MUSIC TOGETHER: OLBS is a Music Together Preschool. Music Together classes are given once a week to 3K, Pre K, and Kindergarten. Families receive music books with a code to download the music at home, and are welcome to participate in the weekly Music Together class with their child.
Every class starts with singing, and every class sings every day. Songs range from Traditional Catholic Church Hymns and Psalms, Modern Praise and Worship Songs, Seasonal Holiday Songs, as well as carefully chosen Pop Songs. We focus on posture, proper breathing, and effort above all else. All songs are also explained for lyrical content, definitions of words, and spiritual understanding of the text. We strive for the students to sing with joy and understanding. (Music Together does not sing faith-based songs.)
In 3K through Second grade, we focus on posture and procedure for singing. We sit up straight, face forward, breathe and learn to enjoy singing. We play games, read books, clap and dance rhythmically.
In Third through Fifth grade, we learn to read and write music properly. Each student learns to play the recorder, and to write short songs using simple standard notation. Glockenspiels are also used for various lessons throughout the lower grades.
In Sixth through Eighth Grade, we focus on music appreciation and understanding. We learn form and analysis, how a song can tell a story and the history of music. Seventh grade focuses on baroque, classical, and romantic music, and eighth grade focuses on jazz.
General Music Classes:
- 3K, Pre K and Kindergarten – one 40 minute Music Together class per week plus one additional 40 minute general music class per week
- Grades 1-8 – one 50 minute class per week
- All grades have a Google Classroom for Music. Technology is incorporated in the lessons through use of the Google Classroom, the Garage Band app, research projects, video excerpts, and listening examples.
We have two concerts per year, Christmas and Spring, in which all students in K through 8th grade perform.
At Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Academy we are well aware of the importance of arts education for every child. This is evident in the music program which includes Music Together Parent/Child classes for all students in Nursery through Kindergarten, general music classes for students in grades one through eight, a string ensemble that is open to all students in grades one through eight, a show choir that is open to students in grades six through eight, and an independently run band program that is open to students in grades three through eight. All students learn to play the recorder beginning in grade three and all students in grades one through eight participate in the two school concerts each year.
Always willing to perform in the community, the students have shared their talents with the senior citizens at the Senior Citizens Leisure Club and at Ozanam Hall. The string ensemble has performed at the Futures in Education Fall Fundraiser and the OLBSCA Show Choir has entertained shoppers with Christmas carols at Capital One Bank.
With technology rapidly changing our world, the music classes at OLBSCA are keeping pace through the use of an interactive whiteboard in the music room and student collaboration using iPads to compose music and do research. The students also have a forum to converse, experiment, and share musical interests in response to questions, information, and assignments that are posted on the student collaboration site, Edmodo.
Our music curriculum follows the New York State and National Core Standards for Music Education and attempt to incorporate many varied musical experiences. To this end, we have participated in the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s Chamber Music Beginnings Program, Queens Symphony Orchestra Children’s Concerts, The National Anthem Project, and the Artist in Residence Program.
Our goal is to provide the children with as many opportunities as possible to experience and participate in music making so that they may develop a life-long love of music.