Music

In the music program, students listen to and perform, read and describe, create and appreciate, a multicultural variety of songs, melodies, and rhythms.

Elementary students learn about the five elements of music – pitch, rhythm, expression, form, and texture – with new layers of musical understanding building as they progress from one grade to the next. Through instrumental instruction in grades 4-8, chorus in grades 3-5, and the Middle School choral program, students apply what they learned in the early grades, giving performances in which they aim to master tone quality, pitch, tuning and intonation, and rhythmic and melodic perception. Students who participate in Chorus, Orchestra, Band or Jazz Band will have opportunities to share their skills with the community through public concerts and competitions.

Recent Awards:

Orchestra for grades 4-8 attended the Music in the Parks Music Festival in 2013.

Here are the awards they received:

Chamber Orchestra received a rating of “Excellent” and Second Place at the Festival in Great America.

Advanced Orchestra received a rating of “Excellent” and Second Place at the Festival in Discovery Kingdom.

5th grade Orchestra received a rating of “Excellent” and First Place at the Festival in Discovery Kingdom.

The MVMS Choir traveled to Anaheim.  They performed a concert in Disneyland as part of the Disney Performing Arts Program, and competed in the Music in the Parks competition in Orange County against choral groups from California, Utah, Arizona and other western states.  Here are the awards they received:

Concert Choir received a rating of “Excellent” and 1st place
Boys Chorus received a rating of “Excellent” and 1st place
Bel Canto received a rating of “Superior” and 1st place
Chamber Choir received a rating of “Superior” and 1st place and “Best Overall Middle School Choir”
Jake Cameron received the “Best Soloist” award

The MVMS Band competed in the Music in the Parks Festival at Great America in Santa Clara. They competed against bands from throughout the U.S. including Texas, Nevada and Oregon.

Here are the awards they received:

Advanced Percussion Ensemble- CMEA Solo Ensemble Festival, Superior Command Performance
Advanced Band- CMEA Band Festival, Unanimous Superior
Intermediate Band- CMEA Band Festival, Excellent
Advanced Jazz Band- CMEA Jazz Festival, Excellent
Intermediate Jazz Band- CMEA Jazz Festival, Good

They played extremely well and received a lot of praise from the judges.