Music instruction has always been an important component of TNCS’s dedication to educating the whole child. Music is a meaningful part of every TNCS student’s academic journey, and music happens throughout the day, including during cultural study. In addition, formal music classes are available both during and outside the school day to elementary and middle school students.
We encourage our students to find their musical passions and express themselves creatively and with skill.
“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination
and life to everything.”
—Plato
Music Education During the School Day
Note: Specific details of our music program may differ from below due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
Formal music classes take place twice weekly during the school day for elementary and middle school students. Band at TNCS is broken down into Instrument Exploratory Classes (e.g., Woodwind, Brass) and a Band Ensemble as students gain experience with the instruments. TNCS takes orders and rents the instruments for those who need them. Students take the instruments home for practice and also require a music stand at home. We recommend that students spend at least 15 minutes a day practicing.
Students who do not opt in to Instrument Exploratory or Band Ensemble receive instruction in voice and on the recorder.
Vocal Classes
On Tuesdays during music time, all elementary and middle school students receive voice instruction. The focus of this class is on honing vocal technique as well as on music appreciation. Students explore composers, types of instruments, and musical styles all while building skill using the solfège system of learning notes and pitch.
Another important part of this class is building confidence. Most TNCS students are accustomed to singing in groups and in class. Under TNCS music teacher/director Mr. Warren’s guidance, they now learn to be comfortable harmonizing on stage and even singing solo parts. Parents are treated to school-wide vocal performances twice yearly.
Instrument Exploratory Class
TNCS is pleased to offer one semester-long class per year exploring various instrument groups for students in grades 2–8. Woodwind exploratory covers flute for 5 weeks, followed by clarinet for 5 weeks. Brass exploratory covers trumpet for 5 weeks, followed by trombone for 5 weeks. The instrument groups covered alternate by year. TNCS music teacher/director Mr. Warren teaches the class on Thursdays during music time in the fall and winter quarters.
This introductory class allows students to develop technical skill and explore more than one instrument. A concert for parents is given at the end of the semester.
Band Ensemble
By the fourth quarter of the school year, students in grades 2–8 have experienced flute and clarinet from the Woodwind Exploratory class and/or trumpet and trombone from the Brass Exploratory class. They are now in a position to pick their favorite among these instruments and enjoy playing in a band ensemble.
This class, taught by TNCS music teacher/director Mr. Warren during music time on Thursdays, allows students to deepen their abilities in technique while playing fun repertoire. A concert for parents is given at the end of the semester.
Why Children Should Learn Music
We recognize that children who play music in a formal education setting come to understand the rewards of working hard, of regular practice, and of discipline.
Learning to play a musical instrument also helps to instill what might become a lifelong passion for music, and it confers many other advantages as well, from social to academic. For example, being a part of a musical community builds confidence and makes for meaningful experiences in a secure environment.
In asking children to decode sound, making music also enhances their language development and their ability to be active listeners, effects that also facilitate social interaction. Moreover, abundant research shows that learning music accelerates learning in a range of other subjects, including math and science, and enhances skills like concentration and memory recall that children use in other areas.
Learning music requires tapping into and integrating multiple abilities, such as vision, hearing, and fine and gross motor skills. Neuroscience shows that the brains of music-makers work harder and are consequently more fit.
TNCS’s Arts Philosophy
At TNCS, we deeply value the arts and have integrated the arts throughout our academic divisions as well as throughout areas of study.
Not only is technical skill development an objective of our arts programs, but even more so is awakening appreciation of artistic expression, from the visual to the performing arts. By connecting art to other subjects and incorporating art-making across curricula, students at TNCS are engaged with art in multiple forms every day.
I value that my kids get to have so many amazing music opportunities at TNCS.
- TNCS Winter Concert 2024 “Sleighs”!
- Spring Concert 2024: TNCS Gets Springy With It!
- Mr. Warren Goes to Washington!
- Music Is in the Air: TNCS Welcomes Back Martellies Warren!
- TNCS Canta y Baila con 123 Andrés!
- A Spring Break Message to Thank You, TNCS!
- Virtual TNCS: A School and Its Student Body Continue to Thrive!
- TNCS’s Inaugural Black History Month Celebration!
- TNCS Celebrates the Lunar New Year 2020!
- TNCS Winter Concert 2019: Cold Hands, Warm Hearts, and Hot Chocolate!
- Meet Javan Bowden, TNCS’s New Music Director!
- American Music Camp Keeps the Beat for the Third Year Running at TNCS!
- TNCS’s Music Program Crescendoes!
- American Music System Summer Camp Comes to TNCS!
- TNCS Launches Strings Program under Yoshiaki Horiguchi!
- TNCS’s Winter Performance Amazes and Delights!
- TNCS Performs at Confucius Institute Day!
- TNCS Goes to the Grammys!
- Pipa Concert at TNCS
- Music Is in the Air at TNCS!