Lower School

General Music

All students in grades K4 through 3rd grade will have general music in their weekly schedule. This provides an opportunity for children to make and experience music together during the regular school day.   K4 - 3rd grade students will come to general music one time per week, participate in several programs a year, and learn about music in general.  Students will work on units about composers, instrument of the band and orchestra, melody, harmony, rhythm, music theory elements, and of course their very own instrument - their voice!  Third grade students will begin learning to play the Recorder as well. 4th and 5th grade students choosing general music will meet three times per week and will delve a little deeper into the above areas. These students will also participate in several performances throughout the year.

Band

Beginning in 4th and 5th grade students are given the opportunity to choose to study band. In 4th grade  band the focus is on instrumental instruction and the student may chose a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument. 4th Grade Beginning Band meets every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 9:25-10:10 AM. Students who have had a year on a band instrument, or are considering investing in learning a band instrument have the opportunity in the 5th grade. The majority of 5th Grade Band class will be students who are continuing a band instrument for the 2nd year, with possible arrangements for 5th grade beginners. Practice records can be downloaded by clicking here. For more information on the Band program, please contact Carrie Anderson, Band Director

Orchestra

Students entering 4th grade who select orchestra as their class will have instruction on reading music and playing one of the four major string instruments offered: violin, viola, cello, and double bass.

4th grade music class meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 9:25-10:10am.  Students need to bring their instruments and materials for orchestra class each day.  Violin & viola students are assigned a shelf to keep their case on in the orchestra room.  Cello & bass students are assigned school instruments, but need to rent one to keep at home for practicing.  It is also important that students regularly bring their instrument in for the teacher to tune the strings, mark finger placement on the fingerboard, and check overall maintenance of the instrument and bow.

Students entering 5th grade who have had orchestra in 4th grade (or have similar prior experience) may continue their string instrument instruction. 5th Grade Intermediate Orchestra focuses on expanding student's foundation in orchestra and continues their ensemble skills. 5th grade music class meets Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:30-9:15am. Students must bring their instruments to class each day. Violin & viola students are assigned a shelf to keep their case on in the orchestra room. Cellists may choose to bring their cello to school Wednesday morning and take home after school on Friday. Bass students are able to use school basses, but need to rent one to keep at home for practicing. Our goal is always working towards greater performance levels, so regular home practice habits are extremely important. Weekly practice records are part of each student's grade in orchestra (4th and 5th grades). Students should return it to class each week, having practiced music from the previous orchestra classes. It is equally important that parents keep up with their child's progress to insure a positive orchestral experience. For more information on the Orchestra program, please contact Audra Boyd, Orchestra Director.

Vocal Ensembles

Xzalt Kids! Chorus and Aroma of Praise are two vocal ensemble that both sing and praise the Lord in music. Xzalt Kids! chorus is open to students in 2nd through 5th grade. Aroma of Praise is an auditioned vocal ensemble of students in 3rd through 5th grade. Both ensembles meet after school on a weekly basis and perform for various school events. Vocal ensembles perform at school functions such as Fall Festival, Christmas performances, and provide music for weekly chapels.

For more information, please contact Rachel Davis, Lower School General & Choral Music Director.

Visual Art

Students in lower school receive visual art instruction from Joanie Jones.  Ms. Jones enriches students visual art experience through a variety of media and ties in Bible verses to their expression. Ms. Jones' students often take home their work in the form of gifts for parents, grandparents, teachers and friends.

The students learn to use a variety of techniques and applications with mediums such as colored pencils, watercolors, construction paper, oil pastels, tempera paints, and pen and ink. Through each project the student is able to grasp with clarity the spiritual concepts in understanding God's purpose and instructions for living. While using visual perspectives in connection with God's character and His word, the student will come to a place of increasing awe and wonder in glorifying Him through what God establishes with the work of their hands (Psalm 90:7).

Beginning with their first art project , "In His Image," the students learn facial proportions in portrait painting as they realize God's purpose in creating them is to glorify Him. Throughout the year, each project integrates God's word to encourage a visual piece of artwork that defines a certain spiritual truth. In one of the projects, we use tempera paint to teach the students the difference between warm and cool colors, then weave them together to form a complete picture. The integration of Philippians 1:6 is used:  "......being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."  For more information on lower school visual arts, please contact Joanie Jones.