Music

Music is a cumulative process, always expanding upon students' experiences. The music program at SYVCS helps students develop:

• The ability to participate in the creative processes of music;
• A sensitivity for the beauty of musical sound, leading to a greater interest in and a better understanding of the art;
• An acquaintance with and an understanding of musical symbols; terminology, and notation of music - familiarity with the musical language;
• An acquaintance with a wide repertoire of vocal and instrumental music of many periods and styles, including music by master composers.

VPAStandards.pdf
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Integration of the Kodály and Orff methods

The Kodály method is a vocal method rather than an instrumental one, since Zoltán  Kodály felt strongly that the sounds of music and the physical representations of those sounds should exist in each student's musical experience before any instrument is touched. He believed that only through singing could music truly become part of the child. Therefore, rhythm patterns and the tonal patterns are derived from known song material.

Through the Orff approach, the student discovers accents, metric organization, duration, phrasing, dynamics, tempo, rising and falling of pitches, and finally song. Carl Orff believed rhythm to be the most natural aspect of music and the common denominator of speech, movement, and music. The exploration of sounds of words includes the student's own name, other student's names, nursery rhythms, chants, and familiar sayings. These can be accompanied by movements, such as clapping, stamping, knee slapping, finger snapping, skipping and jumping. A distinctive feature of the Orff instructional approach is the use of instruments, which are specifically designed for the physical capacities of children, are easy to play, and have tonal qualities needed to produce a balanced and beautiful ensemble. Included are glockenspiels, xylophones, and pitched and non-pitched percussion instruments.

Composer of the Month Series

This is a fun musical series that introduces students to the life and music of nine composers. Click here to view the nine composers for the 2017-2018 school year.

Performances

Students perform vocally and instrumentally in both formal and informal settings during the school year. 

Composer of the Month

Amy Beach

Composer of the Month