Performing GroupsMusic at Ipswich High School is offered to students as elective courses designed to meet the needs of various levels of ability and interest. Some students choose to perform in one or more of the performing groups because they plan to make music a career. Others participate because they view it as an avocation they will carry on as adults in various community and church performing organizations.
High school students can choose to participate in Concert Band, String Orchestra, Concert Choir, and Treble Choir. Bel Canto, Chamber Singers, Jazz Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, and String Quartet provide further opportunity for the more skilled students who must successfully audition to participate. At the Ipswich Middle School, students can elect Band, String Orchestra, Sixth-, Seventh-, or Eighth-Grade Chorus, and Boys’ Chorus. Auditioned groups include Select Chorus String Quartet and Jazz Ensemble. Non-Performing GroupsThere is also a non-performing music component to the music curriculum. For middle school students, General Music is taught each year. This course is an extension of the music curriculum that is sequenced from pre-kindergarten. Students study varied forms of music, composition, famous composers, and use electronic keyboards to
compose their own works. In the high school, the non-performing music electives are Contemporary Electronic Techniques in Music, Music Theory, and Jazz Improvisation. Electronic Techniques students work with Macintosh computers, keyboard synthesizers, drum machines, and sequencer software all networked through MIDI. They utilize contemporary sound design techniques and traditional music theory to compose music. Music Theory students learn the elements of music and develop basic skills such as sight-reading, rhythmic dictation, and composition. Jazz Improvisation is open only to those enrolled in Band or Orchestra. These students study and perform twentieth-century American music, ranging from African-American jazz to rock and popular songs. Students perform in small combos emphasizing the various jazz styles and improvisation.
 Ipswich High School students perform with the MMEA Northeast District Festival's Concert Band - 2011 Visiting Artists/Master Classes
IMADA is pleased to fund a variety of visiting artists, clinics and master classes. LEARN MORE
|     Private Lesson Program
Find out about the Ipswich Private Lesson program taught by our adjunct faculty.
Learn more 2012 MMEA District Winners
Congratulations to the following Ipswich Middle & High School music students who successfully auditioned for the Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA) Junior & Senior District Festivals. These students competed with students from 71 schools in MMEA's Northeastern District for spots in the chorus, jazz band, orchestra and concert band. The three-day festivals culminate in concerts held at Lowell High School.
High School Students Participating in the 2012 Senior District Festival Concert Mollie Baker, Orchestra Nicole Brouillette, Chorus Elizabeth Brown, Orchestra* Cassandra Balzer, Chorus Corwin Burdick, Orchestra Lucas Callahan, Chorus Isabella Cassano, Chorus Ellena Dolan, Chorus Conor Fitzpatrick, Jazz Ensemble* Henry Freeman, Chorus Kai Freyleue, Chorus John Gayton, Chorus Anna Gibbs, Orchestra Therese Hanna, Band Emma Johnson, Chorus Katherine Johnson, Band Maria Longo, Chorus* Tara Mehalba, Chorus Victor Paduchak, Chorus Emily Parker, Chorus Michael Riddle, Jazz Ensemble Thomas Sullivan, Chorus Henry Zagarella, Band *These students have also been selected to participate in the 2012 MMEA All-State Festival culminating in a concert at Boston's Symphony Hall. High School Students Participating in the 2011 Junior District Festival Concert Jeannette Ames, chorus Mollie Baker, orchestra Maria Blazer, band Corwin Burdick, orchestra Ryan Davis, band Connor Fitzpatrick, band Ryan Fremont-Smith, band Hannah Lynch, band Connor McAdams, band Madeleine Werner, orchestra Henry Zagarella, band Middle School Students Participating in the 2011 Junior District Festival Concert Maggie Brown, orchestra Anna Gibbs, orchestra Henry Gorrell, band Emma Johnson, chorus David Leff, chorus Nora McMorrow, band Andrea Millard, band Matthew Naeger, band Alyssa Romano, chorus Ellie Swenson, band Anagh Tiwary, band  Supported in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council |
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