Students at Blue Oak School see themselves as musicians.
During a visit to music class, one might find children singing, creating dances, folk dancing, improvising melodies on barred instruments or recorders, exploring qualities of movement with partners or working on composition projects.
Students at all levels demonstrate their music learning when they perform for each other, for parents and in larger settings during all-school performances. Current research indicates that children need a balance between emotional and intellectual stimulation to develop as healthy, well-rounded human beings. At Blue Oak School, music instruction provides an opportunity for this kind of development through ongoing and creative music-making.
Music in the Lower School
The Orff Schulwerk approach is used in music classes from kindergarten through fifth grade. What is Orff Schulwerk? It is a way to teach and learn music based on things children already like to do: sing, chant rhyme, play instruments, clap, dance and keep a beat. These instincts are directed into learning music by making and hearing it first, then reading and writing it later.
A typical Lower School music class begins with a vocal warm-up. Students then might take a familiar song, create movements to it as a group and add accompaniment with drums, sticks or bells. Ensemble instrumental work might also be a part of the lesson. Singing and dancing together in class and as a school, helps build a sense of community.
Beginning in third grade, students apply their music reading skills while learning to play the soprano recorder. Dexterity and skill level continues to develop in fourth and fifth grades, leading to the playing of duets and canons, with Orff instrument accompaniment.
Music in the Middle School
Students in sixth grade continue their general music studies by singing, drumming, learning to play the alto recorder, playing in xylophone and recorder ensembles and by composing both individually and in small groups.
In the seventh and eighth grades, music is part of an "arts wheel," which gives students the opportunity to choose more speciailzed areas of study. Examples of music wheel classes might be 'Stomp!' Blue Oak Style, Rockin' on the Bars and Recorder, Voice Class, Exploring Contemporary Music or Musical Theater Performance.