Music
There are many opportunities for musical engagement at Newton Country Day. We believe that all students should have the opportunity to develop their skills in creativity, communication, confidence, artistry, and discipline through music. Acting on this belief, all Middle School girls study music. Grades 5 and 6 sing in a choir and begin learning an instrument. Grades 7 and 8 choose the music discipline they would like to continue to explore. In the Upper School, students may choose to continue singing in a choir or playing in our instrumental ensemble. They may also explore their musicality further through the a cappella committee.
Middle School
Students in our music program have the opportunity to study a musical instrument or develop their singing voice. All students in Grades 5 and 6 participate in our instrumental music program, learning the basics of playing a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument, as well as our vocal music program, where they sing in chorus. Students in Grades 7 and 8 may choose to continue playing their instruments as a part of the more advanced 7th and 8th Grade Concert Band, or continue into an advanced course of vocal study in 7th and 8th Grade Chorus. Students who hope to hone their skills further are encouraged to enroll in our private lesson program. Although students are welcome to provide their own instruments, Newton Country Day manages the process of instrument rental and purchase for most students.
Grade 5 & 6 Music Workshop
Grade 5 and 6 Music Workshop is a comprehensive, immersive music curriculum that nurtures creativity, technical skills, and a deep appreciation for sacred and global music traditions. Through project-based units, students engage with music via a hands-on, cross-curricular, contemporary approach that encourages their creativity, emotional well-being, personal and interpersonal development. This class is equal parts instrumental music, vocal music, guitar and ukulele, all while students develop musical theory and historical knowledge so that they can take steps toward creating their own music.
Overview of Topics
- Vocal Music: Ensemble singing, harmony, solfege, and expression
- Instrumental Music: Concert band foundations, percussion, group instrumental lessons
- Guitar & Ukulele: Chords, melodic playing, arranging
- Music Theory & History: Sacred, classical, contemporary, and global music traditions
- Creativity & Composition: Writing, arranging, and performing original music
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 developmentally appropriate music
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Composition and creativity
- Cross-curricular connections to STEM, history, art, English
Signature Activities
- Build your own musical instruments
- Composing and arranging music
- Combined 5th Grade Voyagers and 6th Grade Explorers field trip to a professional music ensemble performance in the greater Boston Area
- Advent Vespers Prayer Service: Sacred Music project-based learning collaboration between all performing arts disciplines as a summative assessment, including self-reflection
- The Celebration of the Arts: Thematic music centers around social justice, social emotional learning, interdisciplinary connections, and community
Texts and Resources
QuaverEd, Sing at First Sight, Essential Elements for Band
Grade 7 & 8 Concert Band
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 this year?
- 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 disciplines as a summative assessment, including self-reflection
- The 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
Grade 5 & 6 Chorus
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
- Sing at First Sight, Level 1
Grade 7 & 8 Chorus
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 role 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
- Advent Vespers Prayer Service: Project-based learning collaboration between all performing arts disciplines as a summative assessment, including self-reflection
- The 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
- 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 1 and the history of the 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
Texts and Other Resource Materials
- Essential Elements for Choir, Book One
Upper School
In Upper School Music, students refine their individual musicianship whether performing in the instrumental ensemble or choral music programs. Students work collaboratively while mastering musical literacy, historical context, and performance techniques. Honors-level courses expand these opportunities, giving students leadership roles and the chance to compose original works. Performance opportunities abound, culminating in community events that showcase their growth as musicians and collaborators. Music students are encouraged to participate in competitions and are coached by our music faculty in their preparation for these events.
Instrumental Ensemble
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 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
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.
Chorale
The bedrock of this course is to build community through singing. In Chorale, students work together to develop the fundamental skill of singing together in a large group. Students work to build musical skills using Kodaly-based methods, musical comprehension and literacy, and repertoire-driven, performance-based study. Students in Chorale study all periods of musical history from Medieval-21st Century at a foundational level and perform for the annual Advent Vespers Prayer Service as well as the Festival of the Arts and our weekly Chapel services. Students become proficient choral musicians and have the tools they need to be an engaged, active, and successful singer.
Honors Schola Cantorum
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.
Other Opportunities
Private Lessons
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.
A Cappella Committee
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.