Music is one of the most beautiful gifts God has given to humanity. The teaching of Music is considered part of the core curriculum for both the state of California and the United States Department of Education. Here at Our Lady of Grace we have a comprehensive Music program that encompasses all four national music arts requirements: artistic perception, creative expression, historical and cultural context, and Aesthetic Valuing.

In studying Music, we use the Silver Burdett textbooks, and many additional materials including tapes and CDs of classical and contemporary music, songbooks and sheet music, movies and posters. Percussion instruments, bells, and the piano are also used to illustrate musical examples.

All classes participate in reading and singing many musical pieces. We have two major productions a year, one at Christmas and the other at the end of the year. At those times all students perform some of the pieces they have studied.

An important supplement to the Music program is the chorus and cantor groups. Mrs. Wilson trains and directs the cantors while I handle the choir. During Wednesday Mass, Ms Anne Nicholson helps out with choir conducting. Ms Nicholson also works on the Music liturgy for the Wednesday Masses.

Students learn how notes relate to each other on the musical staff, ear training, elements of composing, and some of the classic compositions, for example, Mendelson"s Midsummer’s Night Dream and Moussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition.