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From her early attempts to match pitch to the day she joins her peers in a heartfelt senior performance of "Joyous the Love," music will be at the heart of your daughter's Bryn Mawr School experience.
Lower School
Girls in our Lower School are active music makers! The music curriculum reflects the philosophies of the
Orff-Schulwerk approach, which is based on things that children naturally love to do: sing, chant rhymes, dance,
and play instruments. Language is used as a bridge to musical rhythm, and active participation and creativity are
emphasized. The Orff-Schulwerk approach is fully child centered, and it takes advantage of the natural stages of a
child's development. Throughout the year, the girls showcase what they have learned by performing in the winter
and spring concerts, International Bazaar, and various Lower School assemblies. Opportunities for ensemble performance
are available through membership in the Choral Ensemble, open to grades four and five, and the String
Ensemble, which is open by permission to students who take private lessons on violin, viola, cello, or double bass.
Middle School
The Orff-Schulwerk program is the foundation for learning music theory, music composition, and musical criticism
in the sixth and seventh grades. This instructional format emphasizes creativity and improvisation; students use a
variety of instruments to create and perform original compositions. In the eighth grade, students study the historical,
musical, and artistic significance of some major works from the art music canon. Performance opportunities
include compulsory participation in the Sixth-Grade Chorus, Sumus Deae (seventh- and eighth- grade choral ensemble),
the String Ensemble, or Ex Solo (hand bell choir), all of which meet during the school day. Major concerts are presented
in December and May.
Middle School String Ensembles
Upper School
Opportunities for making music include Camerata, Dayseye, Orchestra, String Ensemble, and the hand bell choir Ad Solem.
Camerata, a chorus open to the lower three classes, and Dayseye, an auditioned choir for juniors and seniors, both
focus on individual vocal training and ensemble development. Dayseye performs frequently for on-campus events,
and the group travels both locally and abroad. Orchestra, open to wind and string players by permission, is offered
during the fall semester, whereas String Ensemble and Ad Solem are activity period offerings that meet three or four
times over a two-week period. All of the ensembles perform in the winter and spring concerts. Additional activity
period offerings change from year to year, and guest artists come from many different styles and backgrounds.
Arts Council, an active organization on campus, sponsors two coffeehouses and a Battle of the Bands each year.
An acoustic festival, sponsored by the Guitar Club, takes place each year as well.
Applied Music Lessons
Private music lessons for various instruments and in voice are offered at school. See Applied Music for more information.