Subject Head: Jeff Wrigglesworth (jeff.wrigglesworth@yrdsb.ca)
For a complete staff list, please click the ‘Staff” tab under “School Information.”
Welcome to the Unionville High School Music Department. Here you will be able to find all information about department activities and schedules.
Looking for:
- 2013/2014 Rehearsal schedule? Check the "Resources" page.
- 2013/2014 Calendar of Events? Check the "Opportunities" page.
- Sample recordings from our spring 2013 recording session? Check the "Resources" page.
- Further information regarding the Arts Unionville Music Program? Check inside the Music Department pages as well as in the ARTS UNIONVILLE page found above.
Please check for regular updates. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any music teacher or the Head of Music, Jeff Wrigglesworth.
The Unionville High School Music Department has enjoyed a reputation as one of the leading music programs in the country since its inception in 1985. The performance based program follows the belief that to truly develop an understanding as a musician one must do so through the eyes of a performer. Our mission to nurture the "whole student musician" sees all students experience all aspects of the curriculum with a goal to improving their understanding of the music they perform. What makes UHS Music truly unique is its combination of two distinctive, but equally important programs.
The core music program at UHS consists of semester and full-year classes that follow the Ontario Curriculum and are open to any student at Unionville High School. Classes are offered in the following disciplines:
· Instrumental Techniques - Band
· Instrumental Techniques - Strings
· Vocal Techniques - Choir
· Instrumental Jazz
· Vocal Jazz
· Guitar
· Music Theatre
All music students at UHS perform in a large ensemble (with the exception of guitar) and, therefore, are expected to enrol in the appropriate "Repertoire" course that takes place outside of the regular school day. These are the ensembles that perform in concerts, festivals and competitions throughout each year.
Arts Unionville (established as Arts York in 1986) is the auditioned intensive arts program housed at UHS offering studies in Dance, Drama, Music and Visual Arts. Interested students from our catchment area audition for limited entrance to the program in January of their grade 8 year for entrance into grade 9 the following September. Acceptance into the program after a student's grade 9 year is available only when space in classes exists. Students audition for a performance "major" depending on their chosen instrument or voice.
Musical disciplines include:
· Winds and Percussion
· Strings
· Voice
· Piano
The Arts Unionville Music program aspires to continue to teach the "whole music student" while taking students beyond the Ontario Curriculum with in-depth studies in performance techniques and musicianship. Students receive two Arts Unionville Music credits per year. The Performance courses see the students divided by performance discipline while they explore the techniques and repertoire required to develop their performance abilities in solo, chamber and large ensemble settings. As with the Core music classes, students also register for and perform in the after school large ensemble "Repertoire" courses.
The Musicianship courses divide the students by grade while exploring essential non-performance concepts as dictation, ear training, history, theory, critical listening and creativity. Non-performance concepts are explored to enhance the student's understanding of the music that they perform. A professional learning community is utilized by combining the experiences and expertise of all 4 UHS Music teachers. While each teacher continues to be responsible for her/his own class, a rotation schedule sees that each teacher will work with each class throughout the year.
For more information about our Arts Unionville Music program please see the ARTS UNIONVILLE section.