Since its introduction in September of 2000, the music program has become a staple for many students at West Ridge Academy. The classes offered are Beginning Guitar, Guitar Ensemble, Choir, Music Appreciation, Honors Music, and Songwriting. We are diligently working on adding a piano class. All music classes count toward fine art credits. Each semester, a majority of students enroll in at least one music class, and there are many others who enroll in multiple music classes.
One student commented, “If West Ridge didn’t have a music program this place would be pretty boring.” Another student said, “Everyone has their own niche in music, and the music program gives us a chance to discover new talents and build on what we already have.” One of the guitar students said, “The music program is like pushing all of your troubles away. The guitar for me is paradise, learning every day to become better and better. It opens my mind to the real world. My fingers hurt but my heart rejoices.”
The West Ridge Academy Music Program is under the direction of Chris Woods, a singer/songwriter and graduate of Brigham Young University. Woods believes strongly that music has the power to change lives and heal wounded souls. He said, “Music has the ability to communicate ideas and feelings that cannot be communicated through words alone. I have personally seen on the faces of many students the enlightening power of music. It is as if a light bulb turns on inside their heads and their minds are opened up to a new world of discovery. The music program is an island of peace in an otherwise chaotic world.”
GOALS
The goal of the West Ridge Academy Music Program is to inspire our students to make positive changes by developing a love and talent for playing and performing good music. We believe that there is so much good music in the world to be learned that there isn’t time to waste on bad music! We learn songs from 
Broadway and Disney to Neil Diamond and John Denver, Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra to Johnny Cash. We also learn classical music, gospel songs, hymns, choral music, 50’s and 60’s tunes, Beatles tunes, classic rock, and whatever else we can. All students enrolled in music classes are required to perform their songs in class. Many of them will also have the opportunity to perform in public and private settings. In the past three years, we have performed at rest homes, retirement centers, hospitals, businesses, people’s homes, high schools, libraries, devotionals, fundraisers, school talent shows and other concerts, and will continue to do so. Performing is an essential ingredient to personal growth.
RECORDING
Recently, we asked many of our students to challenge themselves by recording songs for a school CD project and the response was overwhelmingly positive. Jon Duckwitz, the studio engineer who recorded the CD, commented, “This project is huge! To think about where these kids came from and to see what they are doing now is awesome!” One of the girls who participated on the project said, “I don’t know if I will ever get a chance to do this again, but I am so grateful to have had the opportunity. It is a dream come true!”
COURSES
Beginning Guitar – This class is broken up into four quarters in which we learn rhythm, strumming patterns, scales, chords in first position, power chords, barre chords, improvisational techniques, note reading, classical guitar techniques, and songs that reinforce the techniques being learned. Students are required to pass off all assignments one on one with the teacher or in front of the class. Beginning Guitar is offered on our boy’s and girl’s campuses.
Guitar Ensemble – This class is primarily a performing group. Participation in the class requires an audition and an invitation from the teacher. We learn 
various songs that fit the skills of the group and perform them whenever asked. This group, along with the Boy’s Choir, performs two main concerts each year – the school Christmas Concert, and the Spring Music Concert. In the fall, the group prepares to perform at the Scarecrow Festival. Each quarter, the group is also expected to be ready to perform for various public and private events.
Choir – This class is a performance class in which all students are required to sing in class and in public and private settings. It is a fun class that is always changing. There are a few songs that we learn and re-learn each quarter – songs that have become a regular part of West Ridge music – such as: L.O.V.E by Nat King Cole, Take Me Home Country Roads by John Denver, Empty Chairs at Empty Tables from Les Miserables, Heaven’s Light from the Hunchback of Notre Dame, Lean on Me, and Shenandoah. Choir class is available on both campuses for the High School age students. We will make exceptions if there is a therapeutic need for a younger student to have music class.
Music Appreciation – This class covers music theory, music history, Musicals, Biographies of musical artists, analyzing lyrics, analyzing music, writing musical essays, and learning about various instruments. It is a popular class and is a great medium for students to make connections between the past and the present and to discover personal meaning in music.
Honors Music – This class offers a more in-depth study of music theory, and requires students to challenge themselves by learning to play all of the exercises on the piano. The things we study include: intervals, triads, chords, inversions, key signatures, meter, major and minor scales, chord progressions in major and minor keys, two and four-part harmony, the circle of fifths, and dictation. This is a difficult class and is not for the beginning music student. Students who have had prior musical training are welcome to take the class.
Songwriting – This class is only offered one semester per year in place of the Music Appreciation class. It is a performance based class in which students write songs and perform them for the class. Some of them are also invited to perform their songs for the school. Students learn song form, the model song approach, how to copyright their songs, and the art of collaboration.