Music

Woodlawn’s music program offers K-12 students opportunities to compose, play, and perform music using various instruments and voice. Music education provides children with a means of self-expression and enhances teamwork skills through communication, cooperation, and collaboration. Music is integrated into subjects across the curriculum and students engage in interdisciplinary projects that connect core subjects to the arts.

The lower school music program focuses on singing, rhythm, and voice technique. They learn songs that are fun to sing and songs that integrate with their core class curriculum. Simple instruments, such as sticks and percussion instruments, are introduced in kindergarten and first grade. Students in first and second grade begin working on music theory, learning to recognize notes on the staff and other music symbols. Second graders take that understanding a bit further as they sing those notes in a melody. They also learn about counting notes and rhythm in a song. Each student in second and third grade plays the recorder and as the year progresses, are able to play along with keyboard or guitar. Third graders write lyrics to a song that they put to music and rhythm. The fourth grade music program focuses on enhancing the core curriculum through song and rhythm and continue to enhance their understanding of music theory.

Lower School students have the opportunity to participate in the annual school musical which is performed during spring trimester. Students explore musical theater and theater performance as well as basic acting techniques through weekly classroom drama activities and skills practice. Students practice acting, dance and voice and this collaborative method will emphasize training of the whole actor with a deeper integration of all the skills needed to develop the students’ craft.
The middle school music curriculum focuses on building students' music knowledge by fully understanding music history, theory, and covering several genres from classical to rap, from bluegrass to bebop. Sixth grade focuses on building knowledge and understanding history through music and dance. In seventh grade, students apply that knowledge and perform musical and dance routines from unique cultures worldwide. In eighth grade, music and service learning are integrated as students create music for emotion and perform monthly for the residents of the Brian Center.

Middle school students have the opportunity to participate in the annual school musical which is performed during winter trimester. Middle school students explore musical theater and theater performance as well as acting techniques through weekly classroom drama activities and skills practice. Students practice acting, dance and voice and this collaborative method will emphasize training of the whole actor with a deeper integration of all the skills needed to develop the students’ craft.
Students in grades 9-12 have the opportunity to continue their study of music and theater through regular elective offerings such as participation in the school musical, plays, stage crew or vocal performances. Students frequently get the opportunity to showcase their talents on and off campus through performances, community partnerships, open mics, and talent shows. Woodlawn allows upper school students the freedom to create musical or theatrical pieces and guides the process from beginning to final performance.