CHANGES TO THE MIDDLE MUSIC PROGRAM

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Change is taking place in the music department of BIS to ensure that the well-rounded music education that is already in place in the primary school continues into the middle school.  These changes will also ensure students are better prepared for the demands of IGCSE music and the IB diploma program. 

Through the middle school band program, the majority of students learnt the basic technique of how to play an instrument (limited to some woodwind instruments, brass instruments and percussion) and through this they learnt the basic skills of playing in an ensemble and some music theory. In this program alone it would be near impossible for a student to reach the necessary performance level required for IGCSE music (they need to be playing at around grade 3 level).  In the former middle school program they did not study pieces from a wide range of styles, develop their aural skills or theoretical knowledge and they did not compose.  All these skills are necessary to develop a well-rounded musician and to be successful at IGCSE and IB diploma level music.

The middle school classroom music program at BIS, beginning in August of this year, will develop the following skills and knowledge:

Performance Skills – all students will learn the basic skills of playing the keyboard, guitar and singing.  They will play and perform in small groups and as a class.
Composing Skills – Students will compose simple pieces as part of a group and individually in a range of different styles.
Theoretical knowledge and Aural Skills – Students will develop their knowledge of music theory and develop their music aural skills.
Musical Knowledge – students will study pieces and composers from a wide variety of genres and styles.

The only facet missing from the above program to ensure students are best prepared for IGCSE music is a higher level of performance skills.  For students to be playing at the level required for IGCSE music, they must be having instrumental or vocal lessons from a instrumental or vocal specialist, who is a professional musician and skilled and trained in the instrument they are teaching. 

Next year BIS will have specialist instrumental teachers at school.  All students are encouraged to sign up for lessons; however, it is not compulsory.  Lessons will be half an hour long and will run on a rotational basis ensuring students only miss out on any one class for half an hour every month. Students can choose whether they want to learn an instrument in a group or individually.  Parents will pay for lessons directly to the instrumental teacher.  It may be possible to learn in groups of two or more, thus bringing the cost of lessons down.  Individual lessons for half an hour will cost 20 Euro per lesson.

Students will be able to hire some instruments from the school and others will need to hire or purchase them from out of school.

Extra curricular musical activities (for example band, choir, small ensembles) will still be offered, with the hope of expanding the program further.

Yours Sincerely,

Sally Newman
Music Teacher grades 6-12