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Are there any private schools that excel in music?
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Anonymous
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Do any of the DC area private schools have excellent music programs? I'm looking for traditional programs where kids are able to learn violin or other instruments and participate in bands/orchestras. Are the instrumental lessons always an additional cost? Do certain schools have the best instrumental teachers?
TIA |
Anonymous
| Excellent question. For those of you currently in a private schoool, would you describe the music program at your school? |
Anonymous
| Our daughter started at Norwood this year, and we have been very impressed with the music program. The kindergarteners have music four times a week, and the teacher is very dynamic. In the class I observed, they didn't just sit and sing; they also acted out a little drama that was designed to get them to feel the mood and rhythm of the music. I only know bits and pieces about the instrumental program, so I can't convey the full picture, but private lessons are available at additional cost and can be taken during the school day (there are a limited number of slots) or after school. I believe instruction is offered on piano, strings, and wind instruments. I could be wrong, but I think that of all the schools we visited last year, this was the only one with a strings program, at least in the lower grades. |
Anonymous
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Thanks for the info on Norwood.
Any other suggestions? |
Anonymous
| Capitol Hill Day School has a strong music program. It is a part of the curriculm starting in PreK, the 6th graders put on a major musical each year, and each class performs at an annual concert. There are also music lessons available (at an additional cost) in the after school program in many instruments (Piano, violin, guitar, trumpet, trombone, sax, flute, etc). And for the older kids (generally the 5th through 8th grade, although there are a couple of younger kids as well) there is a jazz band that practices twice a week and performs periodically. There is also a jazz choir. Both of my kids took/take music lessons and one is in the jazz band. |
Anonymous
| I second Norwood. It is amazing. |
Anonymous
| WIS looked good.. the music program looked solid, I guess because the IB program requires music instruction |
Anonymous
| Maret School. They have a solid lower school music program. In middle school, starting in 5th grade, every student takes music twice a week. They have a choice of either learning a band instrument (brass, woodwind or percussion) or participating in the choir. This continues through 8th grade. The kids can do band or choir throughout upper school as well. The band director at Maret has after school time for kids to learn new instruments which is free to students who are interested. |
Anonymous
| Aren't these options pretty standard in private schools around here? |
Anonymous
| Landon's music program is considered one of the best in the country. We do not have a son there but we will look very carefully at the school when our DS (who is musically gifted) is ready. |
Anonymous
No. |
Anonymous
| That's a pity. We had more options than that in my public school. |
Anonymous
| Maret also has jazz bands and combos for middle and upper schoolers, opportunties to perform in the pit-orchestra for the upper school musicals, midi computer composition course for upper school, independent music options as well as AP Music Theory. A huge upper school chorus, a couple of extracurricular, student run a capella choirs and madrigals. |
Anonymous
| Which schools offer orchestra or chamber ensembles for strings? |
Anonymous
| Landon's music program is really great. The sports program gets a lot of attention, but the music program is really first rate. |