Music is woven throughout our curriculum. PK-5th grade students attend weekly music classes and worship band is offered as an elective for 6th – 8th  grade students.  Teachers use song and rhythm to teach concepts and reinforce facts.  Of course, music plays a significant role in each chapel program.   Providing students with an opportunity to actually play an instrument yields surprising benefits which is why music teacher Lee Ann Baker is so excited about adding three more xylophones to our instrument inventory.

“Xylophones allow students to learn some basic principles of music then quickly achieve success by creating music.  The three new xylophones enhance this effort by providing a more complete, rich sound and of course a total of five instruments allow more students to play at once.

More playing time helps students develop a number of skills many of which carry over into other parts of their lives…

• To play successfully students are forced to listen carefully which helps with language skills and is also a critical study skill for students in every grade.
• Instrument playing also stimulates the parts of the brain that control reading, math, emotions, and memory. 
• It fosters creativity and expression and helps them gain confidence as they play their parts independently.
• Students learn to connect and collaborate while they work as a team to make a beautiful sound.
• Playing music teaches discipline and patience because the learning never stops. There is always a new piece to play.
• Working together in class and completing a song as group gives students a wonderful feeling of achievement.

I enjoy working with students and helping them learn to appreciate, enjoy, and understand music.  I love coaching them as they create music and make a joyful noise!”