Grade by grade music AT BURLEY
k-2nd Grade: General music
Every week our youngest students learn and sing musical selections from around the globe, practice breathing and posture, play rhythm instruments, and develop musical foundations of rhythm, tempo, pitch, and more, as well as basic knowledge of instruments. The results are on display each year at our school-wide Holiday Hoopla and Multicultural Assemblies -it is so exciting to see young students’ musical abilities emerge and grow!
3rd grade: choir and recorder
In third grade, students transition to more focused vocal and instrumental study. In the first semester, students learn proper vocal technique including posture and breathing through choir, sing in unison and harmony and learn solfège. During the second semester, students study recorder - a member of the woodwind family, which also contains clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and the flute. Students dive into introductory music theory concepts such as note reading, rhythmic dictation and explore fingering positions in preparation to play songs in class.
4th grade: band or choir
Fourth graders at Burley are prepared to enter either Beginning Band or Beginning Choir. Both ensembles rehearse during the school day and perform at school assemblies, and both require active participation, home practice, focus, and perseverance. It is wonderful to see our beginner ensembles perform proudly at their first concerts!
5th & 6th grades: band or choir
The middle years at Burley represent an opportunity to further with musicianship, performance, and more challenging musical pieces. Every 5th and 6th grade student participates in band or choir during the school day, and students are expected to practice and prepare at home to engage as an ensemble member during in-school rehearsals. Both ensembles perform multiple times during the school year.
Students from last year’s 4th and 5th grade bands are automatically part of Intermediate Band, which is a combined ensemble of 5th and 6th graders and rehearses twice weekly during the school day, plays more advanced material than Beginning Band, and lays the foundation for Project Band. Students who were in choir last year as fourth or fifth graders automatically move up to 5th or 6th grade choir. Both choirs rehearse once a week.
Students from last year’s 4th and 5th grade bands are automatically part of Intermediate Band, which is a combined ensemble of 5th and 6th graders and rehearses twice weekly during the school day, plays more advanced material than Beginning Band, and lays the foundation for Project Band. Students who were in choir last year as fourth or fifth graders automatically move up to 5th or 6th grade choir. Both choirs rehearse once a week.
7th & 8th grades: after school PROJECT BAND
Burley middle school students have two intensive, high quality musical pathways available to them after school if they choose to continue their music education.
Project Band: The top instrumental ensemble at Burley not only plays the most complex material, but this year, it will be working on some special projects, collaborations, and performances. Project Band is excellent preparation for students who would like to be part of concert band or other musical ensembles in high school and beyond, or those who would simply like to continue growing as musicians, engage with their musical peers, and bring the joy of music to the Burley community.
Advanced Choir: Students in 4th-8th grade may audition for Advanced Choir, Burley’s top vocal ensemble, which sings higher level material and lays the foundation for future participation in vocal ensembles.
Project Band: The top instrumental ensemble at Burley not only plays the most complex material, but this year, it will be working on some special projects, collaborations, and performances. Project Band is excellent preparation for students who would like to be part of concert band or other musical ensembles in high school and beyond, or those who would simply like to continue growing as musicians, engage with their musical peers, and bring the joy of music to the Burley community.
Advanced Choir: Students in 4th-8th grade may audition for Advanced Choir, Burley’s top vocal ensemble, which sings higher level material and lays the foundation for future participation in vocal ensembles.
