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 discipline of playing an instrument, the application of basic theory and composition skills, the communal experience of singing in harmony, and the shared appreciation of listening to music together. Waring students make and experience music in a variety of settings, from private instrument 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 Soirèes Musicales, and at the annual music concerts in December and May. In addition, we perform major musicals from time to time, recently we featured Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods. Music also plays an important role in our two major school events, Convocation and Graduation. And on the Camping Trip we open the first night with a performance by Nick Page and end the last night with a whole school sing-a-long. Music is essential at Waring.

Private Music Lessons

Many aspects of music are best learned by creating rather than by listening: for this reason, Waring requires that students take a musical instrument for at least two years. Students are given weekly private lessons, taught at the school during the day, on an instrument of their choice. They are expected to practice their instrument regularly and to perform before the school community.

Music Theory & Solfege I

Theory is a required course for students in Groups 1 and 2. The basics of music theory, ear-training, composition, and sight-singing are presented throughout the year. In addition, students listen to selections from different musical periods and are taught to identify the key characteristics of the baroque, classical, romantic, and modern eras. In the fall of each year, returning students are placed in a section based on their achievement in the previous year. New students take a simple placement exam.

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 groups 1-5 are placed in one of four different singing groups: boys chamber, girls chamber, mixed voice chamber, and mixed voice chorale, each of which rehearses twice a week. Throughout their time at Waring, students rotate through these four groups to enrich their vocal experience. 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: as such, 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.