Music

Discovering One’s Voice

Every student has a unique voice. One way to discover and refine that voice is through music, offered from early childhood through upper school. Younger students develop language, reasoning and memorization; older students develop their natural talents through vocal and instrumental instruction.

Music Across Divisions

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Early Childhood & Lower School Music

Music is coupled with creative movement for early childhood students. Preschool and pre-K classes receive music education twice a week. They develop rhythm, pitch matching, and early instrumental and performance skills in an active environment.
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Students in kindergarten-grade 5 participate in twice weekly music classes that teach performance and theory and often connect to what they learn in history, social studies and other classes. Students in grades 3-5 also receive beginning guitar instruction. Grandparents’ Day, winter performances and spring grade level musical concerts are immensely popular Barstow traditions. Students in grades 3-5 may participate in the lower school musical. Recent productions include “Jungle Book,” “A Year with Frog and Toad,” and the upcoming virtual production of Disney’s “Winnie the Pooh JR.”
Middle & Upper School Music

The middle and upper school music program begins with vocal and general music instruction to every student in grade 6 and builds with electives and honors level courses through grade 12.
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In middle school, students learn how to use their maturing voices and develop music literacy and listening skills. Instruction compliments Barstow’s emphasis on global studies as they learn the music of other languages and cultures. In instrumental electives, students learn to play a band instrument and perform in an ensemble. Private music lessons are offered through our extended care program for stringed instruments, piano, percussion, woodwind and brass.

Our upper school program offers class instruction through choir, strings, general ensemble, music theory and music history. Students who continue their study after one year in Barstow Singers may earn honors credit. AP Music Theory is offered as a full year class.

All middle and upper school students are able to participate in the annual fall and winter musicals. Recent shows include Disney’s “Frozen JR” in middle school and the 2020 upper school virtual production, “Zombie Prom: Atomic Edition.”

List of 4 members.

Josh Markley

MS & US Choral Music Director, MS & US Technology Coach

(816) 277-0332
Elizabeth Birger

Director of MS & US Instrumental Music
Kristi Mitchell

LS Music Grades 1-5

(816) 277-0330
Kim Trudell

Video Gallery

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Faculty Choir

The Barstow School Faculty & Staff Choir models lifelong involvement in the arts, a key principle of a Barstow education. When the choir performs, students see that the talents and interests they discover at Barstow can be enjoyed throughout their lives. The choir sings a wide range of choral works, including classical, folk, spiritual, novelty, Broadway and seasonal music. The choir performs several times each year at events on campus, showcasing our talented faculty and staff. This mixed-voice choir, non-auditioned ensemble accepts all singers who wish to participate.