Music

Every student in Grades 5 and 6 studies a woodwind, brass, and percussion instrument as part of the Middle School Music curriculum. In this course, students study music by exploring different instrument families and selecting an instrument to study for the year. This course begins to build students' understanding of the Five Core Music Competencies based on the Sacred Heart Goals: Sacred Music, Standard Repertoire Mastery, Music of Social Justice, Community in Music, and Contemporary Music. Students will build music literacy and develop foundational musicianship skills, such as reading written music. Through exploration of cultural and historical aspects of music, students enhance their ability to perform and create music, and foster a lifelong passion for artistry. They will analyze their strengths, needs, and identities as musicians, and engage thoughtfully in the artistic process. This course is pass/fail, with assessments based on participation, effort, focus, and respect for materials and instructions. Students perform at the Middle School Celebration of the Arts in May.

Overview of Topics

• What is sound and how do various instruments produce sounds?
• What is the value of practice in improving our skill development?
• How do we work collaboratively to produce a well-balanced ensemble sound?
• What is the importance of being able to read music?

Skills Emphasized

• Music literacy through solfege, sight-reading, and pattern training
• Proper posture, breathing techniques, and pitch production for performance
• Aural/oral skill development for performance
• Social-emotional learning through thematic music
• Collaboration and teamwork
   

Signature Activities
Students cultivate an appreciation for music in an interdependent learning environment centered around these activities:

• Combined 5th Grade Voyagers and 6th Grade Explorers field trip to a professional music ensemble performance in the greater Boston Area
• Celebration of the Arts: Centers around social justice, social emotional learning, and interdisciplinary connections; themes have included works by women composers, selections from American musical theater, and spirituals  

This course is designed for students with prior ensemble instrument experience and focuses on developing individual musicianship, as well as achieving a balanced ensemble sound. This course deepens students’ understanding of music in the Five Core Music Competencies based on the Sacred Heart Goals: Sacred Music, Standard Repertoire Mastery, Music of Social Justice, Community in Music, and Contemporary Music. Through a varied study of instrumental music in a cultural and historical context, students will build performance skills and music literacy. This course promotes personal growth through analysis, self-assessment, and active engagement in the artistic process. Essential questions explore the value of practice, the role of community in music, and active listening. Students are evaluated on behavior, musicianship, and active participation. Students perform at the Advent Vespers Prayer Service in December and the Middle School Celebration of the Arts in May. 

Overview of Topics

• What is the value of practice? 
• Why is community important in making music? 
• How can I grow as a musician?
• What is active listening and how does it help the ensemble? 

Skills Emphasized

• Music literacy through solfege, sight-reading, and pattern training 
• Proper posture, breathing techniques, and pitch production for performance
• Aural/oral skill development for performance 
• Social-emotional learning through thematic music 
• Collaboration and teamwork 

Signature Activities

• Advent Vespers Prayer Service: Project-based learning collaboration between all performing arts discipline as a summative assessment, including self-reflection
• Celebration of the Arts: Centers around social justice, social emotional learning, and interdisciplinary connections. Themes have included works by women composers, selections from American musical theater, and spirituals.

In this course, students engage deeply with music through performance and aural/oral skills development. This course deepens students' understanding of music in the Five Core Music Competencies based on the Sacred Heart Goals: Sacred Music, Standard Repertoire Mastery, Music of Social Justice, Community in Music, and Contemporary Music. Guided by themes of social justice, social emotional learning, and inclusivity, the course aims to build good choral citizenship and connect music to students' daily lives and other academic disciplines. Student learning is centered around choral performance, music literacy, and the exploration of diverse music genres, from sacred music to contemporary works.

Overview of Topics

• What does music play in social justice and emotional well-being? 
• How do women composers and their works contribute to the choral tradition? 
• How does choral music connect with and reflect different cultural contexts?
• What skills and techniques are necessary to become a successful choral singer?
• How can music bring communities together? 

Skills Emphasized 

• Music literacy through solfege-sight reading, and pattern training
• Aural/oral skill development for performance 
• Cultural competency and inclusivity through diverse music genres
• Social-emotional learning through thematic music 
• Choral collaboration and teamwork 

Signature Activities

• Students cultivate an appreciation for music in an interdependent learning environment centered around these activities 
• Advent Vespers Prayer Service: Project-based learning collaboration between all performing arts disciplines as a summative assessment, including self-reflection
• Celebration of the Arts: Centers around social justice, emotional learning, and interdisciplinary connections. Themes have included works by women composers, selections from American musical theater, and spirituals.
• Cross-curricular collaboration with Latin/World Languages: Singing in a world language is a skill which builds our cultural competency and allows us to explore diverse musical traditions, singing in Latin builds upon our understanding of Goal I and the history of Mass. Past units have included music of Hadyn and Mozart
• Studying Music of Social Justice: Study of spirituals, contemporary, and classical music fosters a responsible engagement with the canon while exploring how music can be a catalyst for social justice which impels to action

Text and Other Resource Materials

• Essential Elements for Choir, Book One

 

In 5th and 6th Grade Chorus, we explore music through the lens of a singer in an ensemble. In Chorus, we discover the voice through the understanding of breath control, body alignment, and healthy vocal technique. This course begins to build students' understanding of the Five Core Music Competencies based on the Sacred Heart Goals: Sacred Music, Standard Repertoire Mastery, Music of Social Justice, Community in Music, and Contemporary Music. Students build music literacy by studying techniques developed by Zoltán Kodály, Émile Jacques-Dalcroze, and contemporary pedagogues. By singing folk songs, liturgical music, songs, and varying choral repertoire, students cultivate the tools to be proficient singers, confident musicians, and expressive performers. Signature experiences include an excursion to St. Paul’s Choir School and performing in the Advent Vespers Prayer Service, as well as the Celebration of the Arts. 

Overview of Topics

• How do vocal, musical, ensemble, and life skills cultivate expressivity in singing?
• How does music, as a universal language, connect us to people in our community and globally?
• How does the study of music and musical pedagogues expand our understanding of ways to learn and grow?
• How does independent learning enhance a choral ensemble, as well as our own skill development?
• How does performing diverse music with varied texts, languages, and cultural backgrounds foster an artistic connection with our audience and broader community?

Skills Emphasized

• Music Literacy - solfege, rhythm activities, music patterns
• Vocal Technique - breath work, body alignment, practicing of good vocal technique
• Choral Repertoire - melody, rhythm, tempo, harmony, text, and community building
• Expression - artistic expression of a piece of music
• Choral ensemble - singing collaboratively
  
  Signature Activities 
   
• Advent Vespers Prayer Service - students participate in a collaborative performing arts prayer service as a summative assessment followed with a reflection.
• The Celebration of the Arts - students participate in a collaborative performing arts performance, a cumulative performance of the numerous skills that they have learned throughout the year.
• Cross Curricular Activity - Students visit St. Paul’s Choir School for a choral rehearsal and observation of a choral sung mass. Students study the cross of sacred scripture and the history of sacred music for the mass

Text and Other Resource Materials 

• Sing at First Sight, Level 1

 

Instrumental Ensemble is open to students with at least one year of experience with an orchestra or band instrument (this does not include piano). The goal of this course is to hone individual musicianship, as well as to develop a well-balanced ensemble sound through a varied study of instrumental music. Music selections represent a wide breadth of music history, from medieval to modern. The course focuses on team-building skills and offers leadership opportunities to all students. The Instrumental Ensemble performs at important school events including a major performance at the culmination of each semester. Students who hope to hone their skills further are encouraged to enroll in private lessons. Although students are welcome to provide their own instruments, Newton Country Day School manages the process of instrument rental and purchase for most students. Prerequisite: at least one year of comprehensive study playing a concert band instrument

Honors Instrumental Ensemble is an advanced course of study for instrumentalists already enrolled in Instrumental Ensemble. This course serves to deepen students’ musicianship and broadens their technique to the world of chamber music. The course asks each student to engage more rigorously in music literacy, composition, arranging, arts leadership, and analysis of various pieces of chamber music. The primary goal of the course is to create an original composition or arrangement that is showcased in the Festival of the Arts performance. Open to students in grades 10, 11, and 12 currently enrolled in Instrumental Ensemble. Students are required to audition in the Spring and are formally evaluated by the music faculty on their technique, tone, and ability to sight read.

Honors Schola Cantorum is an advanced course of study for choral musicians enrolled in Chorale. This course serves to deepen students’ understanding of the breadth of choral music and covers all time periods of musical composition from Medieval to 21st Century at an advanced level. Students are asked to make connections through music to literature, history, art, world language, and sociopolitical issues, culminating in performances which highlight a social awareness that impels to action through choral music. This course is repertoire-driven and students are expected to learn and perform music quickly. Students are expected to regularly engage with the broader music community on the district, regional, and state level through festivals and adjudications. The primary goal of the course is to perform collegiate-level vocal chamber music for the annual Advent Vespers Prayer Service, Festival of the Arts, and Masses. Open to students in grades 10, 11, and 12 currently enrolled in Chorale. Students are required to audition during the Spring term for entry into this course.

Private lessons in piano, brass, strings, woodwinds, and voice are available (based on teacher availability and areas of expertise) to students after school for a nominal fee. Interest forms are completed in September and, upon successful placement, registration is for a full year’s instruction (January for half-year instruction) with lessons beginning in October. Lessons are open to both Middle and Upper School students. Questions about this program may be directed to the Director of Music Dr. Corey Everly.

Our a cappella group meets once a week to prepare for an annual performance. The committee is primarily led by students with the assistance of a choral music faculty member. The music performed is most often in the collegiate a cappella style. The committee is meant to be a supplement to other academic engagement in music at Newton Country Day.