Toddler: Music is a natural and integral part of a young child’s life throughout his or her day. In this sensorial stage of development, Musical activities involve singing, listening, moving, and playing age-appropriate percussion instruments. Both melodic and rhythmic aspects of music are emphasized through the use of chants, rhymes, poems, and manipulation of materials like scarves, puppets, and ribbons.
Primary: In Music Classes for Primary students, emphasis is that musical involvement should be immediate and for everyone. Most musical activities follow the “Orff Method” approach to the teaching-learning process: Speech, Rhyming, Singing, Movement and visual clues are offered in a playful and child-centered way. Children are involved through imitation, exploration, dramatization, and creation. Rhythmic and melodic work is emphasized through the use of movement songs and musical games. All students will present a Sing- Along before Winter Break and work on a Mini-Musical at the end of the school year.
Lower Elementary: Students are exposed to a variety of musical activities that follow the “Orff Method”, such as Movement activities, Dances, and Singing. Playing instruments, either using simple rhythms and percussion instruments or melodies using xylophones, are an important aspect of class. Each student is encouraged to “make” music either by singing or playing an instrument (available at school or one they choose to bring from home). We learn about various composers and their styles as we study music history. All Lower Elementary Students work on a Simple Play they present before Winter Break and a more advanced Musical at the end of the year. We enjoy Chorus with an environment set up for students to experience the joy of singing together. While the students are singing, they are also learning vocal warm-ups, music theory and reading chorus music, singing in a small and large ensemble, understanding dynamics and forms of songs, and singing in other languages and cultural styles. Students are learning to sing melody while others are singing harmony, and sing while moving or playing rhythm instruments such as shakers, sticks and drums. The students enthusiastically look forward to sharing their skills in the winter assembly in December, and the annual spring Choral and Recorder Concert in March.