General Music General Music classes invite students to interactively explore the basics of music. Through music making with percussion, recorder and voice, students learn to read music and recognize/analyze melody, harmony, rhythm, form and tone color. Early Childhood Early Childhood music classes foster musical growth, a lifelong love of music, and a joyful attitude towards learning. Together teachers and students learn dances, musical games and explore rhythm instruments. They listen to music and learn songs from around the world. The curriculum is age/developmentally appropriate, and promotes reading readiness, literacy and language skills, symbolic thinking, coordination, social interaction and imagination. Strings Small group instruction is provided in violin, viola, cello and bass. String Ensemble instruction is also available.

Band Small group instruction is provided in flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, baritone and percussion. Ensemble instruction is the most common for band instruments. Piano Piano instruction is available at sites with a functional keyboard or piano lab. Chorus Choral instruction is a cost-effective solution for large group instruction. Ethnic Drumming Ethnic Drumming utilizes a variety of instruments such as djembes, dunduns, congas, etc. to engage students of all ages. Drums are dependent upon the specific medium chosen. Guitar Small group instruction is provided on guitar.

MeritFest

Once a year, many of our instrumental sites (including choral programs) are invited to attend MeritFest, a festival concert featuring Bridges: Partners in Music students on the Orchestra Hall stage in Symphony Center. The festival takes place over 2 days, featuring our band, string, guitar, choral, percussion, piano students and more. Special guests and groups perform each year making each concert extremely unique in design.