The BCD Music program is in full swing for students in grades B2-6 + Arts Block! Creative talents are beginning to bud, manifest, and grow in the new Kim and James Taylor Music/Performance Room, and students are excited to get the opportunity to have dress rehearsals and performances on the Adams Community Bank Stage.
B2s, Pre-K, and Kindergarten are learning about how to create and explore with Orff-Schülwerk curricula for voice, instruments, and movement. Kindergarteners loved working in pairs to invent some original, seated choreography to Ravel’s Daphnis and Chlöe.
Lower School spent some time reviewing music skills, establishing ensemble practice in Lower School Chorus, and asking lots of questions about the upcoming Lower School Musical (Spring 2018).
Middle School were exposed to the revolutionary Deep Listening methodology, and have begun collaborating on a group composition called “Nature Sound Collages,” which involves making and curating outdoor field recordings. In addition, Grades 4, 5, and 6 have been given the option to choose between Band and Chorus in a new update to the Music curricula.
In Arts Block, students have a wealth of options to study music with Mr. Suters (Band, Strings and Things) and Mr. Zotique (Composition/Sound Design, Vocal Ensemble). I am looking forward to including some exciting new multimedia options in Composition, and Vocal Ensemble is beginning to think about planning a field trip and performance out-of-state. Exciting times!
Ms. Doherty announced last Friday that the BCD Talent Show at Winthrop Theatre is coming back, which at one point was an annual school tradition. This will be a good opportunity for students (and faculty!) to keep thinking about and practicing their performing arts.
Last but not least, our local music professionals have private studios up and running as part of BCD’s extracurricular Private Music Instruction program.
By utilizing a blended pedagogy of Orff-Schülwerk, Music Learning Theory, Deep Listening, and traditional rehearsal, students from all grade levels are deeply and broadly engaged in music-learning and music-making.
Musically Yours,
Charles/Mr. Zotique