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AISR provides an exciting and engaging programme from Pre-K
to Middle Years. The music staff are highly skilled specialists with real-life
experience of music in society. The music room is well resourced with Latin
Percussion, African Drums, Keyboards and Band instruments, and quality pianos –
all of which are constantly maintained.
At all stages of the music curriculum children are required
to Compose, Listen and Perform. These three core activities run through the
whole programme and underpin all of the activities required by it. We aim, as
music educators, to develop musical competence, sensitivity and understanding
in all of our pupils. Students are required to think beyond the physical
difficulties of playing music, and engage with the art beyond: they are
encouraged to perceive what is essentially human despite the noise and clamour
of the world of entertainment.They are encouraged to acquire skills, and respect those who have
acquired them without regarding the acquisition of skill as an end in itself.
Music is understood to be a vital human characteristic, capable of profoundly
positive influence in the lives of all people.
From Pre-K to 5th Grade all children have two
music lessons per week.
The Pre-K and Early Years programmes stress the importance
of singing, movement, increased physical co-ordination whilst having a great
deal of fun. Children begin to learn about rhythm, shape and form in music and
rudimentary harmony. They learn songs and dances associated with the major festivals
throughout the year and perform some of these at our seasonal performances.
In Grades 3 – 5 children become increasingly creative as
composers, and are regularly required to devise, create and evaluate music that
they ahave recorded and performed. From 3rd grade onward they become
familiar with the keyboard, playing pentatonic and jazz flavoured tunes which
are used as springboards for improvisation. From 4th grade, they
learn music notation using recorders. At 5th grade the children are
presented with the opportunity to play a band instrument, and we form a
Beginning Band, starting from the very first steps of playing an instrument and
developing a degree of proficiency within the year.In this way students become responsible for the care of a
relatively valuable musical instrument, and understand the need to practise and
take charge of their own learning.
In Grades 6 – 8 children may choose to study band
musicianship further. Those who make this decision are required to obtain their
own instrument and have private instrumental lessons. Clearly, the requirement
to practise becomes central to the development of band skills.
Children who do not specialise in band are provided with a
Middle School Music Exploratory programme which provides an opportunity to
experience music in new, challenging and practical ways. The Exploratory music
programme typically focuses on skills which are particularly appealing to
middle school students: Latin Percussion, Computer Composition (using Garage
Band), Rock Studies, and a lot more.
Grade 9 and beyond. In recent years there has been a High
School Band which has had a distinctly jazzy flavour. Some students have
produced in-house concerts whilst others have taken music outside of the
building to other schools and other performance venues. There is the
possibility of IB Music for suitable students.
Alongside these curriculum driven activities there is a
growing tradition of a school annual dramatic production, which usually make
musical demands on everybody involved, together with a cycle of performances
and concerts throughout the year.
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