All students are musicians at East Woods. They learn to appreciate music through singing, playing, creating and listening. East Woods incorporates Music into dramatic productions, assemblies, concerts and classroom learning.
Music is taught in Nursery through Second Grade using a wide variety of activities that involve music, movement, dance, storytelling, drama and a potpourri of musical games. In these grades, children are introduced to musical notation and instrumentation through the Orff-Schulwerk method. Developed by Carl Orff to allow children to experience music in the most natural way possible, this method uses specially designed xylophones, recorders and various percussion instruments. The objective is for all students to develop deep and abiding love of music and a feeling of comfort with all musical styles.
The Music curriculum expands in Third Grade to include a greater variety of instrumental and vocal experiences. The program provides vocal training and direction as well as instrumental instruction on an instrument-by-instrument basis to facilitate participation in Band. Students develop note and rhythm reading and listening and practice skills. In Seventh through Ninth Grades, students elect to participate in Band and/or Chorus; however, Sixth Grade participation in Band is mandatory. Chorus is an elective in Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Grade.