Music

Core Curriculum
The Lower School General Music curriculum encourages active student participation through the use of imitation, experimentation, and problem solving. Students experience music through movement, reading, writing, performing, and listening, and gain exposure to the music of many styles of historical significance. Students are also introduced to musical instruments in class: Kindergarten through Grade 2 explore rhythmic instruments; students in Grades 3 and 4 play recorders.

Choir
Lower School Choir is mandatory in Lower School. Students study solo, unison, and two-part choral music and prepare one short musical or play for an All-School concert each semester. Students explore various choir songs, stories, acting styles, and techniques, stage manner, and management. 

General Music
This required class for all Middle school students places emphasis on learning through doing. During the student's tenure in general music, they play various classroom instruments including keyboard, cup drums, bucket drums, Kalimba, xylophone, boomwhackers and voice. Students practice, perform, create, analyze and reflect in each musical unit. General music also introduces students to music technology, and how to use it as a vehicle for creation, practice, and enjoyment. At the close of each semester, students perform instruments and sing at the All-School concerts. 

Piano Lab
All students in Grades 5-8 learn to play the piano in a group setting, while still developing based on prior experience. Students’ Chromebooks, keyboards, and headsets enable students to develop at their own pace, guided by faculty.  Opportunities to perform for classmates provide another opportunity to build confidence. 

Middle School Choir
This is a mandatory Middle School class where students learn about choral literature, fundamentals of music, and beginning vocal techniques. Students study unison, and two- and three-part choral literature from all historical and cultural periods; fundamental music reading;  vocal technique; and performance skills, including staging and movement. 

History and Appreciation of Music
This course is designed to provide a thorough introduction to fundamental music reading and western music history. Students become familiar with musical terms and develop an understanding and appreciation of music literature. Baroque, Classic, Romantic, and Modern styles will be studied through the works of composers of those periods. No previous musical knowledge is assumed.

Fundamentals of  Music Theory and Appreciation  for US
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of music theory, providing the skills needed to read and write Western music notation in the common practice period. Students learn to understand, analyze, and listen critically. The class covers material such as pitches and scales, intervals, clefs, rhythm, form, meter, phrases and cadences, and basic harmony. Covering the fundamentals of Western music theory, the course spans the absolute basics to some more advanced concepts and, as such, is the perfect course for beginners and more experienced musicians alike. There is no prerequisite.

US Select Choir
The performance club is open to students in Grades 9 - 12 which meets during Community Time each week. The course develops proper vocal technique through correct posture, breath control, basic diction principles, and a pleasant singing tone. The Upper School Select Choir supports monthly Mass and other school events as a choir. They also perform at SHA’s two major musical events each academic year.