Katie Brennan

Trinity's Music class focuses on the history of music, learning how to read musical notes, writing music, learning to play the recorder (4th grade) and bells (5th-6th grade).  We do many fun things, including watching musical videos.

When you sing, you pray twice. Trinity's students participate in choral singing in addition to general music instruction to grow a "singing culture" at our school. Preschoolers present two short programs annually, at Christmas and in June. Grades K-2 (Cherub Choir) and 3-6 (Children's Choir) present full-length Christmas and Spring Programs, sing for Chapel worship, and sing at nursing homes. In addition to sacred music, the students learn standard repertourie, and have been preparing musicals in recent years that relate areas of study in social studies (The Adventures of Lewis & Clark, The American Dream). Each student is evaluated on criteria to meet PA Arts Standards, including performance practice, music reading, technical skills (matching pitch, direction, rythm, ensemble singing) and expressive interpretation.

Music at Trinity is an intregal part of the curriculum and school life.  We learn a lot, and have fun doing it!  Our goal is to teach basic musical skills, learn some of the history of music, and give our students many types of hands on musical experiences. We believe that when you sing, you pray twice, and strive to build a “singing culture” at our school.

General Music is offered for all students, preschool-grade 6.  Preschool students learn through singing, movement, playing instruments, and listening, using materials of Kodaly, Orff and Musikgarten.  Grades K-6 learn to read musical notation, learn about many kinds of music, from orchestral to opera to jazz, and “read to sing,” an approach that encourages reading school-wide.

Recorder playing is introduced in 4th grade, and students play for school events throughout the year, including the Christmas program and Chapel services.

Handbell Choir is offered to 5-6th grades.  Using Suzuki tone chimes, students get ensemble playing experience for school programs and chapel services.

Cherub Choir, for students in grades K-2, meets one day per week.  This introduction to the choral experience emphasizes breath technique for singing, use of head voice, learning to read music, and singing in unison and in parts.  Cherub Choir sings for school programs and Chapel services.

Children’s Choir, for students in grades 3-6, also meets one day per week.  This choir continues to teach basic singing technique, increases part singing, and allows for solo work.  In addition to sacred music prepared for Chapel services and school programs, students have presented musicals in recent years related to social studies topics (The Adventures of Lewis and Clark, The American Dream, We Haz Jazz, Folk Songs from Around the World).

Private lessons:  instruction is available, during the school day, for private instrument study on piano (grades 2-6), voice (grades 2-6), flute (grades 4-6), and, for the 2010-2011 year, guitar lessons will be available.

Each student is evaluated on criteria to meet PA Arts Standards, including performance practice, music reading, technical skills (matching pitch, intonation, rhythm, ensemble singing), expressive interpretation, history, and styles/genres of music.