Music

The music program at Meridian provides an opportunity for children to learn musical skills by creating and performing music in an ensemble. Just as children learn to speak by talking and listening, they learn music skills by making music—together, in guided exploration.

GoalsMusic Performance

  • to enable students to explore their expressive responses and creativity through music and movement
  • to develop understanding of sound, rhythm, melody, harmony
  • to foster students' confidence as capable and skilled participants in the world of music making

Highlights

  • annual grade-level music performance for school and families
  • opportunities to develop skills within a large group ensemble
  • music and movement activities developed in collaboration with annual Global Studies and classroom themes
  • a full complement of Orff musical instruments and world percussion instruments
  • cumulative portfolio of reflections and accomplishments

Meridian’s music program is grounded in Orff-Schülwerk, the approach to music education developed by Carl Orff and Gunhilde Keetman. Children collaboratively create aesthetically appealing musical works using their voices, movement, and accessible instruments. Unpitched percussion instruments (claves, drums, finger cymbals, wood blocks, etc.) enable the children to explore rhythms and the expressive quality of each instrument’s special sound. Pitched instruments (xylophones, metallaphones, and glockenspiels of various sizes) extend the exploration into melody and harmony. In third grade children begin the challenge of learning to play the soprano recorder.

The inherent fun of spoken rhyme, songs, and music games engages children in responding through movement, singing, and playing a wide variety of world instruments. The structure of each lesson is designed to connect students’ current skills and interests with the vast world of music.

At Meridian, music is integrated with the work of each classroom’s unique projects and the annual Global Studies theme. Selections of music from across the globe and throughout history introduce children to the wide range of musical expressions of human feelings.