MUSIC

The music program at La Scuola begins in Preschool and extends through the end of Middle School. Every child participates in the music program! As one of the Hundred Languages, children study music by listening, singing, playing, reading, and composing, from the start of the curriculum to graduation. We inquire into music as science, as culture, as history, as math, connecting through all disciplines. Our graduates speak the language of music – it is one more tool they have to express themselves. And when they make music together, they witness the beauty and impact of collaboration and the benefit of diversity.

Preschool Music

During the school year, students are able to familiarize themselves with a variety of musical instruments and observe, explore, compare, make sounds, and experience the sound of music, while building appreciation. Through activities and games, they begin to develop a musical ear — being able to recognize the variety of sounds and timbres created by different musical instruments.

This year focused on learning musical patterns through color-coded keys, which stimulates the learning and understanding of music, allowing children to become aware that music has a certain recurrence through musical patterns. The overall musical experience allows students to grasp a basic understanding of what a band/orchestra is and what it means to play in one, demonstrating their ensemble skills.

The benefits of children being exposed to music are countless, such as increased coordination, which involves more than using only their voice or fingers; they use their eyes and ears, as well as large and small muscles, all at the same time. This helps the body and the mind work together. Also, they use their social-emotional skills by learning to work together as a team and develop their sense of empathy with others. Children are better able to tune into other people’s emotions, as well as develop the skills of self-regulation, discipline, respect, patience, memory, attention, and concentration.

The La Scuola music program for children in Kindergarten to Grade 2 is designed to provide a comprehensive and engaging musical education. Every child participates in the music program at La Scuola!

In Grade 1, the focus shifted to note reading and rhythm exploration. Students learned to read and identify musical notes as well as their corresponding rest symbols. They practiced clapping and playing these rhythms using various percussive instruments, developing their sense of timing and coordination. As the year progressed, they began integrating pitched percussion instruments such as xylophones, which allowed them to apply their newfound note-reading skills to produce melodic patterns. This was the year they also began to perform musical compositions with sheet music, studying the various aspects of compositions, such as form.

In Kindergarten this year, the emphasis was on exploring pitch through the study of solfege, employing both the voice and the kinematic movements of the body, as well as through instruments like boom whackers and xylophones at the end of the school year. Students learned to recognize different pitches and developed a sense of tonality by singing simple melodies using solfege syllables visually and by hand gestures. The boom whackers, colorful tuned percussion tubes, helped reinforce pitch recognition and basic rhythm skills. Through interactive activities and games, kindergartners have fun while building their musical understanding.

In Grade 2, the students were ready to delve into more complex compositions and ensemble playing. The curriculum revolved around pitched percussion ensembles, where students were exposed to a wide variety of instruments, each with its own unique timbre and role in the musical pieces. They learned to collaborate with their peers, working together in different sections to create harmonies and layered melodies. Second graders developed a deeper understanding of musical structure, dynamics, and expression as they performed more intricate and challenging compositions.