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music

Our Music Major fosters artistic and personal growth, openness through understanding, and discipline through performance. We use music as a lens for viewing life and the world around us, connecting music with community.

Music students are prepared for study at postsecondary institutions through group learning, individual lessons, concert and performance experiences as well as independent research. We blend technical training in music theory, sound design, and computer-assisted composition with lessons in improvisation and intonation so students have both a solid foundation and the ability to take creative risks.

Students choose one of two programs, Instrumental Music or Vocal Music, and then deepen their study even further through concentrations in Classical Performance, Jazz and Contemporary Performance, or Music Technology. This extensive study in the arts is balanced by a strong academic base in the Humanities, STEAM, and Literary Arts, preparing students for whatever path they choose to pursue. (Linked to these dept. pages)

We also offer multiple opportunities for our Music students to connect and learn from professionals in the field as well as attend concerts throughout the Boston area. Past visitors who have performed for, coached, taught, and spoke to our students include Yo-Yo Ma, Quincy Jones, Audra McDonald, Patrice Rushen, Wynton Marsalis, and Lang Lang.

Instrumental Music

The Instrumental Music program prepares students with a strong foundation in the fundamentals of music and music theory while enabling them to concentrate in jazz, classical, or music technology.

Ninth Grade

English (Language and Literary Arts) · Introductory Physics · Geometry · Humanities I · World Language or Learning Center · Orientation · Fundamentals of Music · Instrumental Music Performance I · Jazz Combo · Class Piano

By Audition | Not Required
AP Music · Instrumental Jazz Ensemble · Large String Ensemble · Jazz Band

Additional Academic Opportunities
Open Honors · Dual Enrollment at Roxbury Community College (RCC)

Additional Arts Electives
Musical Theatre · Entrepreneurship · Art Connections · Photography

Juries and Assessments
Juries are held each year to evaluate the artistic growth of each student. All students will perform at least one jury.

Tenth Grade

English (Language and Literary Arts) · Biology · Algebra · Humanities II · World Language or Learning Center · Music Theory I · Instrumental Music Performance II · Jazz Combo · Class Piano

By Audition | Not Required
AP Music · Instrumental Jazz Ensemble · Large String Ensemble · Jazz Band

Additional Academic Opportunities
Open Honors · Dual Enrollment at Roxbury Community College (RCC)

Additional Arts Electives
Musical Theatre · Entrepreneurship · Art Connections · Photography

Juries and Assessments
Juries are held each year to evaluate the artistic growth of each student. Sophomores will perform one recital and one jury. In the spring of sophomore year, every student will select a concentration for their junior and senior years: Classical Performance, Jazz and Contemporary Performance, or Music Technology.

Eleventh Grade

English (Language and Literary Arts) · Chemistry · Advanced Algebra · Humanities III · Elective or Learning Center · Jazz Instrumental Concentration · Music Theory II · Instrumental Music Performance III · Creative Lab · Classical Instrumental Concentration · Music Theory II · Instrumental Music Performance III · Chamber Music

Music Technology Concentration
Principles of Computer Music · Music Technology · Instrumental Music Performance
OR
Vocal Technique III · Creative Lab
OR
Concert Choir

By Audition | Not Required
AP Music · Instrumental Jazz Ensemble · Large String Ensemble · Jazz Band

Additional Academic Opportunities
Open Honors · Spanish III · AP Biology

Additional Arts Electives
Musical Theatre · Entrepreneurship · Art Connections · Photography

ProArts Dual Enrollment
Berklee & Boston Conservatory · Boston Architectural Center (BAC) · Emerson · Mass Art

BPS Dual Enrollment
Ben Franklin Institute of Technology · Bunker Hill · Roxbury Community College (RCC) · Suffolk University

Partnership
Vertex Science Summer Internship

Juries and Assessments
Juries are held each year to evaluate the artistic growth of each student. All students will perform at least one jury.

Twelfth Grade

English (Language and Literary Arts) · Environmental Science · Probability and Statistics or AP Statistics or Dual Enrollment Calculus or Other College Math · Humanities IV · Elective or Learning Center

Jazz Instrumental Concentration
Music History I · Senior Recital · Creative Lab

Classical Instrumental Concentration
Music History I · Senior Recital · Chamber Music

Music Technology Concentration
Music History I · Music Technology · Senior Recital · Creative Lab
OR
Concert Choir

By Audition | Not Required
AP Music · Instrumental Jazz Ensemble · Large String Ensemble · Jazz Band

Additional Academic Opportunities Open Honors · AP Biology (elective) · AP Statistics · Seal of Biliteracy

Additional Arts Electives
Musical Theatre · Entrepreneurship · Art Connections · Photography

ProArts Dual Enrollment
Berklee & Boston Conservatory · Boston Architectural Center (BAC) · Emerson · Mass Art

BPS Dual Enrollment
Ben Franklin Institute of Technology · Bunker Hill · Roxbury Community College (RCC) · Suffolk University · Cambridge College

Partnership
Vertex Summer and School-Year Internships

Senior Recital
All Music Majors must prepare and present a senior recital during the spring of their senior year to demonstrate what they’ve learned in their time at BAA. The Senior Recital is a collaborative program designed and led by students. Students will prepare repertoire to present as part of a shared recital program.

A picture of BAA students holding instruments against a brick wall.
After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.

Aldous Huxley

Vocal Music

The Vocal Music program prepares students with a strong foundation in the fundamentals of music and music theory while enabling them to concentrate in jazz, classical, or music technology.

Ninth Grade

English (Language and Literary Arts) · Introductory Physics · Geometry · Humanities I · World Language or Learning Center · Orientation · Fundamentals of Music · Vocal Technique I · Chorus · Class Piano

By Audition | Not Required
AP Music · Vocal Ensemble · Men’s Choir · Select Chorus

Additional Academic Opportunities
Open Honors · Dual Enrollment at Roxbury Community College (RCC)

Additional Arts Electives
Musical Theatre · Entrepreneurship · Art Connections · Photography

Juries and Assessments
Juries are held each year to evaluate the artistic growth of each student. All students will perform at least one jury.

Tenth Grade

English (Language and Literary Arts) · Biology · Algebra · Humanities II · World Language or Learning Center · Vocal Technique II · Music Theory I · Chorus · Class Piano

By Audition | Not Required
AP Music · Vocal Ensemble · Men’s Choir · Select Chorus

Additional Academic Opportunities Open Honors · Dual Enrollment at Roxbury Community College (RCC)

Additional Arts Electives
Musical Theatre · Entrepreneurship · Art Connections · Photography

Juries and Assessments
Juries are held each year to evaluate the artistic growth of each student. Sophomores will perform one recital and one jury. In the spring of sophomore year, every student will select a concentration for their junior and senior years: Classical Performance, Jazz and Contemporary Performance, or Music Technology.

Eleventh Grade

English (Language and Literary Arts) · Chemistry · Advanced Algebra · Humanities III · Elective or Learning Center · Vocal Technique III · Music Theory II or Principles of Computer Music · Class Piano · Performance Ensemble · Select Ensemble (if applicable)

Jazz Vocal Concentration
Music Theory II · Vocal Technique III · Concert Choir

Classical Vocal Concentration
Music Theory II · Vocal Technique III · Musical Theatre · Classical Solo and Ensemble · Concert Choir · Music Technology · Principles of Computer Music · Music Technology · Instrumental Music Performance
OR
Vocal Technique III · Creative Lab
OR
Concert Choir

By Audition | Not Required
AP Music · Vocal Ensemble · Men’s Choir · Select Chorus

Additional Academic Opportunities
Open Honors · Spanish III · AP Biology

Additional Arts Electives
Musical Theatre · Entrepreneurship · Art Connections · Photography

ProArts Dual Enrollment
Berklee & Boston Conservatory · Boston Architectural Center (BAC) · Emerson · Mass Art

BPS Dual Enrollment
Ben Franklin Institute of Technology · Bunker Hill · Roxbury Community College (RCC) · Suffolk University

Partnership
Vertex Science Summer Internship

Juries and Assessments
Juries are held each year to evaluate the artistic growth of each student. All students will perform at least one jury.

Twelfth Grade

English (Language and Literary Arts) · Environmental Science · Probability and Statistics or AP Statistics or Dual Enrollment Calculus or Other College Math · Humanities IV · Elective or Learning Center

Jazz Vocal Concentration
Music History I · Senior Recital · Concert Choir · Classical Vocal Concentration · Musical History I · Senior Recital · Musical Theatre · Classical Solo and Ensemble · Concert Choir

Music Technology Concentration
Music History I · Music Technology · Senior Recital · Creative Lab
OR
Concert Choir

By Audition | Not Required
AP Music · Vocal Ensemble · Men’s Choir · Select Chorus

Additional Academic Opportunities
Open Honors · AP Biology (elective) · AP Statistics · Seal of Biliteracy

Additional Arts Electives
Musical Theatre · Entrepreneurship · Art Connections · Photography

ProArts Dual Enrollment
Berklee & Boston Conservatory · Boston Architectural Center (BAC) · Emerson · Mass Art

BPS Dual Enrollment
Ben Franklin Institute of Technology · Bunker Hill · Roxbury Community College (RCC) · Suffolk University · Cambridge College

Partnership
Vertex Summer and School-Year Internships

Senior Recital
All Music Majors must prepare and present a senior recital during the spring of their senior year to demonstrate what they’ve learned in their time at BAA. The Senior Recital is a collaborative program designed and led by students. Students will prepare repertoire to present as part of a shared recital program.

More information on our benchmarks and requirements for the Music Major can be found in our BAA Student Handbook HERE.

A picture of a BAA vocalist singing while gripping a microphone with a band in the background.
If I cannot fly, Let me sing.

Stephen Sondheim

Strings Ensemble Winterfest

Choral Winterfest Performance

Aretha Franklin Tribute Concert

Jazz Winterfest

Our graduates go on to college, professional careers as musicians, or other careers that benefit from our multi-disciplinary foundation.

A picture of Mariano in a blue suit standing in a wooden-clad walkway.

Mariano Neris II

Class of 2008 | Music

A Tale of Two Talents.

Learn More
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