Music (Preschool - 8)

Early Childhood

Pre-School
Students develop a foundation of musicality through learning the proper use of the singing voice and by steady-beat work with percussion instruments. Students perform at our annual Christmas Concert.

Kindergarten
Students explore many types of music by singing and playing unpitched percussion instruments. Game songs are used to develop steady beat skills. Students perform at our annual Christmas Concert.

Primary (Grades 1-3)

Grade 1
Students continue to explore many types of music by singing, playing unpitched percussion instruments and orff instruments, and hearing and seeing many types of instruments. Students perform at our annual Grandparents' Day concert.

Grade 2
Students continue to sing and play unpitched percussion instruments and orff instruments. Music notation is introduced, largely through the use of handchimes. Students perform at our annual Grandparents' Day concert.

Grade 3
Students continue to sing and play orff instruments, and learn to read from a grand staff through frequent use of our four-octave handchime set. Students perform at our annual Grandparents' Day concert. Third graders study the instruments of the orchestra and attend a concert at Cincinnati's Music Hall.

Intermediate (Grades 4-6)

Grade 4
Students learn breath control and music notation by playing the recorder. More advanced music notation is introduced. We continue to sing and use game songs to develop coordination and musicality.

Grade 5
Students continue to explore music through lectures, singing, and music listening. In this second and final year of recorder playing, recorder technique is refined and range is extended.

Grade 6
Students study the instruments of the orchestra extensively and attend a concert at Cincinnati's Music Hall. In the spring, students perform on stage with homemade and found instruments in a performance inspired by the touring group "Stomp."

Junior High ( Grades 7-8)

Grade 7
Students explore music in a more academic atmosphere. We study the lives of composers, playing their songs on various instruments. We perform with sixth graders onstage using homemade and found instruments in a performance inspired by the touring group "Stomp."

Grade 8
Students begin the year studying the history of the Broadway Musical, and then we spend the bulk of the year preparing and performing a musical of our own. The eighth grade musical is the culmination of a Villa Student's performing experience. All students participate and many have leading roles.