Music is a vital part of the Waldorf curriculum, formed as it is from human feelings and thoughts, and shaped by human will. It is a universally human activity, deeply revealing of humanity in both its diversity and its commonality. It is a perfect engagement for all high school students as they come to face their own developing individuality and the place of the individual in the world of their fellow human beings. Music classes are an ideal venue for the integration of “thinking, willing, and feeling,” the three capacities central to Waldorf pedagogy. Music, closely linked with the life of emotion, requires intellect and effort to come to its full fruition.

Chorus

The chorus meets twice a week and is made up of all high school students. The primary goal is to have a harmonious singing experience, to learn a variety of vocal works from a wide array of musical styles and historical periods, to grow as choral musicians by discovering growing potential as singers, and to build a sense of artistic community. Students learn to sing a cappella as well as with accompaniment for two, three, and four parts; to read vocal music; to sight-sing; and to harmonize effectively. Through warm-up exercises, they improve their voices, extend their ranges, and develop a more conscious hearing.

Instrumental Music

All high school students meet twice a week for an instrumental music class. Activities during this class range from playing the recorder individually and in ensembles to working with other orchestral instruments according to individual student’s inclinations and abilities. The students’ musical efforts culminate in public performances during assemblies and other school-related events. This class is also a forum in which students learn the essential ingredients of music: melody, harmony, rhythm, form, meter, tempo, dynamics, timbre, and instrumentation. They also study the life and works of composers, musical genres and styles, and other relevant subjects as they pertain to a deeper understanding of music and its true nature. Goals for the class include learning to read and play from a musical score with recorders or other instruments and acquiring the necessary tools to analyze a musical work and to create an original composition. Through repeated listening to musical works, the class aims to develop the capacity for a deeper and more focused hearing and understanding of a musical composition, as well as the ability to play or sing back a melody given orally.

African Drumming

This course begins with and continually reviews the basic techniques of playing African-style drums, from holding the drum, to making the three basic sounds, to turning these sounds, often verbalized, into basic rhythmic patterns. Students also delve into more complicated patterns as they explore pieces with three to ten parts. They orchestrate these into ensemble playing, incorporating other percussion instruments as they build the piece. Drumming quickly becomes a lesson in wordless communication and listening to each other, bringing focus to one’s individual part of the whole. The revelations come at performance time when the class is holding court with an audience. The end result is always one of focused attention on one’s individual part (however complicated or simple), in relation to the whole piece. It becomes clear that every part matters and is as important as all the others.

Instrumental Ensemble

In the interests of continuing to build a school-wide music program, the students most proficient in instrumental music were invited to join a recorder ensemble, which meets once a week. They play soprano, alto, tenor, or bass recorders and work on seasonal, modern, and classic recorder pieces, performing these at various events, including school assemblies.