Music

Grier realizes the benefits of music education and offers extensive opportunities for all students to participate. Students can enroll in music courses, take private lessons, and join performing ensembles. Music instructors at Grier are high quality instructors with professional experience.

Additionally, the Music department faculty arranges for enriching opportunities for student musicians, including:

Guest performances by local, regional, and national musicians
Workshops
Participation in regional competitions
Trips to Penn State University and New York City to attend concerts and Broadway musicals
Participation (by invitation) in the Juniata College Orchestra and the Central Pennsylvania Youth Orchestra

Ensembles & Lessons

List of 3 items.

Ensembles

Our ensembles perform both on and off campus in concerts and musical theater productions throughout the year. Enrichment activities include guest performances, workshops, and field trips to concerts and musicals in New York City and nearby Penn State University and Juniata College.

Ensemble musicians may bring their own instruments to Grier or borrow instruments for no additional cost.
Private Lessons

Our full-time and part-time instructors currently offer private lessons on all levels in voice, piano, flute, rock guitar, classical guitar, electric bass, violin, viola, cello, clarinet, saxophone, and drums. Theory and composition are also offered as private lessons. Students participating in private studies are encouraged to perform in recitals and concerts and may combine with other interested students to create chamber music groups. Qualified students may elect to participate in regional piano and vocal competitions and perform with other local orchestras. There is an additional fee per semester for private lessons. Students may use available Music Department instruments for their lessons or rent instruments for a fee.
Music Events
- Parents’ Weekend Concert
- Winter Concert
- Spring Concert
- Rock Fest
- Spring Musical
- Graduation Concert
- Bi-annual recitals
- Performers Club

Courses

List of 8 items.

AP® Music Theory

This intensive course is designed to develop musical skills that will lead to a thorough understanding of music composition and theory. Students will be required to read, notate, write, sing and listen to music to develop their aural, composition, analytical and performance skills. Upon completing the course, students will be prepared and are required to take the AP® Music Theory Exam. Students going to college will be able to apply for credit or placement into advanced theory classes, depending on the individual colleges’ AP® policies. This course is for students in grades 10-12 (9th grade with private music teacher recommendation). Prerequisites: Some prior knowledge of music theory is recommended though not required. Must have experience on an instrument or voice.
Beginning Piano

A class for any student who has never had piano before or wants a beginning refresher course. Small groups each have their own keyboard equipped with headphones which are removed for ensemble playing. There is some homework, but the majority of the work is done in class. A second semester class is offered for those who wish to continue.
Introduction to Music Theory

Grade: 9, 10, 11, or 12
Music Appreciation

This is a non-performance class designed to give students a basic understanding of music and to inspire an appreciation for music from a variety of genres and cultures. We will apply the elements of music to our favorite music, learn how to read basic notation, use music terminology, and investigate how music has changed throughout history. We will also discuss instruments and ensembles, the differences in various styles and genres of music, and the creative process of writing and arranging music. The main focus in this course will be “Western” music (from ancient Greek to current American popular music). However, students will be encouraged to explore music from other cultures in individual projects. Students will demonstrate their knowledge through various hands-on activities, projects, and presentations. Grade: 7, 8, or 9
Music Lessons Intensive

This course is designed for the serious music student who wishes to focus on music as a possible career choice. Students will take three or more private music lessons per week.
Musical Theatre I

Students work with our vocal teacher in small groups to perform short scenes from Broadway musicals. Students will learn to develop characters through class activities and performing group and individual pieces. Students will be evaluated on written work, performances and class participation. This class is scheduled after school two days per week. Prerequisites: All students must audition.
Musical Theatre II

Students will study musical theatre genres and styles through reading, lectures and performing. Topics included in the course will include (but are not limited to) musical theatre history, audition preparation, and rehearsal strategies. Students will perform studied pieces individually and in ensembles. Students will be evaluated on written work, performances and class participation. This class is scheduled after school two days per week. Prerequisites: All students must audition. Necessary skills include tap, jazz, voice lessons, and the ability to match pitch and sing harmonies.
Women in Music

Women in Music is an investigation into and celebration of women’s musical activities in a variety of capacities and musical traditions. Students will learn to describe women’s experiences and accomplishments in several music-related fields and genres. Musical genres may include but are not limited to classical (past and present), popular, jazz, rock, stage (musical theatre and opera), and film music. We will consider the musical and cultural influence of women from the roles of creators and performers. Students will be expected to participate in regular class discussions, class presentations, and a final creative project. Grade: 9-12

Grier School

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Faculty

List of 6 members.

Julie Hanlon

Music Dept Chair & Musical Theatre Director
Anita Krupa

Music Appreciation & Vocal Music
Mark Minnich

Orchestra Director

Bio
Teacher, arranger, performer, and arts entrepreneur, Mark takes joy in creating thrilling musical endeavors and growing passionate young artists. An enthusiast of diverse musical styles, Mark thrives in jazz combos, Latin rock bands, new music ensembles, string quartets, and more. He has performed with the Mannheim Steamroller orchestra, the world tour of Chicago: The Musical, and Grammy award winning pianist Billy Childs. Mark is concertmaster of the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra, associate concertmaster of the Penn's Woods Music Festival Orchestra, and a member of the Allegria Ensemble. Mark and his wife Sally perform together as Revamped; described as daring and innovative, this vivacious husband and wife violin duo fuses pop, jazz, classical, rock, and folk styles in a way entirely their own. They create concert experiences with artistically profound and impossibly complex arrangements, electronic and altered instruments, vibrant color coordination, theatrics, and signature stunts- all done with mind-boggling precision- to awe and inspire audiences around the world. Through extended techniques of their own invention, these two performers become the stride pianists of the string world, evoking the sonic landscapes of large ensembles of diverse instrumentation to impress audiences of all ages. Integration with live-streaming and social media places viewers in the center of the action, while a touch of humor and their personable interactions round out every unforgettable show. The duo has arranged dozens of signature works, available for viewing on their website.

Mark holds a B.M. in Violin Performance from Bowling Green State University, as well as an M.M. in Violin Performance and an M.A. in Music Theory and History from Penn State. Mark has performed in the United States, Canada, Germany, Austria, Poland, China, Greece, and Tanzania, and has played as soloist with the Firelands Symphony, the Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra, the Altoona Symphony, the Cleveland Pops Orchestra, and the Williamsport Symphony. Mark's teaching combines influences from the Suzuki Method and Eastern European methodology, integrated with a variety of genres to enhance student engagement. Mark strives for balanced development of musicality, precision, and natural motions. He coaches students through carefully layered practice methodology, and emphasizes pragmatic audience engagement in performances. He teaches violin, viola, chamber ensembles, group classes, composition, music theory, music history, and orchestra at the Grier School, the State College Music Academy, and the State College Suzuki Program. As an arts entrepreneur, Mark's work emphasizes the role of social media and technology in audience engagement and growth, and encourages innovation in concert design and presentation. Mark was president of the Penn's Woods Music Festival advisory council, and has worked with boards for the Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra, the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra, and the SAVVY Arts Venture Challenge.
Cathy Scafidi

Piano Teacher
Agatha Wang

Flute Choir Director & Piano

Bio
Flute Choir Director & Flute/Piano

Agatha J. Wang has been a resident of State College, PA since the fall of 2001. A native of the Province of Taiwan, her formal training includes the Taiwan’s special musical education program for gifted students (grades 3-12), a BA in Music from Fu-Jen Catholic University (which selected her to represent the school with a performance at Taiwan’s National Recital Hall), and an MA in Flute Performance from New York University, where she studied with Keith Underwood. Since high school, Agatha has been the principal flutist for both the Tainan City opera orchestra and Tainan youth symphony orchestra, and worked as a professional accompanist. As a soloist, she has performed in Taiwan, China, Italy, Ireland and the USA for recitals and music festivals.

Agatha has performed with the Kaohsiung City Symphony Orchestra (Taiwan), the National Symphony Orchestra (Taiwan), the Nan-Yeen Symphony Orchestra (Taiwan), the Seoul Symphony Orchestra (NY), the Nittany Valley Symphony Orchestra, and as the principal flutist in the State College Summer Orchestra since 2012. She taught flute extensively in Taiwan, and now teaches flute and piano at the Grier School in Tyrone and has a private flute/piano studio in State College. In addition to being a flutist, Agatha is also a piano accompanist for performers at the Penn State School of Music as well as local professional musicians.
Kelly Hartman