Music

Students are offered opportunities in band, orchestra, and various choirs. Our musicians participate in various national competitions and routinely receive awards.

Comprehensive music instruction at Charlotte Country Day begins at the junior kindergarten level and continues all the way through the Upper School, where musicians participate in various national competitions and routinely receive awards.

Lower School
Music is a vital part of every Lower Schoolers day. In addition to singing, children feel and express themselves through response to rhythms. Students use the voice, body sounds, movement, and simple melodic and percussion instruments as tools to express their ideas and feelings. They also learn to "sing" in sign language. By the third and fourth grade, students focus on the creative process in music, exploring and discussing how a musician gets ideas. They study music of other countries, examine other artists' approaches to the creative process, and begin instruction of the recorder. In addition to music in the classroom, children meet with the music specialist once every seven-day cycle.

Middle School
Band, orchestra, choir, and General Music are introduced at the Middle School level. Those who are interested in learning to play a musical instrument are encouraged to join band or orchestra. Students learn to understand rhythm, read music, and develop tone quality. Seventh and eighth graders may join a mixed choir, which explores two-, three-, and four-part music, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to choral singing. In addition, Middle Schoolers may take General Music, which focuses on the elements of music, correct techniques for playing varied instruments, computer opportunities for creating individual manuscripts, and more.

Upper School
The Upper School music program offers three choirs-Mixed Choir, Honors Choir, and Chamber Choir-a concert band, and string orchestra. Topics covered in choir include sight singing, vocal techniques, music theory, and elements of blend.