Music Appreciation

Class Time: 1:40-2:40, Fall Semester

Grade Level: 9th-12th

Instructor: Colleen McAtee

Contact Information: cmca331@gmail.com

Prerequisites: None

Course Description: 

Music Appreciation will focus on Western Classical music.  Topics will include music history, styles, terminology, form, meter, rhythm, notation, instrument families, and conducting.  Students will listen to, analyze, and make music.  This class will require students to actively participate in class through discussion, movement, and singing.  While helpful, a background in music is not necessary.

Tuition: $200

Class Size: 5 – 15 students

Course Materials: 

• Alfred’s Essentials of Music Theory (Complete) by Andrew Surmani, Karen Arnum Surmani, and Morton Manus
• Students should also bring a binder to class that includes staff paper as well as regular notebook paper.

Teacher Qualifications: Colleen McAtee graduated from the Eastman School of Music with a Bachelor of Music degree in music education.  Her primary instruments are piano and violin.  Before her children were born, she spent seven years as a high school orchestra director and elementary school strings teacher for Fairfax County Public Schools.  During her time at Eastman, she taught the Music Makers class of 3-year-olds for the Eastman Community Music School. For over 30 years, she has maintained a music studio of piano and strings students and is currently homeschooling her children.