Music
The Lower School music program has grown into a multi-faceted curriculum involving the fundamentals of music while utilizing a wide variety of instruments. Children in kindergarten-3rd grade are introduced to music theory through singing, chanting rhymes, acting out stories, games, movement and dancing by hearing and imitating first, then learning to read and write music.
Music in the older grades is produced in a non-competitive environment. When the students reach this point in the music program, they have the knowledge of the core fundamentals. Each student then uses that knowledge to learn and develop their skills on the guitar, bass, drums, ukulele, recorder and piano. The students learn these instruments through instruction with games, movement and imitation. This allows the students the freedom to form music groups and gives them the opportunity to perform for the school and greater community.
Dance
Our campus offers a beautiful dance studio where students love to move! Dance classes include traditional genres such as tap, jazz and ballet, as well as cultural dances such as African, Bollywood, Hula and Latin styles. The curriculum also includes activities that enable students to invent their own choreography and practice teamwork. Garden Street Academy also provides opportunities for students to perform dance routines include our weekly assemblies, Winter Lights, and Spring into the Arts.
Visual Arts
In our Lower School art program, K-5 students begin by studying color, line and other art principles through exploration with art materials. Students use various mediums throughout the year including clay, paint, watercolor, charcoal, fiber etc. Students work together to create art that often reflects the learning in the classrooms in addition to studying well-known artists and their works. The art program is designed to spark students’ imaginations, promote their skill development, and encourage them to take risks as they engage in the creative process.