Music Program 

At ICS, elementary music students are given opportunities to explore what it means to be musical. Students are encouraged to actively participate in singing, playing instruments, composition, improvisation, and listening while developing literacy in music. Encouraging students to experiment with sound while exploring the musical components of rhythm, melody, form, tempo, dynamics, timbre, and texture are an essential aspect of the program. Students have opportunities to explore music in a variety of settings, including whole classroom, as a soloist and in small groups. Problem-solving and investigative learning are actively encouraged. A variety of repertoire is learned and performed, with an emphasis on exploring multiple genres of music from across the globe. Students have quite a few opportunities to perform throughout the year in assemblies and concerts, thus having the opportunity to learn performance as well as audience skills.

In kindergarten, students develop rhythm and pitch awareness through musical games and movement. In grade 1, students continue to develop rhythm and pitch awareness through musical games and movement. In grade 2, students start to identify and perform more complex melodic and rhythmic patterns. In grade 3, students continue to explore the concepts of form, mood, expression and style while performing and creating a more complex repertoire of music. In grade 4, ensemble skills are further developed as students learn how to play recorder. In grade 5, students continue to develop a variety of skills during general music class.

Some musical opportunities and performances this year include Grade 3 Meskel Performance, Grade 2 Life Cycle Presentation, Winter Concert, After School Composition Club, After School Choir and the Spring Concert and Musical.