Middle School Music

It is the philosophy of The Gerstell Academy Music Department that students shall develop an appreciation and understanding of music through a systematic, theme based approach. There are several key units studied throughout Middle School.

Students study elements of music, musical terms, musical concepts, and a broad range of classical composers. Through the application of voice, the use of musical instruments such as drums and xylophones, as well as body movement, children develop musical literacy while experiencing a wide range of musical traditions. The study of music is integrated with other disciplines where authentic and appropriate. The overall focus in class is on content, as opposed to performance skills which students have an opportunity to showcase in our Ensemble Program.

Sixth Grade curriculum includes the study of Classical Music from the Baroque to Romantic periods including composers such as Bach, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, and Shumann.

Seventh Grade curriculum includes the study of Classical Music relative to the Nationalists and Romantics such as Brahms, Berlioz, Liszt, Wagner, Dvorak, Grieg, and Tchaikovsky. Students in the Seventh Grade also study American Musical Traditions- Blues and Jazz.

Eighth Grade curriculum includes the study of Non-Western Music, Classical Music including Nationalists and Moderns (Sibelius, Bartok, Rodrigo, Debussy, and Stravinsky. Students in the Eighth Grade also study Vocal Music including Opera, and the American Musical Theatre.

Leadership is integrated throughout Music as students study various influential musicians and Gerstell portrait leaders.