Fidelio, Andover’s chamber choir, performed at the 2023 Fall chorus concert.
Goose and Moose, a campus jazz band, perform often at campus events.
One of the perks of attending a school like Andover is not only the diversity within class offerings and extracurricular activities but also the depth in which they are explored. There are options for virtually any kind of student, which allows people to branch out of their comfort zones. This especially applies to Andover’s Music Department, which offers 19 academic classes and electives, along with nine ensembles, and eight private lesson options. With the new music building, Falls Hall, opening this year, the Music Department has a lot to look forward to for this school year. Because there is so much variety, it may be difficult to navigate the department; however, this article will help guide you through it.
According to graduation requirements, new Juniors and Lowers are required to take Music 225, or Music 235. Music 225 allows new students a basic introduction class to music and composition, with special projects including film scoring and creating background music. Music 235 is designed for students with slightly more experience reading music and playing an instrument and dives deeper into theoretical concepts. Sophie Liang ’26, who took Music 235 in her freshman year, gave some insight into how the class helped her learn more about the Music Department, which was a relatively new field for her.
“I hadn’t taken music theory before, so it was really interesting to learn about something new. I think for introductory music classes, it’s good that new students are required to take it. If they haven’t gotten a lot of experience with music, it’s a very good intro to the music department. Also in my freshman year, the music department held a column where they introduced us to the different ensembles and bands which was very helpful,” said Liang.
Along with these introductory classes, the Music Department offers electives that dive into specific styles of music, music technology, history, performance, and more advanced musical theory for the AP Music Theory exam. In Winter Term, Music 480, a Songwriting Workshop is offered for students who wish to create original compositions. Culminating with the “Sunset Coffee House” where students can perform their original songs, the class allows students to create songs that mirror the popular music they listen to daily. Ray Williams ’26, who took Music 225 in freshman year, was inspired to take Music 480 to hone in his musical knowledge and apply it to songwriting.
“I wanted to take [the class] because it seemed like a nice opportunity to get to know people better in the music department and find people who had a similar passion to me… It was a nice opportunity to get to learn music a bit better and start developing what I feel is an appreciation for music. In our generation, everyone listens to music but not a lot of people get to understand music the way Andover allows you to,” said Williams.
Besides the classes offered, Andover has plenty of opportunities for students to perform, whether it be in large ensembles such as the Phillips Academy Symphony Orchestra, or smaller chamber groups and bands. Paige Zhu ’27, a cellist, participated in both the Chamber Music and Orchestra program at Andover and noted how the two helped her find a community in Andover music.
“I’ve been playing cello for about eight years now, and I’ve mostly played solo stuff before coming here. The community in Andover music from the vibes in Graves [Hall] to the Orchestra rehearsals is really strong. The chamber music program was also really fun because I got to work with other student musicians and form more connections while learning some valuable musicianship skills,” said Zhu.
