Music

Returning Crescent students continue to develop the musical skills they learned on their instrument in the Middle School. New students to Crescent who have already learned an instrument in other school programs are a welcome addition to the Crescent music program. In grades 9 through 12, String instrumentalists, with several years of playing experience, are also part of the Crescent curricular music program. The Upper School Music program, in addition to increasing every musician’s technical skill, also broadens their musical experience through units on cultural musical heritage, musical role playing, score analysis, composition units, theory literacy, recording and midi technology.

All Upper School students are encouraged to join one of the Upper School Music Ensembles. All Upper School instrumental students can join the Upper School Symphonic Band, a large Concert Band that performs at numerous school and community functions and festivals. The Upper School music program also features two jazz bands: the grade 9-10 Stage Band and the grade 11-12 Jazz Ensemble. As in the Middle School these jazz bands are made up of saxophones, trumpets, trombones/baritones and rhythm section members. The Upper School co-curricular program also includes a String Ensemble and Upper/Middle School Choir. The Upper School ensembles can participate in a performance tour every second year. The last Upper School Tour was in Cuba.

One of the exciting features of the Crescent Music Program is our Crescent Conservatory. The Crescent Conservatory is a private lessons programm that currently involves 200 of our students. Private lessons in voice, wind, string instruments and percussion are all available at the School for enrichment and for special interests. The teachers of these private lessons are professional performers and specialists in their respective disciplines. Inquiries about our conservatory can be made to Anne Fraser-Burke.