The GMS music program is taught sequentially to children ages 3 to 12. The primary focus is to create an enjoyment of music and enhance each individual's knowledge and musical ability. Our students' ability ranges from listeners to composers, with the full range between. The students meet once a week: 30 minutes for Primary and 45 minutes for Elementary.
PRIMARY (3 to 5 years old)
Beginning with informal music training the students listen, move, sing, play (large motor skill), fingerplay (small motor skill) and explore the sound palette with an array of instruments, props, and sound effect makers to accompany story telling. We gradually incorporate tonal patterns (major/minor) and rhythm patterns (duple/triple) and begin the study of music fundamentals (high/low, fast/slow, loud/soft) throughout our activities using echoing, movement, and drawing to initiate symbol recognition. The 3rd year primary students leave with the capacity to solfége the major scale, read and play simple duple and triple rhythm patterns on drums, and master simple accompaniment and melodic lines on bar instruments (Glockenspiel/Xylophone).
From 3 years old, the students learn how to listen, through the introduction of J.S. Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and Vivaldi.
ELEMENTARY (6 to 12 years old)
The curriculum focuses on the understanding and mastery of execution of the fundamental music elements (major/minor/modal tonality, duple/triple/irregular meter), forms, and styles. Each level is taught formal singing, sight singing, ear training and music notation skills. Through listening activities, an overview of Classical Western Music History is introduced.
All levels utilize the full instrumental orchestra available at GMS which includes:
- Bar instruments (Glockenspiels, soprano, alto and bass Xylophones/Metallophones, Timpani drums)
- Percussion instruments (conga drums, African drums, snare and bass drums, bells, claves, guiro, kokoriko, Chinese Gong etc.)
- Sound effect props
- Instruments collection: acoustic and electric guitar, piano and keyboard
In addition, we strive to integrate any individual who has skills on violin, flute, saxophone, etc.
Lower El -- Grades 1 and 2.
The general approach is to work with musical forms to acquire understanding of repetition and subdivision within a piece. We break it down with movement before transposing to instruments. We initiate independence in ensemble work, creating multiple parts inspired by Carl Orff's Schulwerk. In concert, their focus is on singing.
Lower El -- Grade 3
In addition, the third graders learn to play and perform on the Soprano Recorder. After audition, some talented and dedicated students are allowed to join the GMS “Ensemble”.
Upper El -- Grades 4, 5, 6.
Upper El students study basic writing composition and critical listening to current popular music. The 3 levels are integrated within 2 different sets of 5 teams;
1- The academic teams gather together the students with the same level of knowledge and skills regardless of grade to further the study of theory and musical practice.
2- The quiz teams spread the level of competence and knowledge evenly between the teams. The goal is to challenge everyone — with test-like bingos and activities — on academic knowledge like rhythm, melodic contour, musical style, composer, and instrument listening recognition.
Performance
In addition, the Upper Elementary participate in a school "Ensemble" which meets biweekly for 45 minutes in the early morning to prepare for performances held throughout the year.
The third year Primary (5 years old) participate in the Holiday Concert (December), the All Dayers' Celebration (May) and the Crossing Over/Graduation Ceremony (June), while the Elementary participate in the Holiday Concert, the Crossing Over/Graduation Ceremony and other performing events.
The music department aims to provide a minimum of one field trip a year to Orchestra and/or other interesting musical event. As a part of enrichment, we periodically invite to the school a variety of musical clinics and workshops with outstanding presenters.