“I would like to teach children music, physics, and philosophy; but most importantly music, for in the patterns of music and all the arts are the keys to learning.” -Plato

The Joseph Sears Music Department believes that music is an integral part of every student’s overall education, JK-8. The music program strives to establish a lifelong relationship with music that provides satisfaction, enjoyment, and personal growth. Students will be given a wide variety of opportunities to create, perform and express themselves through music, including: responsive listening, singing, movement, dance, improvisation, composition, choir, recorder, band, and orchestra.

Through participation in music, our programs reinforce problem-solving, grit, and perseverance, to give students a more creative perspective on the world as they journey forward into various life experiences. Like all successful teams, our classes encourage a culture of creative collaboration to work well within a high functioning organization. From junior kindergarten, culminating to ‘The 8th Grade Graduation Ceremony,’ Joseph Sears students express themselves with unified voices in the hope that they will continue to learn to live in harmony with others.

• The purpose of our program is to nurture a lifelong appreciation for The Arts.

• All 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students will become literate in the language of music; to understand musical notation; and to be able to interpret and perform various genres and styles of music through a musical instrument of their choice.
• Student musicians are expected to be willing to try new things and to give their best effort; to learn, understand and apply appropriate technical skills; to listen attentively, follow directions, and to take pride in their work.
• At the junior high level, in grades 6, 7, & 8, the complexity of musical performance and technical demands increases with each grade level.
• Diverse repertoire will be selected to allow the students to apply prior knowledge to new, more technically challenging compositions.

• Precise mathematical rhythms, intonation, dynamic range and articulations are clearly defined, yet music allows each individual performer to express their own uniquely personal and meaningful ideas.

• Students not only learn to identify and apply the principles of good musical concepts, they also develop valuable ‘Habits of Mind’ to help them succeed beyond the classroom.

Department Resources

(Music department resources are currently under review.)