Students in Mr. Lee's music classes have been producing creative music and compelling audio throughout the fall months. Here's a sampling of student work!

In Music Technology 1, students created original music and sound for video game clips. In the process, they studied a technique of interactive music known as "vertical layering." Here are some samples:

Brian Garten - Original music and sound for Rayman Legends

Ava Feeley - Original music and sound for Danganronpa (excerpt)

In Music Technology 2, students warmed up their film-scoring skills by creating original music to accompany a still image. 

In the following example, Myles Ku evokes his selected image with compelling music that demonstrates the timeless value of standard compositional devices [such as rhythmic and sustained pedal points (or drones)].

In another assignment, students ​​created original music for a standard Hollywood movie trailer. 

Here's Marty Godbout's score for the Volcano (1997) trailer:

​AP Music Theory students created four-measure chorale phrases using newly acquired skills of harmony and voice leading. Bringing their work to life, members of the class brought in their instruments for an informal reading session. Here are a couple of samples: [Listening hint: Both phrases are in a simple triple meter, so try to hear them in "3 beats per measure."]

This 11-minute video collage showcases student work from the Newtown High School music theory and music technology classes. It will be shown on Monday, April 2, 2018, at a dedication event celebrating the newly refurbished Newtown High School Auditorium.

Students in Mr. Lee's Music Technology classes ended 2017 with compelling, creative work. Check out some samples!

INVENTING "ALIEN SPEECH"
How do the fictional aliens in a science-fiction film communicate?
​Our students gave this Star Wars character a number of possible dialects.

Sophomore Jamie Davis mapped a single teacup "clink" to the piano keyboard of a sampler instrument, and then made this musical passage:

Senior Jimmy Doutney recorded various physical objects and manipulated the audio to create this musical passage:

Junior Evan Song recorded the sounds of an old cassette player to bring this Mars Rover to life:

MUSICAL COMPOSITIONS
Here are some original compositions that demonstrate the incredible expressive breadth of our students:

Students in Mr. Lee’s Music Technology classes have engaged in creative work throughout the early months of the school year. Here’s a sampling…

Music Technology 1 students created original music for video game, choosing from a wide variety of platform-genre games. Techniques of repetition and variation were employed to weave each musical score.

In Music Technology 2, students explored the compelling challenge of writing music to a visual image. In the first two pieces below, still images were the inspiration; in the third piece, a film trailer was scored. In each case, the student’s manipulation of the elements of music enhanced and developed the emotional and/or narrative impact of the visual.

On Wednesday, April 19, 2017, new works from 30 Newtown High School composers were given public premiere before an appreciative audience. The annual Newtown High School Composers' Concert features original student compositions produced in various music classes taught by NHS teacher Chris Lee. Check out a sampling of the music that was featured...

Tranquil Lake with Sky (film-scoring "warmup" project) - Ian Humber

Chorale in Bb major - Maggie Alexander

Futuristic Factory (film-scoring "warmup" project) - John McCann

Melody Arrangement in A Phrygian - M.J. Glover

Water with Mist (film-scoring "warmup" project) - Clare McKinley

Thirty Newtown High School student composers will be featured at the 4th annual NHS Composers’ Concert! This free concert will take place on Wednesday, April 19, 2017, at 7:00PM in the NHS Cafetorium. The event will feature excellent student work from our school's music theory/composition and music technology programs. With projects ranging from classical-style chorales to electronic and video game music, the concert will demonstrate our young composers' abilities to merge technique and structure with personal expression. Acoustic pieces will be performed by the talented NHS New Music Ensemble.

Students in Mr. Lee's Music Technology classes rang in the New Year with fun, original ringtones and excellent final projects. Here are some great samples...

You'll notice the ringtones repeat a few times to give full impression of a ringing smartphone. ​Don't be surprised if you find yourself reaching to answer the phone!

Dillon Lozinak located sheet music for a particular segment of a video-game score. He then entered the pitches and rhythms into our software sequencer to produce an energetic and impeccable rendering of the music.

Jetson Ku sampled a short audio snippet which served as a springboard for original music. Drawing from the harmonies and emotions of the singer, Jetson created a rich blend of chordal and rhythmic accompaniment, giving the sampled voice a new musical context.