The music program at Lake Tahoe School offers instrumental, vocal, drama, and cultural components spanning multiple grade levels from Pre- school to eighth grade. The instrument instruction available to students includes keyboard, violin, recorder, ukelele, and guitar with exposure to percussion, xylophone, and marimba. Performance standards are inherent in the music curriculum in collaboration with the core academic class curriculum throughout the grades. LTS students share their musical abilities in community events during the school year.
The LTS Music Experience
Experiencing music at LTS is to enter a world of unlimited possibilities where taking risks is welcomed and discovering unknown talents is exciting. Students share their unique abilities with each other, whether it is with an instrument or a creative composition. They become aware of a whole new language of music and begin to realize that they can make their own music as well as listen to it. Our goal is not to necessarily become a superb musician but to enjoy the journey.
Electives
Middle schoolers can opt for a variety of music electives, including creating sound tracks for original videos, jazz keyboard, set building and design, jazz vocal ensemble, and rock band.
Evaluation
Grading in our music program is based on respect, attitude, and effort. The level of musicianship varies with each student but the level to which the student aspires in terms of the above-mentioned factors is what determines the student's grade.
Instruments
In Kindergarten and first grade, students are introduced to the keyboard through various methods, including the Music For Little Mozarts curriculum. In second grade, violin study begins with a strong emphasis on the Suzuki method of skill progression and tunes, although other sources are used as well, including Mark O’Connor’s blue grass patterns. Third graders begin to use notation and hone their rhythm skills on soprano recorders. Ukelele is the instrument for fourth graders in preparation for acoustic guitar in the fifth grade. Another form of flute, the ocarina, has also become a part of the 5th grade curriculum. Electric guitar and band will become the final instrumental goal for 6th grade.
Vocal and Drama
Students at LTS take pride in developing stage presence through public speaking, beginning in Kindergarten and culminating in the middle school declamation and exhibition projects, and music and drama play an important role in achieving this goal with performances during the year.
Cultural History
In many of the music classes, an awareness of the culture and history behind the music is examined through composer biographies, featured musical pieces, and art activities. This dynamic component brings a connection between all forms of music, from the earliest forms to the most contemporary sounds.