​"Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!"

Psalm 98:4-6
​

Music plays a key role in the lives of people of Christian faith, offering the opportunity to nurture God-given talent and creativity in worship to the Creator. At Wilmington Christian School, music is a core facet of our students’ school experience as they learn, practice, collaborate, and create beautiful musical performances for the glory of God.

From the Early Learning Center to the High School, students participate in a variety of music classes, lessons, and performance groups. All students are given a foundation of musical knowledge through regular music instruction from 3 years old through 7th grade. Students from the Lower and Upper school are also given many elective opportunities to hone their craft and deepen their musical understanding. Ensemble opportunities to perform are abundant, including concerts, fine arts festivals, music competitions, and community “run-out” performances.

Elementary Music

An early foundation in music education has been shown to be one of the most reliable indicators of student success in school. Early musical training has been shown to aid in the development of language and reasoning, memorization, pattern recognition, school engagement, and emotional development; to name only a few of the documented benefits. Music is also used to instill Biblical truth shared through regular performances for the school community. A content-rich, sequential music curriculum in the lower school forms the strong foundation of the musical arts at WCS.

String Ensembles & Private Lessons

The strings program serves the lower and upper schools. Parents may elect for their students to engage in private study with our certified strings instructor from 2nd grade through 12th grade. Students are given the opportunity to play in an ensemble in the upper school, also combining regularly with the Concert Band in performance to form the WCS Orchestra. Students wishing to participate in the upper school ensembles must also study their instrument with a private teacher. Our strings teacher can schedule a limited number of students in her studio for private study during the school day.

Middle School Concert Band

Our Middle School Concert Band is the foundation of the Upper School’s successful band program. It is at this level when students develop a solid footing in their musical training. In learning music from various time periods and composers, the student can understand different rhythms, melodies, and harmonies necessary for individual and group development. Band provides the opportunity for individual participation that leads to a productive and accomplished group experience. Students learn teamwork, experience self-fulfillment, and gain self-discipline through participation in band. This course is open to all students, grades 6 – 8, who are interested in the study of a band instrument.

Middle School Choir

The Middle School Choir is a performance ensemble with emphasis on the basics of music theory, music history, and an introduction to sight-singing, and ear-training. Ladies and gentlemen rehearse separately to focus on the individual needs of the changing voice in adolescence. Performance occurs both as a larger combined group and in separate, gender-specific ensembles. Diverse choral repertoire from many genres and traditions is studied and performed. Any interested middle school student may join this ensemble.

Middle School Music Appreciation

All 6th and 7th grade students are instructed in the basics of music literacy, history, and theory. Students engage in project-based learning, exploring multiple genres and historical time periods. An essential element of this course is the discussion and critical assessment of the media we choose to listen to and watch.  In this generation, God’s call to carefully discern and evaluate all media choices, including music, has never been more essential. How we decide what’s worth our listening/viewing time, what standards we use to decide what we like and don’t like, and how we personally judge what’s “good” media or “bad” media will be discussed throughout the semester.

High School Concert Band

The High School Concert Band is the premier band of the instrumental music department. At this level, most students should have already been involved in previous years of musical training, making the concert band a rich fusion of talents. High School Concert Band promotes further, in-depth studies of varying genres, time periods, composers, and harmonies necessary for individual and group development. Students learn teamwork and gain self-fulfillment as well as self-discipline.
This course is open to all instrumentalists, grades 9 – 12 who are studying privately or are involved in group lessons, having successfully completed a minimum one year of study on a band instrument.

High School Jazz Band

Jazz Band offers another rich opportunity to expand musical horizons. In just over 100 years, the evolution of jazz has given birth to approximately two dozen distinct jazz styles. Jazz music thrives on instrumental diversities and continues to seek new levels of artistic expression. Membership in the Jazz Band is by audition or invitation only. All Jazz Band players must be a current a member of the WCS High School Concert Band and demonstrate a solid foundation of High School Concert Band requirements (perform all major scales up to and including 5 sharps or flats from memory). This ensemble meets twice weekly outside of the regular school day.

High School Orchestra

The High School Orchestra combines the talents of our Upper School strings musicians and High School Concert Band members, creating a unique and exciting experience for our musicians. With music from Beethoven to John Williams or the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, our diverse repertoire is ever expanding and is a delight to our audiences.

High School Concert Choir

The High School Concert Choir is a mixed ensemble that performs repertoire from many genres and cultures within the choral tradition. Students learn music theory, music history, and develop skill in ear- training, and sight-singing. Students are challenged to develop their individual voices with excellent technique and attention to artistry while also listening diligently to blend and balance within the ensemble. This group has consistently earned high praise from festival adjudicators in New York City and throughout Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The Concert Choir is open to any student who wishes to grow as a singing artist and contribute to the success of the choral group in rehearsal and performance.

Jubilee Singers

​The Jubilee Singers are the premier vocal group of Wilmington Christian School. It is an auditioned, mixed ensemble that performs advanced repertoire from many genres and cultures within the choral tradition. The Jubilee Singers usually perform without accompaniment, known as a cappella singing. Students learn advanced music theory, music history, and develop superior skill in ear-training, and sight-singing. Smaller class size allows these committed singers to receive greater individual attention in the rehearsal. In the last 8 years, the Jubilee Singers have consistently received the highest rating possible at any festival or competition in which they have participated. They serve as ambassadors for WCS and, more importantly, for Christ; performing regularly in the community at large. Admission to the ensemble is only available through audition or invitation and concurrent participation in the Concert Choir is required. This group meets weekly outside of the regular school day.

Music Theory

In Music Theory class the basic language and logic of music is learned through self-paced online study, facilitated by a skilled in-person instructor. Students explore further how composers and performers use this language to communicate and inspire.  Basic musical skills including keyboard proficiency and fluency in note reading, key signatures, and more are developed through consistent practice.

Advanced Placement (AP) Music Theory

This year-long AP Music Theory course provides students with the opportunity to develop, practice, and master music theory skills essential to success in post-secondary music study.  The curriculum of this class is consistent with the first year of music theory coursework at the undergraduate level. The goal of this course is to develop a student’s ability to recognize, understand, and describe the basic materials and processes of music that are heard or presented in a score.  This is promoted through integrated approaches to the student’s development of aural, sight-singing, written, compositional, and analytical skills. Students will take the AP test, further demonstrating their mastery of the course content. College credit is available for this course through a partnership with Cairn University.