Senior School Departments
Senior School Departments
Music is part of our daily life at SMUS. Passion, creativity, skill and precision all come into play through our ongoing engagement with music. Student musicians perform at concerts, create original music for service fundraisers, and play for peers during lunch-time concerts. Our courses cover technique, history and theory.
Most students who join SMUS in Grade 9 or 10 usually have between 2-4 years of musical experience. All Grade 9 students are required to take Band, Strings or Choir. At the Grade 11/12 level, some courses require auditions and acceptance is based on the discretion of the music director. For students who want extra training, SMUS can organize personal lessons with accredited professionals.
Our band program prepares students for performance-oriented ensembles and allows them to:
- understand and appreciate the value of team work;
- develop individual skills on their instrument of choice;
- express themselves through improvisation; and
- compose music;
Group Options
- Concert bands
- Swing Band
- Brass Ensemble
- Jazz Ensemble
- Flute Ensemble
- Orchestra
- Musical Production
Courses
Title | Grade | |
---|---|---|
Concert Band 9 | 9 | |
Concert Band 10 | 10 | |
Concert Band 11 | 11 | |
Concert Band 12 | 12 | |
Jazz Band | 9, 10, 11, 12 |
Strings students play a range of music, from classical to contemporary. Musicians form a complete classical string ensemble within their grade and combine to create the school orchestra (violin, viola, cello and bass).
Our strings program prepares students for performance-oriented ensembles and allows them to:
- understand and appreciate the value of team work;
- develop individual skills on their instrument of choice; and
- study professional repertoire.
To enter the strings program, students need to have some previous training and new students joining SMUS enter the strings program at the discretion of the musical director.
Group Options
- Jazz Ensemble
- String Orchestra
- Full Orchestra
- Musical Production
Courses
Title | Grade | |
---|---|---|
Strings 9 | 9 | |
Strings 10 | 10 | |
Strings 11 | 11 | |
Strings 12 | 12 |
Our program instils an appreciation and command of choral music as well as improving vocal skill. The program develops each student’s innate musical ability, and exposes them to professional standards through performance in concerts and musical productions.
Students learn the basic techniques of choral training, including:
- technical competency
- diction
- style
- arrangements
- sight reading
- ear training
Group Options
- Concert choirs
- Vocal Jazz Ensemble
- Musical Production
- Various small ensembles
Courses
Title | Grade | |
---|---|---|
Concert Choir 9 | 9 | |
Concert Choir 10 | 10 | |
Concert Choir 11 | 11 | |
Concert Choir 12 | 12 |
Schaffter Hall, our music building, boasts individual practice rooms and classrooms, for students to study and practice.
- Three large ensemble classrooms (Band, Strings, Choral)
- Four practice rooms
- Two student lounges
- Ample instrument storage space
- Two rock band practice areas
Instruments
- Four grand pianos
- Five upright pianos,
- Five drum sets
- Five upright basses
- Electric guitars
- Electric bass
- Roland Juno synthesizer
- Guitar and bass amplifiers
- Electric stand-up bass
- Acoustic guitars with pickups,
- Percussion (vibraphone, marimba, timpani)
- Many other band and strings instruments
Day students are to provide their own instruments, which may be rented or purchased from one of the local music stores. Rent-to-purchase plans are available through these stores. The Senior School owns several instruments, which can be leased to students while attending the school. Boarders will be provided instruments rented to them by the school.
Student-Run Groups
When musicians assemble, music happens. Our students can create their own rock bands, jazz trios, string quartets – whatever interests them. These independent groups use school music facilities and our teachers support them, often finding them performance opportunities.
Annual Musical Production
Every student can take part in our annual musical production, but singers and musicians have a special role. Lead and supporting roles require strong vocalists. Some of our band and strings players are selected to play in the pit orchestra, which performs the complete musical score.
Music Events
Our Arts Council produces open music events every year. Keep the Beat, a fundraiser for War Child Canada, offers students a chance to perform at school or record original music for an annual album. Musicians and singers can also play for other students at lunchtime acoustic concerts.
International Opportunities
For musically-inclined students, SMUS often offers a trip to a music hot spot. Previous trips have been to Cuba, Europe and the United States. Students perform at concert halls and attend musical events during these trips. The tour includes cultural and historical context for music.
BCMEA Honour Ensembles
More advanced players can audition for the BCMEA Honour orchestra, concert band, concert choir, jazz band, or vocal jazz ensemble. Students from all over BC partake in this intensive four-day workshop and perform at the BC Music Educator's Conference with a professional conductor.
Education Extension
Over summer and school breaks, the Education Extension Office offers day and residential programs for students who sing or play an instrument. From opera to junior jazz band, students have an opportunity further develop their talents or discover new ones.