Musicianship Classes

Chorus

Diller-Quaile’s choruses provide sequential study of choral literature for young voices and the fundamentals of vocal technique. Through the study of choral repertoire spanning various periods and styles, students develop ensemble skills, sight-singing skills, comfort with score reading, and music literacy. Diller-Quaile choruses for grade one and older perform in the school’s large ensemble concerts each semester. A minimum of two years of Chorus is required of all students in first grade or older.

2026-2027 Course Listing

Dalcroze Eurhythmics

The Dalcroze approach integrates the ear, mind, and body through natural movement, singing, and improvisation. Through kinesthetic experiences students show what they hear in music. As students walk, run, and gallop, elements of music are identified, such as a regular beat, rhythm patterns, articulation, and nuances. When singing, students use their hands and arms to show the shape of a melody or a phrase. These movements help students feel and internalize the relationship of pitches while tuning the voice and ear to each other. Through improvisation, students explore timbres of rhythm instruments, accompany songs explored in class, and deepen their understanding of music concepts. These experiences lead naturally into music notation. More experienced students are further challenged with exercises in form, meter, and polyrhythms. Students move through an experiential mode to a symbolic mode of understanding music concepts. A minimum of two years of Dalcroze Eurhythmics is required of all students in first grade or older.

2026-2027 Course Listing

Great Composers

Students encounter the great works of musical canon, not only for their intrinsic artistic value, but also as textbooks. Students work music concepts and ideas through direct contact with and application to the masterworks of the repertoire. Active listening, score reading, group singing, playing, and conducting are among the experiences that guide students through the material, as they come to place composers, their works, and the musical styles they represent in an historical context. Classes study music of the Renaissance through the Modern Era.

2026-2027 Course Listing

High School Comprehensive

The High School Comprehensive curriculum is a robust course of musicianship study that provides the advancing high school student with sophisticated musical understanding. Through experiences including sight-singing, ear training, dictation, and keyboard harmony, students analyze the rhythm, melody, harmony, phrasing, and form of selected works. Students’ repertoire serves as a springboard for group discussion and analysis, as well as for examples of critical concepts.

2026-2027 Course Listing

Composition

Students compose original music through creative improvisation and guided study of music structure and notation. Students analyze scores through singing, playing, and conducting, then create and revise their own works. Class includes regular workshop performances and discussions where students play each other’s compositions, reflect on musical choices, and give constructive feedback. Students refine their understanding of musical form, development, and ensemble communication through rehearsal and peer collaboration. Admission is by permission of the instructor.

2026-2027 Course Listing

Music Theory & Ear Training

These Kodály based classes develop the complete musician in each student through active listening, group singing, movement, conducting, dictation, sight-singing with solfège, and score analysis. Through the study of folk and composed music appropriate to their level of experience, students build music literacy and an understanding of the elements and structure of music. Individual, partnered, and group improvisations support and deepen their musical understanding. These experiences with improvisation lead naturally to individual and group compositions.

2026-2027 Course Listing

Musicianship for Young Learners

In these Kodály based classes, young students explore music through active listening, group singing, movement, musical games, and conducting. Through the study of folk and traditional music appropriate to their level of experience, students begin to build music literacy and an understanding of the elements and structure of music. The curriculum is shaped to the needs, interests, and skills of each individual class.

2026-2027 Course Listing

Orff Ensemble

Through speech, group singing, movement, and instrument playing, students explore music concepts, build music literacy, and come to understand the elements and structure of music. The Orff Ensemble plays recorders and non-pitched and pitched percussion instruments, such as drums, wood xylophones and metal glockenspiels. Students read, improvise, and compose ostinati and varied accompaniments to music from diverse cultures in a creative classroom setting.

2026-2027 Course Listing

Piano Improvisation

Piano Improvisation focuses on the development of keyboard skills necessary to utilize the piano as a tool for a comprehensive understanding of a range of genres. Students learn how to harmonize melodies and improvise, using different accompaniments and chord progressions. In addition, students are introduced to jazz progressions, chord structures, and jazz theory.

2026-2027 Course Listing