Music

It is surprising to learn that not only was Bach the most prolific composer of his time, but much of his music was played once and discarded, so we have very little proof of his genius. Then, top that off with the fact that he fathered 20 children, all of whom became musicians or composers, and he spent a month in jail because he wanted to quit his job to take another one. He was a very busy man!

These are just some of the fun facts we discover as we explore the lives of our music masters. We also examine the lives and careers of jazz musicians, vocalists in the pop and classical world, Jewish composers who have made an impact on American music, such as Leonard Bernstein and George Gershwin, and every child should know about the Beatles and Elvis Presley.

Music binds our world and its cultures together. We love learning about the way other groups of people use music to communicate and entertain. We may be identifying all the instruments of the orchestra, through pictures and sound, while we learn about the ancient instruments of the African culture, Latin rhythms or the evolution of the piano from the Baroque Era in Europe. Meanwhile, we will learn some dances and song games from Zimbabwe and Japan.

Singing is a very important part of the Music curriculum and students perform in several productions each year. The piano lab is utilized for older elementary students to play notes and rhythms they have been learning in earlier years. Music composition and theory software programs to enrich the music study of those who are taking private lessons are provided in the classroom.

The study of music from the Jewish culture is strongly emphasized, with listening opportunities, and, most importantly, singing traditional and contemporary songs in Hebrew. Blessings and songs for worship are rehearsed in the classroom as well as songs to celebrate each Jewish holiday.

The music program strives to be a foundation for preparing the children for a lifetime of music appreciation in all areas, with a global awareness of the impact music has on everyone around the world. Music is all around us and makes an impression on each individual. We encourage the exploration and enthusiastic study of music in all its forms.

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