Educating students in music, like all the Arts, helps to instill in them an appreciation for all that God has created. Music and its expression truly connects students to a way to see God in a different way. Many say it helps form a well-rounded individual. True. However we go a little deeper and challenge students to understand music, the philosophy of it and how it effects present-day life and culture aw well as the past. Understanding how to evaluate music helps the student see God's creativity in a way that is different than any other study. It is more than just merely enriching their lives--we want them to connect to God and understand Him better through what we teach.
"…Instead, be filled with the spirit , 19speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord." - Eph. 5:19 (NIV)
General Music Program
WCA’s general music program is designed to give each child a broad musical experience that fosters a lifelong appreciation of God’s wonderful gift to us--Music! Concepts are covered in every grade that foster creativity, individuality, musicality and the glorification our LORD! It is my goal to give every WCA student a fun experience and functional understanding of music so that they might be inspired to be lifelong participants in music and praise. Each year is structured to be appropriate to the grade level.
Students learn through musical activity and experience. They will be exploring their individual talents through singing, rhythmically moving, critically listening, and using instruments! Classes are full of exciting activity and musical games as well as well-structured lessons. Such lessons teach core concepts like pitch matching, music notation, terminology, and musical interpretation.
Fourth graders play recorders to help to strengthen music reading. This is year, students will play recorders year round!
Fifth Grade Music
Students split their year between band and choir. This gives them an opportunity to experience both performance aspects of music and prepares them to make a choice between them in sixth grade. During the fall they study choral music and focus on developing healthy voices. For spring band, they choose a praise-band instrument: piano, electric or acoustic guitar, bass guitar, or drums.
Middle School Music
Students choose to take a semester of band or choir. Through either class they build skills that enable them to continue into praise band at the rhetoric level (high school), or join church worship teams.
Band:
Students learn basic skills for performing in a worship group on the praise band instrument of their choice. (piano, electric or acoustic guitar, bass guitar, or drums)
Choir:
Students will focus on maturing voices through choral works. They will experience singing in harmony through a variety of repertoire. Emphasis is placed on vocal health and proper tone production.
Music History -- Overall Objective
Students evaluate their personal, music tastes by gaining a biblical and historical perspective of western music. Students grow to understand the foundational reasons for others’ individual preferences and make conclusions about the value of their own preferences.Students begin by exploring what truly shapes personal taste by experiencing a variety of music. Students learn basic music terminology that allow them to logically discuss and describe music. Although the primary focus on exploring individual preference, students are expected to do so in context to the history of western music from medieval to modern times. Through class lecture and discussion about biblical principles and historical facts, students will justify personal taste with informed opinions.
