Curriculum Overview
Students in the Tutorial House are offered the chance to specialize in one particular strand of music, having spent their Middle School years engaged in more broad-based activities. They may choose to focus on performing, music theory or music history/appreciation. In the case of the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma program, offered in Tutorial Three and Tutorial Four, students are required to pursue all three strands, with additional studies in music composition. Success in the IB program is a recognized and significant mark of achievement for UNIS students. The Music curriculum from Junior A to tutorial Two has been designed to give students the skills necessary to become capable and enthusiastic IB candidates.
Regular course offerings in the Tutorial House include Senior Wind Ensemble, Senior String Orchestra, Senior Chorus, Class Guitar, Music Seminar, Music Theory, International Baccalaureate Music and Performing Arts. Weekly private lessons are required for Wind and String Ensemble members. Students in the Tutorial House are required to complete a minimum of one year of music, but many in the performing classes participate from Tutorial One to Tutorial Four. Enrollment in the Chorus, String Ensemble and Wind Ensemble is dependent upon a successful audition or teacher recommendation.
(See the K-12 Music Curriculum)
Courses by Grade
Tutorial One
Dependent upon a successful audition, students in Tutorial One may elect to join the Senior Wind Ensemble, Senior String Orchestra or Senior Chorus. Since these groups include Tutorial One to Tutorial Four students in the same class, the younger students learn from the example set by the older musicians. The focus of these groups is on rehearsal and performance of a wide variety of music selected from the traditional Western-based repertoire, as well as from non-Western sources.
For those students who do not wish to perform, or who are not successful in their audition, Music Seminar offers an engaging look at music history through listening, reading and writing.
Tutorial Two
Course choices in Tutorial Two are identical to Tutorial One, with the addition of Music Theory. Intended to prepare students for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Music program, this class solidifies many of the conventions and “grammar” of the musical language. Students also begin to compose short pieces.
Tutorial Three
Suitable candidates in Tutorial Three are encouraged to embark upon the IB program, a two-year course of study that requires students to perform, compose and analyze music from a wide variety of time periods and cultures. The course is a challenging but rewarding experience for students with a solid background of performing or composing and a desire to satisfy their natural curiosity about music.
Tutorial Three students also continue to perform in the school’s large ensembles or may elect to join the beginning-level Guitar class.
Tutorial Four
Course choices in Tutorial Four are identical to Tutorial Three.
Additional Performing Opportunities for Tutorial House Students
Additional ensembles in the Tutorial House include Chamber Ensemble (choral), and Jazz Band. As is the case in the Middle School, students are required to pass an audition. Rehearsals are held after the regular school day, and students in these groups must be active members in one of the three Senior Ensembles (Wind Ensemble, String Orchestra or Chorus). The Chamber Ensemble and Jazz Band perform frequently at school events throughout the year as well as for occasional public engagements, including past performances at Sotheby’s Auction, Harvard Club, the Shandelee Music Festival Showcase Series, La Guardia Center for the Performing Arts and the United Nations. European concert tours for the Chamber Ensemble have included performances in Sweden and Germany. Regular concerts in the Tutorial House are held twice during the year, with a third performance in June at the United Nations General Assembly Hall for the Tutorial Four Graduation Ceremony.