All the students at Hilltop Country Day School participate in both Instrumental and Vocal music classes each week. This comprehensive curriculum encourages active and creative student participation for all the grade levels. This developmentally appropriate curriculum also promotes student participation in a variety of progressive Instrumental and Vocal experiences and performances from grades Pre Kindergarten through Eighth Grade. Methodologies include the cognitive, motor, and affective learning experiences.

 

Lower School students enjoy creative movement, improvisation, basic choreography and perform in various percussion groups, vibraphone duos, recorder ensembles, singing groups and more. Vocal methodologies include using Kodaly and Curwen hand signs, and Instrumental classes incorporate Orff, Eurhythmics, and music memory skills. Participation includes Second Grade students doing a Native American drum &dance, the Third Grade playing two-part melodies on the vibraphones and singing rounds, and the Fourth Grade Recorder Ensemble performing off campus.

 

Holiday and Spring Performances include both Instrumental and Vocal music, and are performed by each Lower School grade level.

 

Preludes are a recital for any music lesson students to perform solo. The Preludes enable student musicians of any grade level to participate in a performance experience. These performances take place prior to the Lower and Upper School Holiday and Spring performances.

 

All Upper School students participate in either Instrumental Ensemble or Vocal Chorus and both groups perform at the Holiday and Spring Performances, the Upper and Lower School Graduations, Grand Parents Day, The Recognition Dinner, off campus cafes and recording studios.

 

Upper School Instrumental and Vocal classes continue to explore the elements of music, music history, music theory, ear training, music appreciation and listening, composing and performing. The curriculum culminates with a Spring Music Appreciation Course for Eighth graders.

 

Every school year a world class performance is presented at the school, such as the performance by 2007 Grammy winner trumpeter Brian Lynch.

 

The Music Lesson Program runs after school Monday thru Thursdays and teaches piano, guitar, violin, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, percussion, recorder, and vocal.