From singing Latin canons and traditional and modern hymns, to playing and singing American folk and musical theatre…from practicing songs, music and movement from Africa and Brazil, to learning to improvise and create, the Middle School music program at Episcopal centers on active involvement. Our program concentrates on participation with singing, instrument playing, movement and speech because boys and girls at this age, whose voices and bodies are going through dramatic change, require this type of experiential training.
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Our program contains elements of the Orff, Kodaly, and Dalcroze approaches, which are noted educational philosophies employed worldwide. Through solfege and singing music from a variety of music styles and musical cultures (hallmarks of the Orff and Kodaly approaches), students become more comfortable with their developing voices. Through body percussion, rhythmic movement and rhythmic instrumental practice (elements of Orff and Dalcroze), they develop coordination and sensitivity to sound and ensemble. Improvisation with all of these, as well as melodic and harmonic practice using the Orff instruments, cello, bass, and guitar are also major elements of the program. Students in the middle school may also choose to study traditional instrumental music in the seventh and eighth grades through participating in our instrumental ensemble programs.
Our program concentrates on participation with singing, instrument playing, movement and speech because boys and girls at this age, whose voices and bodies are going through dramatic change, require this type of experiential training.”
Following participation in these programs students may progress to concert chorale and honors chorale or to the instrumental ensemble and honors ensemble classes.