MUSIC
Rooted in tradition while looking to the future, Music Department students receive mastery-level training in four stylistic areas: classical, jazz, experimental, and commercial music.
YOUR MUSIC TEACHERS
YOUR MUSIC CLASSES
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![A person with curly reddish hair playing the violin on stage, wearing a dark jacket and a checkered shirt.]()
Musicianship
Musicianship is a progressive four-year course that develops comprehensive musical understanding through theory, performance, and cultural studies, moving from medieval traditions to contemporary genres while exploring music's global influences and social impact, covering Medieval, Renaissance, Jazz, Salsa, Impressionism, and Hip-Hop.
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![A person with short blonde hair wearing headphones and a gray hoodie, sitting at a music production workstation with a keyboard, a computer screen displaying a digital audio workstation, studio monitors, and a MIDI controller.]()
Intro: Recording Arts & Commercial Music
Students learn the basics of audio hardware, digital workstations, and music production techniques, developing foundational recording, mixing, and composition skills.
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![A woman with curly dark hair working at a desk with a computer, wearing headphones around her neck, in a room with framed pictures on the wall.]()
Audio Engineering & Studio Recording
This course emphasizes professional recording techniques, including microphone placement, live session management, mixing, and delivering polished audio for clients.
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![A choir and orchestra performing on stage with a conductor leading them in a concert, audience members watching the performance.]()
Studio Class
Studio Class offers weekly masterclass-style sessions where students perform for peers and faculty, honing rehearsal, practice, and performance techniques.
ENSEMBLES
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Jazz Combo focuses on improvisation and ensemble skills to develop musicianship and group performance skills. Jazz combo performs regularly on department-wide and school-wide concerts as well as jazz festivals and private events. Students study jazz standards, modern tunes, and original compositions under the direction of teaching artists.
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Vocal Jazz Ensemble focuses on improvisation and ensemble skills to develop musicianship and group performance skills. VJE performs regularly at department-wide and school-wide concerts as well as jazz festivals and private events. Students study jazz standards, modern tunes, and original compositions under the direction of teaching artists.
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This course prepares students for modern classical vocal performance through studies in diction, vocal health, opera, art song history, and ensemble performance. Students learn a variety of repertoire including chamber choir works and opera scenes under the guidance of teaching artists.
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Chamber Ensemble focuses on individual ensemble skills with an emphasis on note reading, intonation, rhythm, and performance practice. Chamber ensembles perform on department-wide and school-wide concerts and serve as the pit orchestra for theatre and musical theatre productions. Students study repertoire selections with a focus on historically excluded artists under the direction of teaching artists.
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Electronic Ensemble pairs technology with digital composition to develop musicianship through a modern and engaging performance experience. As the students create their original compositions, they will learn to use the Ableton Push controller, which is their main performance instrument in this course.
MUSIC AUDITIONS
We are thrilled you are auditioning for The Chicago Academy for the Arts. Please remember: our number one goal is for you to be successful. That means that when you have questions, please ask them!
You can email Music Department Chair Ty Chiko at any time for more clarification on audition requirements.
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The live audition will consist of three components: repertoire performance, musicianship assessment, and an interview .
REPERTOIRE
Applicants must perform two selections in contrasting styles. Choose two options from the three listed below:Option 1: One jazz standard demonstrating your skill level and experience in the genre. If able, please perform a transcription and/or improvise on your selected jazz standard.
Option 2: One piece or etude from the standard classical repertoire demonstrating your technical level, artistic expression, and tone.
Option 3: One popular music selection, either a cover song or an original song.
Other repertoire may be considered. Please email the Music Department Chair Rachel Brown with any questions or concerns.
MUSICIANSHIP ASSESSMENT
Scales, arpeggios, rhythm exercises, and/or vocalizations as appropriate to the candidate’s instrument/voice and level.
Sight-Reading
Improvisation
Digital Production and Audio Engineering candidates may be asked to demonstrate and identify techniques on appropriate equipment.
INTERVIEW
The audition will be followed by a short interview with Academy music faculty. This is a relaxed conversation aimed at gaining insight into the student’s background, motivation, and potential for successful study and growth in the music program.
Opportunities exist for study and performance on secondary (non major) instruments. However, for audition purposes students should be prepared to audition on their major instrument only. A discussion of any secondary instrument(s) is welcomed during the audition interview.
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Applicants must perform two selections in contrasting styles. Choose two options from the three listed below:
Option 1: One jazz standard demonstrating your skill level and experience in the genre. If able, please perform a transcription and/or improvise on your selected jazz standard.
Option 2: One piece or etude from the standard classical repertoire demonstrating your technical level, artistic expression, and tone.
Option 3: One popular music selection, either a cover song or an original song.
Other repertoire may be considered. Please email the Music Department Chair, Rachel Brown, with any questions or concerns (rbrown@chicagoartsacademy.org)
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Applicants must perform two selections in contrasting styles. Choose two options from the three listed below:
Option 1: One jazz standard demonstrating your skill level and experience in the genre. If able, please perform a transcription and/or improvise on your selected jazz standard.
Option 2: One piece or etude from the standard classical repertoire demonstrating your technical level, artistic expression, and tone.
Option 3: One popular music selection, either a cover song or an original song.
Other repertoire may be considered. Please email the Music Department Chair, Rachel Brown, with any questions or concerns (rbrown@chicagoartsacademy.org)
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Applicants must perform two selections in contrasting styles. Choose two options from the three listed below:
Option 1: One jazz standard demonstrating your skill level and experience in the genre. If able, please plan to comp the changes and/or improvise on the jazz standard.
Option 2: One piece or etude from the standard classical repertoire demonstrating your technical level, artistic expression, and tone. Please view this downloadable list for repertoire suggestions and guidance.
Option 3: One popular music selection, either a cover song or an original song.
Other repertoire may be considered. Please email the Music Department Chair, Rachel Brown, with any questions or concerns (rbrown@chicagoartsacademy.org
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Applicants must perform two selections in contrasting styles. Choose two options from the three listed below:
Option 1: One jazz standard demonstrating your skill level and experience in the genre. If able, please improvise on your selected jazz standard. Please view this downloadable list for repertoire suggestions and guidance.
Option 2: One art song (or aria, if appropriate) from the standard classical repertoire demonstrating your technical level, artistic expression, and tone. Please view this downloadable list for repertoire suggestions and guidance.
Option 3: One popular music selection, either a cover song or an original song. You may perform with a pre-recorded track for this portion of the audition.
Other repertoire may be considered. Please email the Music Department Chair, Rachel Brown, with any questions or concerns (rbrown@chicagoartsacademy.org)
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Applicants must perform in two contrasting styles. Choose two options from the three listed below:
Option 1: Perform various drum set grooves:
jazz/swing in 4/4 and 3/4 at slow, medium, and fast tempos
bossa nova
straight eighths
Option 2: Perform a level-appropriate snare drum piece and/or rudiments
Option 3: Perform a level-appropriate vibraphone, marimba, or xylophone piece (highly recommended for incoming juniors)
Other repertoire may be considered. Please email the Music Department Chair, Rachel Brown, with any questions or concerns (rbrown@chicagoartsacademy.org)
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Applicants must demonstrate at least one of the following options. Please choose one or two from the items listed below:
Option 1: Demonstrate music production skills by showcasing a music production session on the student’s computer. Be prepared to perform simple tasks on request including creating new tracks, importing samples, increasing/decreasing volume, adding audio FX, etc.
Option 2: Present a recording of an original piece of music. The recording should include both digitally produced sounds and organic/acoustic sounds recorded with some type of microphone. Discuss the methods and skills used to create the composition.
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Applicants must submit two complete original compositions. Candidates must submit both a score and a recording of both works. Please submit scores electronically as PDF files. For recordings, either a live video, live audio, or MIDI rendition is acceptable.
Requirements by instrument:
