Music

Our music program instills in students a love of music and develops their appreciation of all types and styles of music. Students learn how to sing and use their voices correctly to help them sing in tune. As they move through the grades, they learn to read music and play percussion instruments, Orff bells, the autoharp, recorders and tone chimes.

As they move through the grades, they learn to read music and play percussion instruments, Orff bells, the autoharp, recorders and tone chimes.

A variety of methods and techniques are used to help students achieve these goals – including elements from both the Kodaly and Orff programs, as well as traditional music theory. Students begin in kindergarten learning how to use solfege tones and hand signs. They are taught how to sing in their head voices to help them sing in tune and to blend their voices with their classmates.

Lower school students love to march around the room to music while playing rhythm sticks. Second graders learn to play folksongs from many countries one the autoharp. Third graders work with Orff bells to accompany their singing oruse them to compose and improvise melodies. Middle Division students build on these skills and apply them to playing recorders and, in the sixth grade, tone chimes.