Music

Our mission is to help our students experience the feeling of pride, responsibility, and joy that comes from learning to read and perform music in a safe and inclusive environment.

The sequential Middle School curriculum seeks to achieve these specific goals and objectives:

To inspire and encourage students to be patient with themselves and each other as they learn this new craft.
To develop technical skills as a vehicle for self-expression, building confidence and self-esteem as a musician.
To guide each student to accept new challenges to achieve success as an individual and ensemble member.
To nurture what we hope will become a lifelong love for music.

Learn more about the musical skills and competencies covered in the Middle School Curriculum Guide.

Learn More About Dalton’s Music Program

Chorus

Students who have developed the appropriate skills and motivation to continue in music become members of the seventh and eighth grade Chorus. The music literature chosen for performance represents a broad spectrum of periods, styles, and cultures and is designed to be suitable, challenging, and satisfying for each ensemble.

Middle school performers often join the high school groups for attendance at masterclasses and performances given by visiting professionals.

In addition to the winter assemblies and the annual spring concert, other performance opportunities are pursued to allow the groups to share their achievements. Past venues have included nursing homes, holiday store events, the Interschool Choral Festival for the Chorus; Interschool Instrumental Festival at Alice Tully Hall for various ensembles; and the “Music in The Parks” adjudication for the Jazz and Percussion Ensembles where they recently received Excellent and Superior ratings.
Concert Band MS

Students who have developed the appropriate skills and motivation to continue in music become members of the seventh and eighth grade Concert Band. The music literature that is chosen for performance represents a broad spectrum of periods, styles, and cultures and is designed to be suitable, challenging, and satisfying for each ensemble.

Middle school performers often join the high school groups for attendance at masterclasses and performances given by visiting professionals. Schedules permitting, some exceptionally advanced instrumentalists may be invited to join the High School Orchestra after consultation and/or audition with the Director.

In addition to the winter assemblies and the annual spring concert, other performance opportunities are pursued to allow the groups to share their achievements. Past venues have included nursing homes, holiday store events, the Interschool Choral Festival for the Chorus; Interschool Instrumental Festival at Alice Tully Hall for various ensembles; and the “Music in The Parks” adjudication for the Jazz and Percussion Ensembles where they recently received Excellent and Superior ratings.
Jazz Ensemble MS

Students who have developed the appropriate skills and motivation to continue in music become members of the seventh and eighth grade Jazz Ensemble. The music literature that is chosen for performance represents a broad spectrum of periods, styles, and cultures, and is designed to be suitable, challenging, and satisfying for each ensemble.

Middle school performers often join the high school groups for attendance at masterclasses and performances given by visiting professionals. Schedules permitting, some exceptionally advanced instrumentalists may be invited to join the High School Orchestra after consultation and/or audition with the Director.

In addition to the winter assemblies and the annual spring concert, other performance opportunities are pursued to allow the groups to share their achievements. Past venues have included nursing homes, holiday store events, the Interschool Choral Festival for the Chorus; Interschool Instrumental Festival at Alice Tully Hall for various ensembles; and the “Music in The Parks” adjudication for the Jazz and Percussion Ensembles where they recently received Excellent and Superior ratings.
Music 4

Fourth graders spend half the year in General Music and half the year rotating through introductory brass, percussion, string, and woodwind classes. The General Music classes focus on developing music reading, listening, and singing, and the instrumental classes concentrate on the physical skills used to play each family of instruments. At the end of the year, the students, teachers, and parents communicate to help determine the area of most interest and compatibility to ensure an informed selection for an area of specialization in grades five and six. The students select one of the following: Chorus, Violin, Viola, Cello, Flute Clarinet, Saxophone, Cornet, Trombone, French horn, or Percussion.
Music 5

Specialists in the chosen area of study teach each class and work to ensure that the students are properly prepared and correctly guided through these new and formative stages of music-making.

Choral students develop the fundamentals of vocal production by working on their intonation, range, and sight-reading with the use of solfege and unison and two-part literature drawn from many sources and composers. The instrumental classes use published methods found to be most helpful for developing technique and reading and are supplemented by studies and arrangements that suit a particular class’s needs.

Instrumental classes are divided into specific sections: Cornets separated from trombones and French horns; flutes from clarinets and saxophones; and cellos from violins and violas. As the year progresses, the families of instruments are slowly brought back together for ensemble work. We celebrate this first full year of study with a concert for the parents in the spring.
Music 5: Violin

Beginning violin classes are designed to introduce students to the instrument and help them to develop the self-discipline necessary to work successfully in ensembles. Students learn proper practice and rehearsal techniques and the differences between the two. Reading music is emphasized, as are correct rest and playing position & posture. Students also work on proper tone production, fingering, and bowing.
Music 6: Brass

Intermediate music classes are designed to increase the learning pace to prepare students for more advanced studies in the future. As they learn to sing or play a larger volume of music and with more skill, their enjoyment will increase.

Classes and mixed ensembles have several opportunities to perform throughout the year, including assemblies, the Greek Festival which is part of the sixth-grade academic curriculum, and the annual spring concert.
Music 6: Chorus

Intermediate music classes are designed to increase the learning pace to prepare students for more advanced studies in the future. As they learn to sing or play a larger volume of music and with more skill, their enjoyment will increase.

Classes and mixed ensembles have several opportunities to perform throughout the year, including assemblies, the Greek Festival which is part of the sixth-grade academic curriculum, and the annual spring concert.
Music 6: Low Strings

Intermediate music classes are designed to increase the learning pace to prepare students for more advanced studies in the future. As they learn to sing or play a larger volume of music and with more skill, their enjoyment will increase.

Classes and mixed ensembles have several opportunities to perform throughout the year, including assemblies, the Greek Festival which is part of the sixth-grade academic curriculum, and the annual spring concert
Music 6: Percussion

Intermediate music classes are designed to increase the learning pace to prepare students for more advanced studies in the future. As they learn to sing or play a larger volume of music and with more skill, their enjoyment will increase.

Classes and mixed ensembles have several opportunities to perform throughout the year, including assemblies, the Greek Festival which is part of the sixth-grade academic curriculum, and the annual spring concert.
Music 6: Violin

Intermediate music classes are designed to increase the learning pace to prepare students for more advanced studies in the future. As they learn to sing or play a larger volume of music and with more skill, their enjoyment will increase.

Classes and mixed ensembles have several opportunities to perform throughout the year, including assemblies, the Greek Festival, which is part of the sixth-grade academic curriculum, and the annual spring concert.
Music 6: Winds

Intermediate music classes are designed to increase the learning pace to prepare students for more advanced studies in the future. As they learn to sing or play a larger volume of music and with more skill, their enjoyment will increase.

Classes and mixed ensembles have several opportunities to perform throughout the year, including assemblies, the Greek Festival, which is part of the sixth-grade academic curriculum, and the annual spring concert.
Music Composition Workshop

No course description currently available.
Percussion Ensemble

Students who have developed the appropriate skills and motivation to continue in music become members of the seventh and eighth grade Percussion Ensemble. The music literature that is chosen for performance represents a broad spectrum of periods, styles, and cultures and is designed to be suitable, challenging, and satisfying for each ensemble.

Middle school performers often join the high school groups for attendance at masterclasses and performances given by visiting professionals. Schedules permitting, some exceptionally advanced instrumentalists may be invited to join the High School Orchestra after consultation and/or audition with the Director.

In addition to the winter assemblies and the annual spring concert, other performance opportunities are pursued to allow the groups to share their achievements. Past venues have included nursing homes, holiday store events, the Interschool Choral Festival for the Chorus; Interschool Instrumental Festival at Alice Tully Hall for various ensembles; and the “Music in The Parks” adjudication for the Jazz and Percussion Ensembles where they recently received Excellent and Superior ratings.
String Orchestra

Students who have developed the appropriate skills and motivation to continue in music become members of the String Orchestra. The music literature chosen for performance represents a broad spectrum of periods, styles, and cultures and is designed to be suitable, challenging, and satisfying for each ensemble.

Middle school performers often join the high school groups for attendance at masterclasses and performances given by visiting professionals. Schedules permitting, some exceptionally advanced instrumentalists may be invited to join the High School Orchestra after consultation and/or audition with the Director.

In addition to the winter assemblies and the annual spring concert, other performance opportunities are pursued to allow the groups to share their achievements. Past venues have included nursing homes, holiday store events, the Interschool Choral Festival for the Chorus; Interschool Instrumental Festival at Alice Tully Hall for various ensembles; and the “Music in The Parks” adjudication for the Jazz and Percussion Ensembles where they recently received Excellent and Superior ratings.