Music in Early Learning

Music is an integral part of many cross-curricular lessons in Early Learning, and students sing and play instruments in performances several times a year. They also have opportunities to perform in class plays that incorporate music and movement.

Our youngest students enjoy music classes with singing, movement and instrument playing. They explore music by listening to the music of many cultures and genres and are introduced to music history through familiar composers. Playing rhythm instruments and barred instruments and learning to sing with solfege hand signals, the students learn the fundamentals of rhythm and melody and begin the basics of music reading.

Older children learn and perform traditional folk literature as well as elementary choral literature. The oldest children in Early Learning learn to play recorders and in the spring, are introduced to band and orchestra instruments in preparation for music opportunities in Middle Learning.

Music in Middle Learning

Middle Learning students take general music classes and have opportunities to select chorus or instrumental music classes. These students continue to develop their music reading skills, as well as skills in sight-reading, tonal memory, playing and singing scales and improvisation.

Chorus

Choral students perform two concerts a year, demonstrating their knowledge of many styles of music, as well as their ensemble singing capabilities. Chorus is an inclusive activity for anyone who is interested in singing. Students work on traditional choral repertoire and develop strong part-singing abilities. Middle Learning choral music students have participated in All-State Chorus in Georgia.

Instrumental Music

The goal of the instrumental music program is twofold: the first is to give each student an opportunity to have an instrumental music experience; the second is to foster the musical growth of those students who express interest in pursuing a particular instrument. Our program encompasses the gamut from beginning recorder players who are required to have this basic experience, to advanced high school students who have performed in All-State and All-Select Bands and who have gained an impressive total of Superior and Excellent ratings at Solo and Ensemble Festivals.

Middle Learning Band and Strings classes meet in small ensembles and are combined for concerts. The older students prepare solos for adjudication at the Georgia Music Educators' Solo and Ensemble Festival each fall. It is an exciting instrumental music program that builds the core of the Upper Learning program.

The Galloway Community Band

The Galloway Community Band was established in 1985 as a service organization, dedicated to Mr. Galloway’s ideals of lifelong learning and community outreach. The band is comprised of students, parents, alumni, and friends of the Galloway community. Under the direction of Jim Gray, the band performs “Big Band” music from the 1930s and 40s. This cross-generational band rehearses on Thursday evenings and performs twelve to fifteen free concerts per year. Anyone with an interest in jazz who would like to perform with the ensemble is welcome.