Music
TK - 3rd Grade Music Class
At Laurel Hall School, students in Grades TK-3rd will dive into the building blocks of music making and performance. In lessons tailored to each grade, students not only explore concepts such as steady beat, meter, tempo, dynamics, and notation, but discover various genres and composers from a number of cultures around the world. These concepts and explorations at these early levels culminate with the recorder unit studied in 3rd Grade. As we lay these necessary foundations, students are also given opportunities to explore the art of composition and nurture their creativity through a number of exercises and discussions
All students participate in a minimum of two concerts per year, where they present music from a variety of styles and languages. Instruments that are used in the classroom such as recorders, Orff percussion, Boomwhackers, and smaller classroom percussion are also often incorporated into these performances. Students are also given opportunities to build confidence for solo singing, both in the classroom and in performance.
All students from Grades 2-5 are invited to join the Laurel Hall School Children’s Choir for additional performance opportunities.
In music, we strive to shape our students into not just curious and thoughtful musicians, but resilient, confident and respectful human beings.
4th Grade Music
4th graders continue their study of music reading and notation, using the online platform MakeMusic. They learn the following: rhythms through 8th notes, dotted notes and triplets, basic Solfeggio, the C, F, G and D Major scales, note names of the Treble Clef, intervals 2nd , 3 rd, 4th and 5th. Short online assignments are due weekly. 4 th Graders perform a Christmas concert and a Spring Sing. Speaking and singing solos are available for those wanting an extra challenge. They learn about the music of the greatest composers from the Baroque and Classical Eras, such as Bach, Mozart and Beethoven.
5th Grade Music
5th Graders build upon what they learned in 4th grade, using the online music reading and notation platform MakeMusic. Their study expands to 16th notes, syncopation, the Eb and Bb Major scales, minor keys, plus intervals 6th, 7th and octave. Short online assignments are due weekly. 5 th Graders perform a Christmas concert and a Spring Sing. Speaking and singing solos are available for those wanting an extra challenge. Their study of great composers expands into the Romantic Era with Tchaikovsky and the Modern Era with Stravinsky.
Music History
The Music History class is a yearlong program divided into 3 parts. The 1st trimester is devoted to classical music, the great composers and their associated eras, such as Bach/Baroque, Mozart/Classical, Tchaikovsky/Romantic and Stravinsky/Modern. Students prepare a Power Point presentation on each era. In the 2nd trimester, students learn about the world of Broadway and Musical Theater. They complete projects based on some of the classic Broadway shows, such as Oklahoma, Guys & Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof, and more recent works, like Wicked and Hamilton. They learn about Rodgers & Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, Lin Manuel Miranda, and other theater composers. In the 3rd trimester, study moves into the realm of pop music, and includes jazz, rock and hip hop. Students learn how to do song analyses. They prepare and present reports on both a 20th Century and 21st Century musical artist.
Vocal Music
The Vocal Music class is a mixture of solo and choral music. Curriculum is dedicated to vocal technique, including vowel shapes, diction and diaphragmatic breathing, Students sing Italian, German and English art songs, as well as an occasional song in French. The class gives two concerts each year, at Christmas and in the spring. Singers have the opportunity to choose their own material in the realm of musical theater and pop. All students take a brief, weekly private lesson with the teacher. Girls learn how to navigate between chest and head voice. Boys learn which octave to choose, based on their current vocal range. The class studies great musical artists in the realm of opera, musical theater, and pop.
6th-8th Grade Guitar
Get ready to explore the world of guitar through hands-on learning. Whether you're just starting out or already shredding, this class has something for everyone. We'll begin by mastering the essentials like tuning your guitar, learning scales, and diving into improvisation so you can start crafting your own solos. You’ll also learn to read music using both standard notation and guitar tablature, giving you the skills to read and play a wide range of music. As we go, we'll focus on developing both your right and left hand techniques, along with building your chord knowledge, starting with power and open chords. More advanced students will have the chance to tackle higher octave scales, barre chords, and even explore drop 2 and 3 chord voicings for a deeper understanding of harmony.
Throughout the course, we’ll learn songs from different genres and work on some classic guitar riffs to add to your repertoire. The grand finale will be a group performance at the spring concert, where you can show off everything you've learned as part of our ensemble!
4th-8th Grade Band
The band program at Laurel Hall offers students the opportunity to discover their talents and join with other students from across the school to create instrumental music. Students will explore a diverse repertoire of music, ranging from classical to contemporary, while developing essential skills in rhythm, melody, and harmony.
Through engaging group rehearsals, individual practice, and performance opportunities, students will enhance their musical abilities and gain confidence in their playing. We will focus on instrument technique, music theory, and ensemble playing, fostering teamwork and collaboration.
Additionally, students will have the chance to participate in concerts and community events, showcasing their talents and hard work. Join us for a fun and enriching musical journey that inspires creativity and a lifelong love of music!
What Our Students Say...
Here’s what a few of our students think about Music:
“I like music class because we [play] the tambourines.” - Pen, TK
“My favorite thing about music class is that sometimes…[we] make our own [rhythms] and draw the beats.” - Cammy, 1st Grade
“My favorite thing about music class is having concerts.” - Keira, 3rd Grade
“I like trying new instruments.”- James, 3rd Grade
“I like learning new notes on the board.”- Olive, 1st Grade
