Music at SPARK

  • For the 2023-24 school year at SPARK, all students K-5 will have General Music with Ms. Brianne Turgeon, and 4th and 5th graders may also choose:

    • Instrumental Ensembles: Band OR Orchestra with Mr. Hudson Gillot. Students are expected to remain in their chosen instrumental ensemble for 4th AND 5th grade.
    • Choral Ensembles: Chorus, AC, or both with Ms. Turgeon. YES, students may participate in Chorus or AC if they do Band or Orchestra.
    • No Performing Ensemble: participates in General Music

General Music

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    You’ll learn about music, in general, so you have a wide understanding of all aspects of Music. We’ll use units based on our Georgia Standards of Excellence: Creating, Performing, Connecting, and Responding to Music .

    You’ll learn: 

    • how to improve your singing, playing a variety of instruments (xylophones, small percussion, ukulele, keyboard, bucket drumming), and use movement to perform folk, classical, and popular music from around the world
    • how to compose and improvise music in real-life and technology-based ways 
    • how to read, listen to, and describe music using proper vocabulary
    • how music connects to other school subjects, and connects us to each other and our own feelings 
    • how music connects us to our community, the world, other cultures, and eras in history 

    We’ll sing, move, play games, use body percussion, use scarf, beanbag, egg shaker, bucket drumming, and use classroom instruments (small percussion, xylophones, metallophones), drums, and modern band (keyboard + bass + guitar + ukulele + drumming) 

    General Music & Chorus apps to be chosen from: Google Classroom. Zoom, Quaver'sEd, Flipgrid, Soundtrap (like GarageBand), Flat.io, Google Chrome Music, and more!

4th and 5th Grade Students

  • Band and Orchestra

    • Orchestra is an instrumental ensemble where students can learn to play violin, viola or cello. Practice outside of rehearsal is expected. In order to play an instrument, students must purchase supplies related to their instrument, a music shirt, and rent or purchase an instrument. The school owns a few instruments that can be used by students in need, but the majority of students must acquire their own instrument.
    • Band is an instrumental ensemble where students can learn to play flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, or percussion.  Practice outside of rehearsal is expected. In order to play an instrument, students must purchase supplies related to their instrument, a music shirt, and rent or purchase an instrument. The school owns a few instruments that can be used by students in need, but the majority of students must acquire their own instrument.
    • No instrumental ensemble your child will participate in Music classes and explore their interests.

    Chorus and Advanced Chorus

    • Chorus: During the school day Learns the music during General Music. Chorus members will learn skills related to singing, reading vocal music, and performing! There are two main SPARK Chorus/AC concerts a year in December & May, plus Chorus members are invited to perform at AC gigs as long as they know the music. Performances are optional but encouraged. Practice outside of rehearsal is expected. Chorus dues are $20, which includes the cost of our Music@SPARK polo. Scholarships are available.
    • Advanced Chorus: Fridays until 4:45pm AC is where the cool kids go. This un-auditioned group performs at the main SPARK Chorus/AC concerts in December & May. AC performs a lot, and they are the "on call" group for special events. Last year we performed at the Hawks, Gladiators, Harlem Globetrotters, Midtown High School, Druid Hills Tour of Homes, Inman Park Festival Parade, LGPE, at SPARK Scaroling (Scary Caroling!), Caroling, International Night, Basketball Challenge, Fine Arts Night, and other events throughout the year, and more. Practice outside of rehearsal is expected. Advanced Chorus dues are $20, which includes the cost of our Music@SPARK polo. Scholarships are available. YES, you can do Chorus and Advanced Chorus!

20 Important Benefits of Music

  • 1. Musical training helps develop language and reasoning: Students who have early musical training will develop the areas of the brain related to language and reasoning. The left side of the brain is better developed with music, and songs can help imprint information on young minds.

    2. A mastery of memorization: Even when performing with sheet music, student musicians are constantly using their memory to perform. The skill of memorization can serve students well in education and beyond.

    3. Students learn to improve their work: Learning music promotes craftsmanship, and students learn to want to create good work instead of mediocre work. This desire can be applied to all subjects of study.

    4. Increased coordination: Students who practice with musical instruments can improve their hand-eye coordination. Just like playing sports, children can develop motor skills when playing music.

    5. A sense of achievement: Learning to play pieces of music on a new instrument can be a challenging, but achievable goal. Students who master even the smallest goal in music will be able to feel proud of their achievement.

    6. Kids stay engaged in school: An enjoyable subject like music can keep kids interested and engaged in school. Student musicians are likely to stay in school to achieve in other subjects.

    7. Success in society: Music is the fabric of our society, and music can shape abilities and character. Students in band or orchestra are less likely to abuse substances over their lifetime. Musical education can greatly contribute to children’s intellectual development as well.

    8. Emotional development: Students of music can be more emotionally developed, with empathy towards other cultures They also tend to have higher self esteem and are better at coping with anxiety.

    9. Students learn pattern recognition: Children can develop their math and pattern-recognition skills with the help of musical education. Playing music offers repetition in a fun format.

    10. Better SAT scores: Students who have experience with music performance or appreciation score higher on the SAT. One report indicates 63 points higher on verbal and 44 points higher on math for students in music appreciation courses.

    11. Fine-tuned auditory skills: Musicians can better detect meaningful, information-bearing elements in sounds, like the emotional meaning in a baby’s cry. Students who practice music can have better auditory attention, and pick out predictable patterns from surrounding noise. 

    12. Music builds imagination and intellectual curiosity: Introducing music in the early childhood years can help foster a positive attitude toward learning and curiosity. Artistic education develops the whole brain and develops a child’s imagination.

    13. Music can be relaxing: Students can fight stress by learning to play music. Soothing music is especially helpful in helping kids relax.

    14. Musical instruments can teach discipline: Kids who learn to play an instrument can learn a valuable lesson in discipline. They will have to set time aside to practice and rise to the challenge of learning with discipline to master playing their instrument.

    15. Preparation for the creative economy: Investing in creative education can prepare students for the 21st century workforce. The new economy has created more artistic careers, and these jobs may grow faster than others in the future.

    16. Development in creative thinking: Kids who study the arts can learn to think creatively. This kind of education can help them solve problems by thinking outside the box and realizing that there may be more than one right answer.

    17. Music can develop spatial intelligence: Students who study music can improve the development of spatial intelligence, which allows them to perceive the world accurately and form mental pictures. Spatial intelligence is helpful for advanced mathematics and more.

    18. Kids can learn teamwork: Many musical education programs require teamwork as part of a band or orchestra. In these groups, students will learn how to work together and build camaraderie.

    19. Responsible risk-taking: Performing a musical piece can bring fear and anxiety. Doing so teaches kids how to take risks and deal with fear, which will help them become successful and reach their potential.

    20. Better self-confidence: With encouragement from teachers and parents, students playing a musical instrument can build pride and confidence. Musical education is also likely to develop better communication for students.
Last Modified on June 28, 2023