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Music Program

Music classes are provided once a week to all students by our awesome music teacher, Chris Prodis (pictured at right). Based on the Orff-Shulwerk method, music instruction at Indigo: 1) integrates all aspects of music 2) allows for creativity and improvisation 3) provides a variety of ways for kids to access, experience, and create music.

No two children learn music alike. Some are movers, some are singers, some love instruments. The Orff-Shulwerk method allows the children to discover where they excel and where they have fun in the realm of music. Chants, singing, instrument-playing, movement, and dance are all incorporated into a typical class.

Musical concepts are learned by doing first; labels and definitions come later. The children are encouraged to explore concepts through improvisation with the bodies, with their voices, and with musical instruments, such as xylophones, glockenspiels, metallophones, drums and small percussion instruments. Much of the music is played in a pentatonic scale, which makes it easy for the children to improvise and sound great. Students also experience music in a cultural context, performing selectons from around the globe.

The Orff-Shulwerk curriculum for the upper grades includes an introduction to classic American blues and jazz music. Per district standards, children in the upper grades also learn the recorder and have the opportunity to participate in choir.

Chris Prodis brings experience, energy, and joy to her teaching and ensures that the kids learn not just music but many important life skills. She says, "Music is learning to work together. Music is feeling the beat, rhythms and melodies in your body as you dance and hearing your voice fit with others as you sing. It's saying 'yes' when someone needs a partner and working out who will play which part. It's learning to watch those around you so you can all play, sing and dance together. It's learning to take a chance and try something new."