Music

“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words, and that which cannot remain silent”

Music isn’t just a singular element. Music is a language. It’s a medium that gives voice to those looking to express themselves in a way that words cannot. This year, we are fine tuning our understanding of music as an art form, while also finding our own unique voice and sound in music. The students will further develop their theoretical knowledge, while also developing as young performers and musicians in their own right.

As the year progresses, the students will be studying theoretical properties of music.  Kindergarten through 2nd grade will be learning the fundamentals of music (lines and spaces, clefs, rhythm and dynamics) with a slight emphasis on instruments and the families of the orchestra. The 3rd through 5th graders will be studying instrumental music a little closer, further solidifying past theory knowledge, while also putting it into practice and seeing how what they’ve learned connects to actual performance practice. The 6th through 8th graders will be learning about music history, as well as observing how their musical knowledge, and what they’ve been studying, connects to the world we live in.

There will also be various performance opportunities for students throughout the year.  The goal for these performances is to give the students the opportunity to showcase their talents and develop as young musicians and artists. There will be a Spring Art and Music Showcase at the end of the year, in which all students will be performing or presenting, in one form or another. The Green Woods Choral Department is a developing extracurricular project, with two choral groups (elementary and middle school levels) preparing for a culminating concert in May.

The overall goal for the year is to give the students a well-rounded musical experience.  Not only grooming the intellectual musician, but also giving life to the performer inside, and helping to develop an appreciation for music that will stay with them well into their later years. My hope is that by the end of this year, the students will find their unique

musical voice, and the comfort necessary to utilize it in expressing themselves in whatever way they feel they need to.