At CCA, we are committed to nurturing our students’ development in Music and Dramatic Arts. Courses in the Performing Arts are offered at each grade level and are integrated into various school activities throughout the year including but not limited to the Celebration of the Arts, Weekly Friday assemblies, an annual musical, performance, and instruction from visiting musicians.
Music in Primary school aims to instill an appreciation and the joy of music. It boosts social development, fine and gross motor skills, it helps foster teamwork in children, as well as concentration. Music encourages creativity, better behavior and gives every individual skill for life. The curriculum is designed to build a foundation of musical skills. Activities are designed to instill a sense of rhythm through body percussion, clapping games, dances, and creative movement. The Cambridge curriculum introduces singing songs from a variety of cultures and languages, rounds, and harmonizing.
Instrumental performance starts with tuned and untuned percussion instruments in the early years and is integrated with the songs learned. Students are introduced to the recorder in Year 2 and this is also integrated with the singing and percussion repertoire. Students are introduced to the instruments of the orchestra, as well as traditional music and instruments of different cultures, including the rich local culture. Listening and developing an appreciation of classical, folk, world music, jazz, and contemporary music takes place in the latter years. Creating, improvisation, short melodic and rhythmic compositions, reading music, as well as knowledge of basic music theory is developed throughout Primary school.