The Band is comprised of 7th and 8th graders who elect Band as their Performing Arts class. Beginning Band, or having studied an instrument, is a prerequisite for the class. Students continue lessons on their instruments, work on more advanced music reading skills and play more advanced ensemble music. They have two classes per six-day cycle. One class is for 7th grade only and is separated into a woodwind class, and a brass and percussion class. The second class per cycle is for full 7th and 8th grade Band rehearsals. The Band performs at the MS Spring Instrumental Concert.
8th graders in Band were members of the Band in 7th grade as their Performing Arts class. Students continue lessons on their instruments, work on more advanced music reading skills and play more advanced ensemble music. They have two classes per six-day cycle. One class is for 8th grade only and is separated into a woodwind class, and a brass and percussion class. The second class per cycle is for full 7th and 8th grade Band rehearsals. The Band performs at the MS Spring Instrumental Concert.
The Beginning Band is comprised of 5th and 6th graders who elect Band as their Music Performance Ensemble class. Students work on learning to play their instruments, reading music, and learning to play in an instrumental ensemble. The instruments offered are: flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, french horn, and percussion. There are two classes per six-day cycle. One class is for 5th grade only and is separated into a woodwind class, and a brass and percussion class. The other class is full 5th and 6th grade Beginning Band rehearsal. The Beginning Band performs at the MS Spring Instrumental Concert.
6th graders in Beginning Band studied their instruments in 5th grade as their Music Performance Ensemble class. 6th graders continue to work on playing their instruments, reading music, and learning to play in an instrumental ensemble. The instruments offered are: flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, french horn, and percussion. There are two classes per six-day cycle. One class is for 6th grade only and is separated into a woodwind class, and a brass and percussion class. The other class is full 5th and 6th grade Beginning Band rehearsal. The Beginning Band performs at the MS Spring Instrumental Concert.
The Beginning Band is comprised of 5th and 6th graders who elect Band as their Music Performance Ensemble class. Students work on learning to play their instruments, reading music, and learning to play in an instrumental ensemble. The instruments offered are: violin, viola and cello. There are two classes per six-day cycle. 5th graders have an individual class divided by violins and violas in one class, and cellos in another. The second class per cycle is a full 5th and 6th grade Ensemble rehearsal. The Beginning String Ensemble performs at the MS Spring Instrumental Concert.
6th graders in Beginning Band studied their instruments in 5th grade as their Music Performance Ensemble class. 6th graders continue to work on playing their instruments, reading music, and playing in an instrumental ensemble. There are two classes per six-day cycle. 6th graders have an individual class divided by violins and violas in one class, and cellos in another. The second class per cycle is a full 5th and 6th grade Ensemble rehearsal. The Beginning String Ensemble performs at the MS Spring Instrumental Concert.
The Chorus is comprised of 5th and 6th graders who elect Chorus as their Music Performance Ensemble class. Chorus students learn proper vocal technique, work on music reading skills and choral singing skills. The Chorus sings a wide variety of two-part music. There are two classes per six-day cycle; One class is just for 5th grade Chorus members, and the other class is a full 5th and 6th Grade Chorus rehearsal. The Chorus performs at two major Choral Concerts each year, as well as at various all-school Chapel services.
The Chorus is comprised of 5th and 6th graders who elect Chorus as their Music Performance Ensemble class. Chorus students learn proper vocal technique, work on music reading skills and choral singing skills. The Chorus sings a variety of two-part music. There are two classes per six-day cycle. One class is just for 6th grade Chorus members, and the other class is a full 5th and 6th Grade Chorus rehearsal. The Chorus performs at two major Choral Concerts each year, as well as at various all-school Chapel services.
The 6th Grade Colonial Music class is designed to enhance the 6th Grade History curriculum. This course meets once a cycle for the school year. Students learn about the history of the folk songs and ballads European settlers brought to America beginning in the 17th century. They study the music African slaves incorporated into their lives in America, and the influence that music had on the development of later styles of music, namely Jazz. The course culminates with music from the American Revolution.
The 5th grade dance curriculum focuses on developing the student's dance technique, while increasing their dance vocabulary and dance literacy. Creativity and self-expression is the consistent outcome as the students improvise and create dance choreography on a regular basis. In addition, small group work fosters the ability to collaborate with classmates towards a common goal. Highlights and specific dance activities in the 5th grade include digital dance projects inspired by the work of well-known visual artists, a partnership with the Joyce Theater Dance Education Department, a tap dance unit focusing on the National Tap Dance Anthem, the Shim-Sham, and choreographing and producing a dance video.
The 6th grade dance curriculum focuses on an historical and cultural approach to jazz dance. Jazz dance is a uniquely American art form and reflects the vernacular of the American people. The curriculum explores the African roots of Jazz dance, its development through slave dances, juke joints, swing dancing,and examines the influence of the blues, codification of a jazz dance technique, disco, and finally hip hop. The students not only get to try out the technique but leave the class understanding jazz dance as a voice of the people of America and a powerful means of expression.Some highlights include creating original choreography,a partnership with the Joyce Theater, and a hip hop dance battle.
The 7th grade dance class continues the study of basic dance technique with a stronger focus on modern dance. The class explores guided dance improvisation and how it leads to movement for choreography. At the 7th grade level the dance program has created a dancer familiar with choreographic techniques. These techniques are used along with improvisation to allow both 7th grade dance students to create pieces of original choreography. In a combined 7th and 8th grade class students produce a dance performance.
The 8th grade dance class has a heavy technique focus during the fall and winter months. The second half of the year allows students time, support, and coaching as they develop their culminating project. The culminating project is an original piece of choreography performed for the middle school and parents.
Grade six focuses on theatrical practices from across the world. First, the students learn about different performance techniques in order to enhance their presentations. Then, they explore Kabuki, Commedia dell'arte, African Storytelling, and other styles of theatre (time permitting). Finally, the year ends with the study of Vaudeville. Most of the class assessments focus on group presentations within each unit. This is the first year that the students are permitted to audition for the Middle School plays and musicals.
Grade seven spends the entire year working on comedic improvisation. They learn about improvisational structures, rules, and techniques, eventually creating their own structures which are presented to the group. It is a goal of the course to encourage each student's potential to be creative and expressive through improvisation, while also honing quick-thinking skills, developing collaborative strategies, and having tremendous fun! The class is encouraged to audition for Middle School plays and musical productions.
Grade eight spends the entire year immersed in Shakespeare. Three texts are studied in-depth, aiming to make the language and themes entirely accessible to the students. Using a variety of approaches, the students deepen their understanding and appreciation for the creative and literary aspects of the works. In addition to taking a look at the themes and language of Shakespeare's plays, the students learn about Elizabethan theater and are given the opportunity to act in scenes from the plays studied in class. Mid-year, the students work with actors from Classic Stage Company, in collaboration with their English course. The class attends a Broadway show and is encouraged to audition for Middle School plays and musical productions.
The String Ensemble is comprised of 7th and 8th graders who elect Band as their Performing Arts class. Beginning String Ensemble, or having studied a string instrument, is a prerequisite for the class. Students continue lessons on their instruments, work on more advanced music reading skills and play more advanced ensemble music. They have two classes per six-day cycle. 7th graders have an individual class divided by violins and violas in one class, and cellos in another. The second class per cycle is for a full 7th and 8th grade String Ensemble rehearsals. The String Ensemble performs at the MS Spring Instrumental Concert.
8th graders in String Ensemble were members of the String Ensemble in 7th grade as their Performing Arts class. Students continue lessons on their instruments, work on more advanced music reading skills and play more advanced ensemble music. They have two classes per six-day cycle. 8th graders have an individual class divided by violins and violas in one class, and cellos in another. The second class per cycle is for a full 7th and 8th grade String Ensemble rehearsals. The String Ensemble performs at the MS Spring Instrumental Concert.
The Vocal Ensemble is comprised of 7th and 8th graders who elect Vocal Ensemble as their Performing Arts class. Students work on proper vocal technique, more advanced music reading skills and choral singing skills. The Ensemble sings a wide variety of two and three-part music. There are two classes per six-day cycle. One class is just for 7th grade Ensemble members, and the other class is a full 7th and 8th Vocal Ensemble rehearsal. The Vocal Ensemble performs at two major Choral Concerts each year, as well as at various all-school Chapel services.
The Vocal Ensemble is comprised of 7th and 8th graders who elect Vocal Ensemble as their Performing Arts class. Students work on proper vocal technique, more advanced music reading skills and choral singing skills. The Ensemble sings a wide variety of two and three-part music. There are two classes per six-day cycle. One class is just for 8th grade Ensemble members, and the other class is a full 7th and 8th Vocal Ensemble rehearsal. The Vocal Ensemble performs at two major Choral Concerts each year, as well as at various all-school Chapel services.
Grace Church School is a co-educational independent school in downtown Manhattan, New York City providing instruction for nearly 800 students in Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12.
