Music

Preschool

The children learn to echo and create rhythms and tonal patterns while exploring concepts such as dynamics, tempo, and form. They develop their singing voices by singing a diverse selection of songs and their musical self-expression by playing instruments such as drums, triangles and cymbals. They explore movement through singing games, acting out songs, and stepping to the beat.

Prekindergarten

The children continue to learn to echo and create rhythms and tonal patterns, explore concepts such as dynamics, tempo, and form, and play instruments such as drums, triangles, and cymbals. Developing their singing voices is emphasized in the Prekindergarten year. They explore movement through singing games, acting out songs, and stepping to the beat.

Kindergarten

The children are exposed to a wide variety of music from different cultures and historical periods. They continue to explore movement, develop basic instrument playing skills, build a repertoire of songs, and sing and demonstrate beat and rhythm. They learn to listen to classmates’ singing as well as recorded music and to read basic rhythm patterns and tonal patterns.

Grade One

Children learn to read basic rhythmic patterns and develop kinestic awareness of themselves and beat. They continue to focus on vocal development: singing in tune alone and with others.

Grade Two

Singing in unison, in canon and partner songs. Music literacy using the Kodaly method and Orff process and playing Orff instruments. Moving and listening to a variety of music, improvising and composing simple pieces, identifying form in music. Performances in Declamations, Celebration of Light, and Graduation, including multicultural music experiences. Opportunity to perform in recitals. English Country and international folk dancing at May Day.

Text:
The Song Garden
Music and You (series)

Grade Three

Singing in unison, in canon and partner songs. Music literacy using the Kodaly method and Orff process and playing Orff instruments. Moving and listening to a variety of music, improvising and composing simple pieces, identifying form in music including ABA form. Performances in Declamations, Celebration of Light, and Graduation, including multicultural music experiences. Opportunity to perform in recitals. English Country and international folk dancing at May Day.

Text:
The Song Garden
Music and You (series)

Grade Four

Singing in unison, in canon, in two and three part harmony, and partner songs. Music literacy using the Kodaly method and Orff process playing Orff instruments and recorder. Moving and listening to a variety of music, improvising and composing simple pieces, identifying form in music including AABA form. . Performances in Declamations, Celebration of Light, and Graduation, including multicultural music experiences. Opportunity to perform in recitals. English Country and international folk dancing at May Day.

Text:
The Song Garden
Music and You (series)

Grade Five

Singing in the St. Peter’s School Chorus, continuation of Orff and Kodaly, and beginning hand bells. Percussion ensemble. Performances at Declamations, Harvest Festival, Grandparent’s Day, Celebration of Light, including experiences with multi-cultural music. Opportunity to perform in recitals. English country and international folk dancing at May Day.

Text:
The Song Garden
Sound Thinking
American Two Part Folk Songs

Grade Six

Singing in the St. Peter’s School Chorus, continuation of Orff and Kodaly, and beginning to intermediate hand bells. Study of romantic music and opera. Performances at Declamations, Harvest Festival, Grandparent’s Day, Celebration of Light, including experiences with multi-cultural music. Opportunity to perform in recitals. English country and international folk dancing at May Day.

Text:
The Song Garden
Sound Thinking
American Two Part Folk Songs

Grade Seven

Singing in the St. Peter’s School Chorus, continuation of Orff and Kodaly, and advanced hand bells. Study of classical music. Performances at Declamations, Harvest Festival, Grandparent’s Day, Celebration of Light, including experiences with multi-cultural music. Opportunity to perform in recitals. English country and international folk dancing at May Day.

Text:
The Song Garden
Sound Thinking
American Two Part Folk Songs

Grade Eight

Singing in the St. Peter’s School Chorus, continuation of Orff and Kodaly, and advanced hand bells. Study of baroque music and jazz. Performances at Declamations, Harvest Festival, Grandparent’s Day, Celebration of Light, including experiences with multi-cultural music. Opportunity to perform in recitals. English country and international folk dancing at May Day.

Text:
The Song Garden
Sound Thinking
American Two Part Folk Songs