teacher for specific details.
Recommended preparation: AMI2O1 or successful audition
Co-requisite: AMI3MI

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Grade: 11
Course Code: AMH3M1
Course Name: Music: Stage Band, University/College
Description: This course is designed for students with exceptional motivation. Through the study of stage band repertoire, performance skills will be developed at an accelerated rate. Listening, advanced theory, and creating are also components.
Prerequisite:  AMI2O1
Co-requisite: AMI3M1.

THIS COURSE WILL NOT BE OFFERED IN 2021-22

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Grade: 11
Course Code: AMI3M1
Course Name: Music: Instrumental – Band, University/College
Description: Students will continue to build skills in instrumental technique, solo and ensemble performance, listening, history/analysis, theory and creating.
This is an all-year course which is time-tabled for an average of one half-period per day at lunch.
Prerequisite: AMI2O1 or AMI1O1 but 2O1 is strongly recommended to achieve success in this course.

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Grade: 11
Course Code: AMK3O1
Course Name: Music: Keyboard, Open
Description: Skill development will continue from AMK 2O1 in keyboard technique, theory, listening, and creating. Solo and ensemble performance will be expanded. Students will attend and review a live professional performance at their own expense and will participate in concert planning, preparation and performance activities.  Students with private lesson experience are encouraged to audition to determine if their skill level is sufficient for placement in this course.
Recommended Preparation: AMK2O1 or successful audition.

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Grade 12

Course  Code:  AMH4M1
Course Name:  Music, Stage Band, University/College
Description:  Students will continue to develop skills through the study of stage band technique and repertoire. as well as in listening, theory and creating.
Prerequisite: AMH 3M1 or AMI 3M1 with successful audition  

THIS COURSE WILL NOT BE OFFERED IN 2021-22  

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Grade: 12
Course Code: AMI4M1
Course Name: Music: Instrumental – Band, University/College
Description: Instrumental technique, listening and analysis, theory, and creating concepts will be expanded. More emphasis will be placed on leadership and students will be required to hold regular sectional rehearsals for the senior concert band.
This is an all year course scheduled for an average of one half period per day at lunch.
Prerequisite: AMI3M1 

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Grade: 12
Course Code: AEA4O1
Course Name: Exploring and Creating the Arts, Open
Description: Students will use their instrumental music experience and leadership abilities to plan, prepare and perform musical productions in collaboration with their classmates. Students will attend and review live professional performances at their own expense.  (Fund raising opportunities are available to supplement the cost of these excursions.)
This course will run all year, outside of regular classroom hours (before/after school).  See a music teacher for specific details.

Prerequisite:   AMI 2O1, but AMI 3M1 is strongly recommended for sufficient foundation to achieve course requirements.
Co-requisite:  AMI4M1

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Updated on Thursday, September 07, 2023.
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