Montessori Music Program in Chevy Chase

Primary Programs

Music for our youngest students is playful, hands-on, and joyful, introducing basic musical concepts through singing, instruments, and movement. Students develop foundational vocal skills—matching pitch, singing rhythms, and performing in unison—while learning simple mallet percussion, basic notes, and rhythmic patterns. Early notation and solfege are introduced, along with an awareness of instrument families. Concepts are reinforced through call-and-response, movement, and dance. Students also perform songs for all-school events, including United Nations Day, Festival of Lights, and the Spring Special.

Lower & Upper Elementary

Lower Elementary (Grades 1–3): Students build on the primary program by naming concepts introduced through play, such as pitch and rhythm. Basic music theory is introduced, then expanded to include dynamics, intervals, and instrument families. Students gain independence in performance, often selecting and adjusting pieces for school events.

At the Upper Elementary Level (Grades 4-5), students deepen their understanding of pitch, rhythm, and musical expression. They explore instrument ensembles, have opportunities to compose and create, and study music history and its influence on society.

Across both levels, students develop vocal and instrumental skills, learn notation and solfege, and expand their knowledge of instrument families and musical styles. Students perform for all-school events, including United Nations Day, Festival of Lights, Arbor Performance Night, and the musical, building confidence and a lifelong love of music.

Middle School

Middle school students build advanced musical skills, developing independence in vocal and instrumental performance. They recognize and reproduce pitch relations, sing complex rhythms with syncopation, and perform multi-part harmonies. Instrumentally, they play scales, chords, and basic melodies on instruments like the ukulele and recorder, focusing on tuning and playing in time. Students write and read music notation, explore functional harmony, and compose and analyze their own pieces. Ear training, music history, and instrument classification deepen their understanding of styles, genres, and historical contexts.

Students also select music electives each cycle, including:

Choir / Vocal Performance

Learn vocal technique and sing independent parts in unison, culminating in a group performance.

Ukulele & Songwriting

Learn ukulele technique and basic songwriting, creating a complete song by the end of the cycle.

Music Production

Use Soundtrap software to digitally produce original music, completing a mini “EP” of at least two songs.

Assessments include performances, written activities, demonstrations, and discussions, ensuring students progressively develop their skills, creativity, and musical understanding.

High School

The high school band class is a performance-based, contemporary ensemble.

At the beginning of the year, students come together to pick songs of varying genres to learn for a concert at the end of the year. Classes are rehearsals and independent instrument practice is necessary for success. Some examples of songs we’ve learned in the past are Everybody Wants to Rule the World (Tears for Fears), Old Time Rock and Roll (Bob Segar), California Dreaming (The Mamas and the Papas), and Aglow (The Rare Occasions).