Private Lessons
(full year)
Lessons in piano, voice, and most instruments can be arranged.
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Music
Composition, combined with theory, history, dictation, score-reading and musical philosophy, is the primary focus of the music classes at Buxton. Classes explore the musical languages of many cultures, ancient as well as contemporary. The program is committed to choosing, working on, and performing pieces that have been written by women, by composers from many different cultures, and by living composers.
Each student progresses at his or her own pace and composes pieces according to his or her personal, individual background. Students can choose a system to use as a model for their original compositions from those they have studied. Within a short time, all music students are composing and have the opportunity to hear their pieces played by professional musicians. Composing, more than anything else, contributes most to the students’ overall comprehension of the inherent characteristics of music. Students who have the interest and desire to continue beyond Music I are encouraged to do so. By graduation, student levels of competency range from a broad and better understanding of the fundamentals of music to being well prepared to begin work at the college or conservatory level.
For information about the extracurricular music activities at Buxton, including chorus, orchestra, and chamber music ensembles, please see the description in the Activities section.
Music II and III – Advanced Composition and Performance
(full year)
These are upper-level courses intended primarily for students planning to continue music study at the college level. Score reading and analysis of a variety of music are an integral part of this class. For the most part, performance consists of ensemble sight-reading and performance preparation techniques, including many aspects of improvisation. All student compositions are performed and recorded throughout the year.
Music I
(full year)
This course offers a comprehensive investigation of the art of music. The class will study music from different cultures and from many time periods. The theoretical emphasis focuses on the notated traditions of the world. Students can then use any of these systems as a basis for their own compositions. Specific areas of study include theory: acoustics, basic fundamentals, traditional harmonic and contrapuntal functions; ear training: rhythmic and melodic dictation and sight singing; analysis: listening and analyzing with full scores, observing historical cycles; and composition: original work written and performed by class participants, faculty, and adjunct faculty. Composing original pieces enables students to participate in the most basic creative act of music and it becomes the common denominator of the class experience. All students, regardless of previous background, share equally in this fundamental musical process.
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