Music at School
We believe that music, when well taught, educates sensitivity, promotes self-improvement, and encourages the student to strive to advance and improve their level. Under these premises, the School has developed a programme that divides music education into four different and complementary stages.
Stage 1(Initiation 1): Ages 3-6.
Work is done on auditory discrimination, psychomotor skills, and singing through songs and dances appropriate to the ages of the students.
Stage 2 (Initiation 2): Primary 1, 2 and 3.
Students are introduced to reading, listening, percussion instruments, and basic choral singing with age suitable material.
Stage 3: Primary 4, 5 and 6.
Instruments. Reading. Choral singing.
Students, divided into small groups, work collectively on string instruments (violin, viola, cello, and double bass) or brass instruments (trumpet or trombone) and Brazilian percussion. From Year 5, they can also be introduced to the electronic keyboard.
Main Objectives:
Individualized musical practice: Although the classes are collective, students are encouraged to practice individually at home and to play in front of their peers to learn to control possible nerves.
Perseverance: Instrument practice requires perseverance as it is a coordination exercise that needs muscle training based on repetition.
Self-improvement: Often, difficulties can overwhelm us and a good dose of self-improvement is needed to correct mistakes, retrace steps, and… start again!
Stage 4: Secondary Education.
Orchestral Ensemble.
Students are divided into two groups: Strings and Keyboard.
They work in independent instrumental ensembles and, when possible, join forces in a single ensemble. The goal is to enjoy instrumental music played collectively. We encourage students to form small chamber groups that have a life of their own beyond the school and to fully experience music.
