The Lower School music program focuses on developing musically independent students who experience, explore, listen to, perform, notate, and create music.

Music and movement education begin in Preschool, where music classes present hands-on experiences for students to gain an understanding of musical concepts and to become aware of and increase their individual music abilities. Teachers work to integrate musical instruction into classroom learning, bringing life and sound to instruction in reading, science, math, and more. 

The skill framework for our Lower School music curriculum is developmentally driven by the Orff-Schulwerk approach and the National Standards for Music Education, with hand chime instruction from first through fourth grade, then introducing soprano recorder instruction in third grade, and full strings classes in fourth grade.

Class activities include speech, singing, creative movement, organized dance, drama, reading, writing, listening, performance, instrumental experiences, and instrumental technique. Value is placed on the process of learning and the interrelated importance of imitation, exploration, play, practice, demonstration, and improvisation.

The music program in Middle School helps students gain independence with music skills and secure their knowledge of musical concepts and historical background through experience, exploration and self-expression.

All middle school students participate in either Choral or Instrumental music offerings, while Jazz Band, Chamber singers and our 'Roosicians' special ensemble are musical opportunities offered at the club level, allowing students to either deepen their interest in instrumental or vocal music, or allowing participation in both.

Classroom work centers on active music-making, requiring awareness of self in creating successful musical expression. Winter and Spring Concerts provide public performance opportunities for the Middle School Choral and Instrumental Ensembles.

5th and 6th Grade Chorus and Instrumental Music

Students elect to join either the Chorus or one of two Instrumental Ensembles - Concert Band or String Ensemble - and commit to a grade-level performing ensemble for the entire year. Skill building is the primary focus of the fifth and sixth grade ensemble music classes.

7th and 8th grade Chorus and Instrumental Music

Seventh and eighth grade students are able to continue their participation in Concert Band or String Ensemble, which are open to all interested seventh and eighth grade students playing an orchestral ensemble instrument. These instrumental groups perform concerts in both the winter and spring, as well as for select AFS assemblies and all-school events.

The seventh and eighth grade Chorus is open to all interested seventh and eighth grade students. The repertoire of the chorus ranges from classical pieces to spirituals, folk songs to contemporary pieces. Choral students may also have the opportunity to join Chamber Singers, a smaller and more challenging vocal ensemble. All choirs perform at concerts in both the winter and spring, as well as for select AFS assemblies and all-school events.

The Upper School music program facilitates the discovery and understanding of music as a discipline and as a means of self-expression.

This skills-based program engages each student intellectually, emotionally, and physically in the process of understanding and creating musical expression. It is the goal of this program to make the language of music accessible to all students while providing advanced students the opportunity for further study.

The Upper School Music Block

A component of the Upper School daily schedule is a dedicated Music Block for all students in choral or instrumental music classes. This dedicated block allows student musicians to participate in music classes and offerings without scheduling conflicts. 

Chorus & Chamber Singers

The Upper School Chorus is open to students in all grades. This ensemble collaborates to sing a variety of compositions that include Renaissance works through contemporary compositions sacred and secular. Elements of singing technique taught in the course include proper breathing, vocal production, vowel formation, expression, intonation, and range expansion. Elements of musicianship such as sight-reading, ear training and score analysis are also an essential part of the course. Students are required to sing a number of performances for school assemblies, open houses, and evening concerts.

Members of the Upper School Chorus may audition for Chamber Singers. Vocalists who audition and are invited to join this ensemble rehearse additional musical selections that often include advanced a cappella and/or jazz compositions. Students are expected to perform on a regular basis and concert venues may include off-campus locations.

Concert Band & String Ensemble

The Upper School Concert Bands and Strings Ensemble are open to all upper school grades and to all students who have played a string, woodwind, brass or percussion instrument for at least two years. Students in both Concert Band and String Ensemble prepare and perform a wide variety of music spanning many periods and styles.

Chamber Ensembles

Instrumentalists in the Upper School are also invited to join the Jazz Ensemble and Chamber Strings. These groups play contemporary repertoire representing several genres and allow for a greater focus on improvisation and interpretation. The Jazz Ensemble also explores music analysis and creation through active listening and experimentation, and regularly performs their own arrangements of popular songs.

Chamber Ensembles are open to students interested in building small-ensemble skills. With permission of the music faculty and after an audition, students will be divided into either duos, trios, quartets, etc. based on skill level and interest. Students performances will be both on and off campus.

Additional opportunities for independent studies are available to interested students, and have included topics such as music  theory, digital audio production, and music history.