We've got rhythm

The Music program at Bay County Academy consists of vocal music, instrumental music, movement, performance, history, and theory. The students work with the music teacher regularly to prepare performance pieces for the Holiday and Spring concerts. These concerts are an exhibition for the students and teacher to show off all that they have learned.

Starting in Kindergarten, students learn about rhythm and movement as it relates to music. They practice keeping a beat, chanting, singing, and moving to music. The teacher also starts teaching music theory and continues through the middle school where the children learn to read music and compose their own pieces. In addition to music theory, the students are exposed to music history. They learn about famous composers, important time periods and styles associated with those times. The music curriculum integrates well with Paragon. During certain units the classroom teacher communicates with the music teacher about what the students are studying in Paragon. There is an extensive collection of CDs from which both teachers can choose pieces to compliment their lessons.

Each year, the music teacher arranges for artists to come to the school and do small performances. These performances give students the opportunity to see a variety of music being performed live, ask questions of the performers and sometimes play the instruments. In the past, performances have included bagpipes, hammer dulcimers, a pianist, a flutist, singers, and a children’s band. The students always enjoy the performances and have a lot to share afterward.