Music
Music Overview
Elementary Music
Overview for elementary music.
K-3 students: all attend music 1x a week during the school day! They learn about age-appropriate music concepts from rhythm, pitch, instrument families, and various music styles. Our wonderful general music teacher, Hannah Ogden, teaches students to use instruments, hand clapping exercises, movement games, solfege and other musical activities in class. Kindergarten is all about movement and learning to love music. In 1st grade we put our rhythm reading skills to the test on bucket drums. 2nd Grade students learn how to play the ukulele, and 3rd Grade students learn the recorder – these are instruments that help learn the basics of note reading to prepare them for joining band or orchestra in 4th grade.
4th Grade students: All 4th graders at TOPS get to play a musical instrument – they can be in either Band (Clarinet, Flute, Trumpet, trombone, baritone, or percussion) or Orchestra (violin, viola, cello) Instruments and supplies are provided for students who cannot afford to rent. Students will be broken into smaller groups based on their instrument preference when we can play together! Music in 4th grade is 2x a week and the teachers are Stephanie Hellekson (Orchestra) and Hannah Ogden (band)
5th Grade students: are encouraged to continue with their instrument of choice last year in Band or Orchestra once a week! Switching instruments is not usually an option, without discussion between student, teacher, and parent. This class is a continuation of 4th grade and it’s so exciting when students begin to understand their instruments better, note reading becomes more fluent and there will be a strong emphasis on personal goal setting, personal achievements and focusing on the love of music. New students to TOPS without instrument experience will still pick an instrument, the teachers will catch them up with the basics and with just a little extra practice at home they have been successful in joining Band or Orchestra!
Middle School Music
Band and Orchestra meets every day and is a year-long elective for middle school students. Classes will focus on continuing students along their musical journey, continuing to foster a love of their instrument and music. Students grow our learning, our musicianship, build community with our fellow musicians, and learn even more skill to establish a strong foundation on their instrument. A strong emphasis on goal setting, personal achievements, improvements on instrument and playing with a group are other things we are working on in Middle School Music at TOPS. There is one 6th grade concert orchestra, one 6th grade concert band, a 7th/8th grade chamber orchestra, and a 7th/8th grade wind ensemble. There are field trips and evening performances in this award-winning Music Department.
Orchestra Teacher: Stephanie Hellekson
Band Teacher: Hannah Ogden
General Music Teacher: Hannah Ogden
We have a very strong retention rate and music program at TOPS – music is an important part of our daily lives and often a favorite part of the day. We strive to keep equity at the center of our instruction and all students have the opportunity to play an instrument in 4th and 5th grade – this is unique to TOPS, thanks to the support of the parents, teachers, and the administration. It is not required for students to take private lessons or participate in Youth Symphonies or JazzEd.
Keep up to date on TOPS Music via the FOT (Friends of TOPS) Music Facebook Group. Class supplies are provided by the teacher of your students music class.