Chorus and Instrumental Music
	In addition to weekly music classes, every student in the fourth and fifth grades takes part in singing in a vocal ensemble. We gain an appreciation of the voice as an instrument and learn to take care and develop our voice. We focus on skills and understanding of posture, breathing, diction, phrasing, and dynamics. Two and three part choral scores are studied and performed for concerts and assemblies.   Musical literature of the master composers, great songwriters, and of varied styles and genre are selected to expose the students of different kinds of music.  All fourth and fifth Grade students at GFA participate in a required instrumental music program.  Approximately half of each class, with advice from their instructors, participates either on a band instruments (winds and percussion), or on a stringed instrument. In 4th grade students begin by developing the fundamental skills of tone production, hand position, fingering, bowing. In 5th grade, students progress to more sophisticated note reading and rhythmic comprehension, and begin learning some challenging repertoire. Students have two full ensemble rehearsals and one small group sectional each week, and they perform in two concerts per year.

	Video of Lower School Music Program
	The Lower School Music Program contributes to the emotional, intellectual, physical and social development of the child. Our goal is for each child to engage in musical experiences of singing, chanting, moving and dancing, playing instruments, and playing singing games that will lead to reading and writing music. The spirit of play is at the heart of learning in the early years of Lower School Music. Singing games provide for social skills, cognitive development, creativity, language development, motor skills, and of course musical skills. These games also provide for opportunities in building a sense of community with one another.