Music

Curricular Goals K–12

The Music Department Habits of Mind provide a basis for musical growth for students at all levels: Develop Craft, Listen, Create and Innovate, Reflect, Envision, Engage and Persist, Understand Music in the World. Fostering these habits promote a deeper understanding of music.

LOWER SCHOOL MUSIC

The Lower School music program engages children in discovery and learning through dynamic teaching methods.

Music classes provide opportunities for aural, visual, and kinesthetic learners, who need to hear, feel, understand, see, and physically express themselves. Students are introduced to basic elements of music: rhythm, melody, harmony, form, and timbre. Children explore these fundamentals through body percussion, speech, singing, movement, folk dances, singing games, and playing pitched and unpitched instruments.

Fourth and fifth grade students further their knowledge, performing in Lower School choral groups and participating in the exploratory instrumental program.

MIDDLE SCHOOL MUSIC

The Middle School music program supports students in this dynamic developmental stage. Each year builds on previously learned skills, encouraging students to use music to express and explore their own identities. Being involved in musical communities gives students opportunities to build confidence and meaningful experiences with their peers.

Chorus, Band, and Strings classes meet during the school day twice a week, and students can also audition for co-curricular groups such as Chamber Strings, Chamber Band, the B#s (a cappella group), Jazz Ensemble, and Modern Music Band.

UPPER SCHOOL MUSIC

The Upper School music program promotes a balance between process and performance. Emphasis is placed on creativity, discipline, and innovation. All courses, whether composition or performance-oriented, stress careful attention to craft. Students are encouraged to discover their musical identities, pursue their interests, and develop talents through classes in music technology, history, and composition.

An extensive range of vocal, instrumental, and production opportunities allow students to demonstrate their skills and share their work with the Park School community.

Music Groups

The music department offers in-depth courses in singing, playing, performing, audio production, and music technology. Performing opportunities include vocal and instrumental ensembles in all three divisions.

Vocal Ensembles 

Lower School

Chorus
The Lower School Chorus is non-auditioned for students in Grades 4 and 5 and meets once a week. Many skills are developed during rehearsals, including proper vocal technique, diction, blend, ensemble skills, music reading, and part work. The chorus performs at assemblies and seasonal concerts.

Soundwaves
Soundwaves are comprised of students who are in the Lower School Chorus and enjoy more performance opportunities with work on advanced choral repertoire. Members of Soundwaves rehearse for one hour after school on Tuesday. The Soundwaves’ performances include assemblies, concerts, and a variety of Park community events.   

Middle School

Middle Cs
The Middle School non-auditioned chorus sings folk music from around the world, arrangements of show tunes and popular tunes, and composed art music. They rehearse twice a week — once during the school day and once after school on Monday. Middle Cs perform at assemblies, seasonal concerts, local venues, and regional festivals. 

The B#s
The B#s are comprised of students who are in the Middle Cs and enjoy more performance opportunities with work on advanced choral repertoire. The group rehearses for one hour, once a week. The B#s' performances include assemblies, concerts, and a variety of Park community events.   

Upper School

Parksingers
This non-auditioned chorus sings a variety of choral works and arrangements in several styles and languages. Parksingers is a class that rehearses three times a week for credit. Members of Parksingers perform in assemblies for all divisions, at seasonal concerts, and at the annual AIMS Choralfest. 

Madrigal Singers
This non-auditioned a cappella chorus sings traditional Renaissance secular and sacred music.  The group also performs contemporary Celtic music. Members of Madrigal Singers meet once a week during a Parksingers rehearsal. Madrigal Singers must also be members of Parksingers.

Eightnotes
The auditioned female a cappella ensemble performs traditional and contemporary songs. Eightnotes is a class that rehearses twice a week for credit, with frequent additional rehearsals in preparation for a variety of school and community events. Singers are expected to create original arrangements tailored to the group, and often participate in competitions and festivals. Eightnotes must be members of Parksingers.

Vocal Chords
The auditioned male a cappella ensemble performs traditional and popular songs. Vocal Chords is a class that rehearses twice a week for credit, with frequent additional rehearsals in preparation for a variety of school and community events. Singers are expected to create original arrangements tailored to the group, and often participate in competitions and festivals. Vocal Chords must be members of Parksingers.

Instrumental Ensembles

Lower School

Exploratory Instrumental Class
All fourth graders learn fundamentals of orchestral wind instruments with their regular music class.  During the year, students perform in class ensembles on the wind instrument of their choice.

In fifth grade, students are encouraged to continue study of their chosen instrument with group lessons after school. Students learn the special skills necessary to perform in an ensemble. Public performances will be scheduled.

5th Grade Concert Band
The Concert Band is a natural progression from the fourth grade exploratory instrumental studies in which every fourth grade student learned the basics in playing the flute and clarinet.

Every fifth grader will be asked to either play an instrument in our Concert Band OR to sing in the Lower School Chorus. Lower School Chorus and Concert Band will both rehearse on Mondays, during the school day, from 2:15-3:10 p.m. Those students who wish to play an instrument and sing in a chorus will be able to join Soundwaves on Tuesdays from 3:15-4:15 p.m.

Students who join the concert band may choose to play flute, clarinet, or saxophone. We will have a few percussionists and pianists to play with the group and they will be selected by audition. The band is a performance ensemble, not an instructional group, so students who participate in Concert Band are strongly encouraged to take part in our FREE after school group lessons or in private lessons. 

4th and 5th Grade Jazz Band
4th Grade Jazz Band will take place on Mondays from 3:15-4:15 p.m. in Chris Peterson’s classroom starting Monday Sept. 18. Students can play classroom instruments like the xylophones and drums or their own personal instruments (guitar, bass, and wind instruments) if they are currently enrolled in private lessons.

5th Grade Jazz Band will take place on Fridays from 3:15-4:15 p.m. in Chris Peterson’s classroom starting Friday Sept 22nd. Students can play classroom instruments like the xylophones and drums or their own personal instruments (guitar, bass, string, and wind instruments) if they are currently enrolled in private lessons, or are playing those instruments in Concert Band or String Ensemble.  

Middle School

Concert Band
Concert Band is comprised of beginning to intermediate woodwind, brass, and percussion players with 1-4 years of experience playing their chosen instrument. The group develops instrumental ensemble skills through practice and performance of folk music, traditional band repertoire, jazz, and contemporary pieces. Concert Band performs at assemblies and seasonal concerts.

String Ensemble
String Ensemble explores a variety of classic and contemporary string orchestra and chamber music repertoire. Students expand their interpretive and technical skills, learn alternative styles, and develop ensemble skills through coaching and rehearsals. String Ensemble performs at assemblies and seasonal concerts. In order to participate in String Ensemble, students must have at least one year of experience on violin, viola, cello, or double bass.  

Chamber Band
This concert band explores a variety of styles and arrangements specifically tailored for brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. In addition to work on traditional band repertoire, the group will also work on adaptations of folk and pop music, focusing on refining their sound and playing as a unit.

Chamber Strings
Chamber Strings performs advanced popular arrangements, chamber orchestra, and small chamber group repertoire for a variety of events throughout the school year. Students auditioning for the Chamber Strings should have at least one year of experience on their instrument and, if in 6th or 7th Grade, be enrolled in the Strings class.

Big Band Jazz Ensemble
This auditioned group learns music from the classic era of jazz and explores contemporary styles. Playing traditional and non-traditional jazz instruments, students focus on improvisation and authentic engagement.

Modern Music Band
This auditioned group is comprised of vocalists and instrumentalists who are enrolled in private lessons or have two or more years of experience. Students in this group will work through more repertoire and will practice their stage presence at various performances throughout the year. This group’s repertoire is modern music from rock to funk to soul. 

Upper School

Park Strings
String ensemble is a class that rehearses three times a week for credit. The group performs concert and contemporary popular repertoire. Park Strings performs several times a year at assemblies, Goldsoundz*, and seasonal concerts.

JV Jazz
JV Jazz is an activity that is open to all students interested in learning and improving skills on their instruments with jazz standards and classic tunes. The group rehearses once a week during co-curricular time. JV Jazz performs at Goldsoundz* and an end-of-year assembly. 

Jazz Ensemble
Park’s auditioned combo meets twice a week after school with several additional rehearsals for performance preparation. This for-credit class is open to instrumentalists and vocalists interested in and familiar with learning jazz, Latin, Afro-Cuban, and contemporary styles. Ensemble and improvisational skills are emphasized. Jazz Ensemble performs at assemblies for all divisions, seasonal concerts, and community events.

Extra Performance Opportunities in the Upper School

Goldsoundz
Goldsoundz is an eclectic community music series that occurs several times a year, having grown to be a venue for musical creativity and expression. Goldsoundz provides opportunities for student-driven ensembles, MCs, and live sound engineering.

Cabaret
Rooted in Park’s performance tradition, Cabaret is an acoustic evening of student and faculty performances.

Habits of Mind

LISTEN

• Use musical vocabulary to describe, analyze, and respond to music from diverse genres and cultures.
• Train the ear to hear and apply musical elements.
• Listen to self and others and adjust playing during ensemble situations.

DEVELOP CRAFT

• Read and write music notation.
• Strive to develop proper vocal and instrumental techniques.
• Strive to sing and play with proper intonation and rhythmic accuracy.
• Perform solo and in ensemble.

ENVISION

• Audiate – read music on the page and hear music before performed.
• Transfer ideas to vocal or instrumental performance and written musical notation.

CREATE AND INNOVATE (COMPOSE AND IMPROVISE)

• Compose music following musical guidelines.
• Improvise melodies, rhythms, and movement with purpose and expression.
• Reach beyond the familiar and engage with music playfully.
• Use knowledge and skills to create music spontaneously.

ENGAGE AND PERSIST

• Build upon previously learned skills.
• Strive for technical accuracy through practice and self-discipline.
• Take responsibility for one’s own learning with consistent effort. 

REFLECT

• Critique own performance and the performance of others in a constructive manner.
• Identify own mistakes after singing or playing an instrument.

UNDERSTAND MUSIC IN THE WORLD

•  Understand the diverse roles music plays in context of historic and contemporary world cultures.