IOWA LAKES > Music > Course Offerings
 

Applied Lessons
Private lessons (called Applied Music) of ½ hour per week are available for any student who wants to develop individual music skills.  No prior musical experience is necessary.  Opportunities on piano, guitar, voice and many other instruments are available.  Lessons are taught by our highly qualified faculty.  Applied lessons are open to all students and community members contingent upon the availability of faculty. 

Music Appreciation
Music Appreciation is exactly what it sounds like, an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of music and the basic understanding of music principles so we can learn to appreciate the variety of musical styles.  The purpose of this course is to increase your understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of music.  With this in mind, upon successful completion of the course, you should be able to do the following:

• Identify and understand the elements of music.

• Listen critically and comment intelligently on all styles of music.

• Attend and appreciate concerts of all kinds, feeling comfortable in many musical situations.

• Identify representative compositions of different musical eras. 

• Develop perceptive listening skills.

• Encourage and appreciate all music.

There are no prerequisites for music appreciation.  You do not need to have any prior knowledge of music.  Even though there is musical notation in the textbook, you do not need to know nor will you learn how to read music.

Jazz Appreciation
The purpose of this course is to increase your understanding, appreciation, enjoyment, and hopefully a love of jazz music.  This course will help you become acquainted with musical elements, forms and historical stylistic periods (early jazz, swing, bebop, cool jazz, hard bop, avant-garde and fusion); to develop perceptive listening; and to encourage and appreciate jazz music.  The more you know about music, the more you understand it, and the more you can learn to love it. 

With this in mind, upon successful completion of the course, you should be able to do the following:

• Identify and understand the elements of music.

• Listen critically and comment intelligently on all styles of jazz music.

• Attend and appreciate jazz concerts of all kinds, feeling comfortable in many musical situations.

• Identify representative compositions of different jazz eras. 

• Develop perceptive listening skills.

• Encourage and appreciate all jazz music.

There are no prerequisites for this course.  You do not need to have any prior knowledge of music.  

Concert Choir
Concert Choir is the largest ensemble and performs a wide variety of a cappella and accompanied music from all periods of music In the past few years, they have performed in SOLD OUT performances of the “Annual Elizabethan Christmasse Feaste.” This past year, they joined forces with over 300 singers from other colleges to sing a major work with the Sioux City Symphony. As with all of the performing groups, the Concert Choir tours every year. Past trips have been to New Orleans, Chicago, San Antonio, St. Louis, and Kansas City. No auditions are required for this group.
*Conductor
*Performance Schedule

Jazz Band
The Iowa Lakes Jazz Band performs a wide selection of styles ranging from standard swing era to contemporary styles. This group is open to all interested students and membership is determined by auditions. The Jazz Band performs several times throughout the school year and hosts an annual High School Jazz Band Contest. One of the highlights of the year is our annual spring tour. Past destinations have included St. Louis, Kansas City, Chicago, New Orleans, San Antonio, and Colorado.
*Conductor
*Performance Schedule

Jazz Singers
Jazz Singers is a select group of four to eight singers that perform a wide variety of jazz, from the standards to current popular a capella hits. One of the highlights of the year for this group is the annual Jazz Festival at Iowa Lakes, in which the singers get the chance to work with nationally-known jazz musicians. The group is accompanied by keyboard, bass, and percussion, and learns the techniques of creating a jazz style and improvisation. Auditions for the group can be done in the spring or during the first week of classes in the fall.
*Conductor
*Performance Schedule

Handbells
Handbells is the collegiate handbell choir. This group provides an opportunity for talented musicians (no handbell experience necessary) to rehearse and perform a wide variety of handbell music. Auditions are held at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters.   

*Conductor
*Performance Schedule

Men’s Choir
Contemporary music such as pop music, show tunes, novelty numbers and ballads are performed by the Men’s and Women’s Ensembles. They sing separately and may also combine to perform music. These groups are in demand and are often asked to perform at a variety of public performances. Auditions for the group can be done in the spring or during the first week of classes in the fall.
*Conductor
*Performance Schedule

Woodwind Ensemble
The woodwind ensemble provides an opportunity for woodwind players to play their traditional instruments as well as Renaissance instruments. Auditions for this ensemble are held during the first week of each semester. This group performs at the annual Renaissance Madrigal Feaste and other concerts as well.
*Conductor
*Performance Schedule

Women’s Choir
Contemporary music such as pop music, show tunes, novelty numbers and ballads are performed by the Men’s and Women’s Ensembles. They sing separately and may also combine to perform music. These groups are in demand and are often asked to perform at a variety of public performances. Auditions for the group can be done in the spring or during the first week of classes in the fall.
*Conductor
*Performance Schedule

Brass Ensemble
The Brass Ensemble is an ensemble within the Department of Music. Auditions for this ensemble are held during the first week of each semester. The Brass Ensemble performs a variety of traditional and contemporary literature for brass. Concerts are performed on and off campus.
*Conductor
*Performance Schedule

Percussion Ensemble
Iowa Lakes’ students have the opportunity to participate in several percussion experiences. Participation in the various ensembles is by audition during the first weeks of classes in the fall and spring semesters.
*Conductor
*Performance Schedule

College-Community Concert Band
The Northwest Iowa Community Concert Band is open to all students, faculty and community members without audition.  They perform one major concert each semester.
*Conductor
*Performance Schedule

Musical Theatre
In alternating years, Iowa Lakes Music joins with area community members to produce a musical.  Recent productions have included “The Music Man,” “The Fantasticks,” “The Melody Lingers On,” "Damn Yankees" and "Once Upon a Mattress." Typically, over 100 students and community members are involved in the cast, crew and orchestra.

*Conductor
*Performance Schedule

Pep Band
The Laker Pep Band brings music and excitement to our Laker Basketball teams.  The band performs at various home basketball games, playing rock and roll favorites and other entertaining music.  Membership is open to the general student body with rehearsals starting in November.
*Conductor
*Performance Schedule

Music Theory
Music Theory provides students with knowledge about the fundamentals of music.  The students will learn:

• Note names on all clefs
• Note names on the piano
• Major and minor key signatures
• Major and minor scales
• Intervals
• Chords (Triads and 7^th Chords)
• Chord Progressions and Part-writing
• Chord inversions
• Non-chord tones
• Modulations
• Musical forms
• And much more

The first semester of Music Theory is also offered as an online course.  More information about the Music Theory online course can be found at www.iowacconline.org.

There are four semesters of Theory classes (Music Theory I – IV) for music students who want to transfer to a four-year college.
 

Music Theory Lab
The Music Theory Lab courses will train students to:

• Sight sing in Major and minor keys using solfege
• Sight sing chromatic exercises
• Read and notate rhythms
• Read and notate melodies
• Read and notate chords and progressions
• Become a better overall musician

The first semester of Music Theory Lab is also offered with Music Theory as an online course.  More information can be found at www.iowacconline.org.  

Just like Music Theory, there are four semesters of this course (Music Theory Lab I – IV) for music students who want to transfer to a four-year college.