Music Program – prek, lowk & kinder

ISP Early Childhood music classes include songs, rhymes, instrument playing, movement and listening experiences designed to build understanding of music concepts and to build music skills.

Our young students learn about music concepts such as tempo (how fast or slow the beat is), melody (high and low pitches, pitches moving up, down or staying the same), tone color (recognizing the instruments or voices by their sound), dynamics (how loud or quiet the music is), rhythm and beat. We also spend time experimenting with different types of voices (talking, whispering, singing) and developing the singing voice. Throughout the year children also learn the proper way to play and care for instruments.

Every lesson includes some movement. We call it “movement” instead of “dance,” as the “d” word can sometimes turn off boys immediately, but if they think they are getting to “move,” they love it! Movement experiences (sometimes with props like ribbons, scarves or stick puppets) may be purely creative in response to the music, or designed to support concept and skill growth. Lessons are designed so that the children are ready for more advanced learning starting in first grade while keeping everything developmentally appropriate for 4 and 5 year olds.

Kindergarten classes meet once a week for 45 minutes with our music specialist. LowK classes (4 year olds) meet once weekly for 40 minutes. Prek students (3 year olds) the most music with their homeroom teachers, and also meet with our music specialist every other week. All music classes take place in the regular classrooms.

Learn about our specialist teachers at intlschool.org/specialists.