Music

At Waring, music is an essential liberal art, one that involves every student and many faculty members. It is an art that engages mind and body and that nourishes heart and soul, a universal language both timeless and transformative. We hope that our students will come to know and love the masterworks of classical music that form a great part of our cultural heritage, and we further hope that music will become a lifelong interest for them. We aim to provide musical knowledge, training, support, and experience while they are at Waring.

We believe that students learn music best through direct experience—through the hands-on, patient and joyful discipline of making music, the application of basic theory and composition skills, the communal experience of choral singing, and the shared appreciation of listening to music together. Waring students make and experience music in a variety of settings, from instrument and voice lessons to small and large ensembles and choruses, from music, humanities, and elective classes to music listening in All-School Meeting. In addition, we often invite guest artists to perform for the school community. Away from school, students regularly attend Boston Symphony Orchestra concerts or rehearsals. Students have frequent opportunities to share what they have learned at informal performances during the school day, at casual nighttime coffeehouses, at more formal evening recitals called Soirées Musicales, and at the annual music concerts in December and May. From time to time, we also stage productions of music theater, such as Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods. Music also plays an important role in our major school events like Convocation, Graduation, and our all-school camping trip, which features two sing-along events, on the first and last nights of the trip. Music is clearly an essential part of a Waring education.

Music Classes

All students are required to take a music course in grades 6 through 10.  Sixth and seventh grade classes are part of the French Immersion Program.  Eighth grade classes are focused on applied music skills through individual instrumental practice or group lessons.  Students in grades 9 and 10 study the basics of music theory, ear-training, composition, and sight-singing.  In addition, all students listen to selections from different musical periods and are taught to identify the key characteristics of the baroque, classical, romantic, and modern eras.

Choral Music

Choral music is a vital part of the program at Waring. Students in 6th and 7th grade sing together twice a week in the Core Chorus. All students in grades 8 through 12 are placed in a choral group, including a boys’ chamber ensemble, girls’ chamber ensemble, mixed voice chorale, and an auditioned mixed voice madrigal group each of which rehearses twice a week.

Throughout their time at Waring, students will have the opportunity to enrich their vocal experience by singing in several of these choral groups. Many Waring students take voice lessons, and especially motivated singers may audition for the Waring Madrigals.

Orchestral and Ensemble Program

Playing together is not only enjoyable but actually a necessary part of playing an instrument.  Waring offers opportunities for students to play in a variety of ensembles, from the classical repertoire of the Waring Orchestra to the jazz standards of the Jazz Ensemble. Other instrumental possibilities include the Percussion Ensemble, the String Ensemble, and the Woodwind Ensemble.

Music Lessons

Instrumental or voice lessons are available to Waring students who demonstrate the commitment and discipline necessary to profit from such study over the long term. This commitment must include a willingness to practice, perform, and attend lessons on a regular basis. All students wishing to take individual or group lessons must qualify through petition to the Director of Music. Qualified students are eligible for weekly private lessons taught at the school during or after school hours.