CLASSES 2024-2025
We offer a range of music class types and levels at Nathan Hale.
If you're just beginning or if you have lots of experience, there's a place for you to make music.
If you have questions about any of the classes, don't hesitate to reach out to Ms. Sibicky or Ms. Milanese.
GUITAR LAB
Non-Ensemble, 1 Semester,
No Pre-Requisite
Students in Guitar Lab will learn the necessary skills and concepts to gain a foundational proficiency at the acoustic guitar. This course is designed for students with little to no musical experience
PIANO LAB
Non-Ensemble, 1 Semester,
No Pre-Requisite
Students in Piano Lab will learn the necessary skills and concepts to gain a foundational proficiency on the piano keyboard. This course is designed for students with little to no musical experience.
MUSIC SURVEY
Non-Ensemble, 1 Semester,Â
No pre-requisite
Students in this course explore a diverse repertoire of musical styles, while building foundational music skills, theory, historical perspectives, and performance and listening skills. This is a one-semester course with no pre-requisite.
CONCERT CHOIR
Year-Long, No Pre-Requisite
Students in this year-long course participate in a beginning to intermediate choral performing ensemble that performs quality choral literature from a variety of genres and cultures. Students learn vocal technique and musicianship skills. Students perform in school concerts and regional festivals. If you’re new to singing or have always wanted to try, Concert Choir is for you!
SYMPHONIC BAND
Year-Long, No Pre-Requisite
This year-long performing ensemble is designed for students who play traditional woodwind, brass and percussion instruments. Students develop skills in tone production, phrasing, rhythmic and aural acuity, advanced technical skills associated with one’s instrument, and correct posture. Band students learn and perform a wide variety of music from different cultures and time periods. Students perform in school concerts, regional festivals and athletic events.
CONCERT ORCHESTRA
Year-Long, No Pre-Requisite
This year-long performing ensemble is for students who play orchestral string instruments. Orchestra students play a wide variety of music from different cultures and time periods and perform in school concerts and regional festivals. Students develop skills in tone production, phrasing, rhythmic and aural acuity, and the advancement of technical skills.
VOCAL JAZZ
Year-Long, Zero Period, Auditioned
This advanced course is designed for advanced musicians with an interest in jazz music. Vocal Jazz is a small mixed-voices ensemble for advanced singers and rhythm section. Students learn about various jazz styles and concepts, including improvisation and jazz theory. Students perform in school concerts and regional festivals. Freshmen enrolled in Vocal Jazz are required to sing in a second ensemble during the day.
JAZZ BAND
Year-Long, Zero Period, Auditioned
Students in this year-long performing ensemble learn about various jazz styles and concepts, including improvisation, jazz theory, and jazz history with traditional wind and rhythm section instrumentation. Students participate in all Jazz Band performances and activities during or outside the normal school day, including participation in festivals and trips.
MEET OUR DIRECTORS
Ms. Sibicky (Instrumental) and Ms. Milanese (Vocal/music survey) are the proud directors of the
Nathan Hale Music Department. Learn more about them below.
KATRINA SIBICKY
A native of Philadelphia, Ms. Sibicky holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Hartford’s Hartt School and a Master of Music in Music Education with a Conducting Emphasis from Colorado State University. She started her teaching career as a middle school orchestra director in Groton, CT. During her time in Connecticut, Ms. Sibicky was involved in several community bands and orchestras as both a player and conductor. Since moving to the Pacific Northwest in 2008, Ms. Sibicky worked for Seattle Public Schools as an instrumental music teacher at many elementary schools throughout the city before starting at Hale in 2015. In addition to teaching, she has served as director of the Seattle Flute Society Flute Choir and performed with the Emerald Flute Quartet.
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JESSICA MILANESE
Jessica Milanese, in her second year at Nathan Hale, is looking forward to an exciting year working with these passionate singers and musicians. Her goal each day with these musicians is to create joy and community through fun, passionate, teamwork which creates exciting and beautiful music.
Upon graduating from the University of Colorado with her music degree, Ms. Milanese was invited to join the Seattle Opera Young Artist Program where she had the opportunity to perform, study, tour and hone her skills as a singer and performer. This experience prepared Ms. Milanese for her career as a singer where she performed as a soloist with many organizations in our area. These include Seattle Opera, Tacoma Opera, Seattle Symphony, Tacoma Symphony, Northwest Sinfonietta, Orchestra Seattle, Vashon Opera, among many others.
Teaching and performing have always gone hand in hand for Ms. Milanese. In addition to her performing career, Ms. Milanese lead the initial years of the Seattle Opera Teen Program as the vocal and music director. While there, she coached young singers and musically directed their adaptations of traditional operas and musicals.
Along with holding music directing positions at organizations such as Arts West, Missoula Children’s Theater and the West Seattle Kid’s Theater, for the past 14 years, Ms. Milanese has led the choral program at our Lady of Guadalupe School in West Seattle. It was there, through her relationship with Seattle Opera, Ms. Milanese helped facilitate a collaborative, new opera which was performed by her Guadalupe singers alongside singers from Seattle Opera.
In addition to her position at Nathan Hale, Ms. Milanese is a lecturer in voice at Pacific Lutheran University. She has been a member of the music faculty, teaching singers at PLU, for the past 14 years.