Music

The Hopkins music department provides quality music education for all learners, serving as the foundation for life-long learning, creativity, and performance.Hopkins High School offers six bands, five choirs, three orchestras, a multi-level guitar program, and a state of the art music technology facility that houses our Music Production courses. Many before and after school opportunities exist for students including jazz bands, vocal ensembles, chamber orchestra, pit orchestra, Pep Band (Lean Mean Performing Machine), and region solo, ensemble and large and small groups contests.

Music Programming

Hopkins Royal String Quartet

Chamber Orchestra

This advanced small ensemble is open to anyone who plays the violin, viola, cello, or bass. Placement into the ensemble is by audition in the fall. Students should sign up for an audition in room W187. Students will have the opportunity to perform at orchestra concerts and possibly within the community.

Advisor/Orchestra Director: Alison Swiggum
When: Mondays from 6:45 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.; Wednesdays from 2:40 p.m. to 3:25 p.m.
Where: W187
Fees, if any: Performance Attire

A violin player laughs during orchestra.

The Lean Mean Performance Machine performs in the Hopkins High School gym.

Band

Pep Band (Lean Mean Performance Machine)

Lean Mean Performance Machine is a group made up of current band students in grades 10-12 that performs at sporting events as well as marching in the Raspberry Festival, Holidazzle, and other community events. The HHS drum line is a sub group of this ensemble.

Advisor:
When: Varies – usually one night/week during the fall and winter sports seasons
Where: Band Room or athletic venue
Fees, if any: $110 covers uniforms and instructors

Jazz Too

Jazz One

Choir

Sophomore Chorale

Midori

Geoff

Chamber Choir

The Hopkins High School choir performs during graduation.

Music Production & More

Guitar

Learning guitar is easy and fun in this energetic and fast-paced classroom environment. Guitar 1 is designed to give students basic guitar proficiency. As students progress through the rhythm guitar unit (basic chord playing techniques), they will have the opportunity to learn open chords and progressions, as well as power chords and bass playing. A week long study of the Blues will have students playing along with the greats like Clapton, Ray-Vaughn, and MuddyWaters. In addition, students will learn basic music notation and guitar TAB.

Music Technology (Production Studio)

Ever wonder how video game sound effects, music tracks, and dialog tracks are created, produced and recorded? Or how voices are synced to animation tracks? Ho do top Hip Hop artists create new beats and make millions each year by creating and selling remixes of other artist’s work? Is it possible to sample an MP3 file off Youtube and embed it into your musical composition? What would it be like to mix and master another artist’s work? How can I make my voice sound its best on an audio recording? You will learn this and much more through a variety of real life, hands-on project applications.

Students will begin by learning the basics of Apple’s innovative, all in one digital music studio Garage Band. During the course students will be exposed to the art of beat making, remixing, sampling, live recording, and sound manipulation. Students will begin initial discovery in the concepts of arranging, mixing, mastering, and creating loops. The curriculum includes at least one free composition assignment that allows students to compose what they want within the confines of a given musical structure.
Throughout the course students will be presented with the opportunity to learn basic piano keyboard skills. ActivBoard technology will allow students to share their projects with the class for additional critique. Music background is not necessary for students to use this program or to be successful in this class.

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