Music
Music is a key part of the culture class offerings at ICS. Students' appreciation for music is enriched through regular classroom instruction and a variety of public performances. Below you'll find an overview of the ICS musical programming throughout the school year.
K-4 General Music
Beginning in kindergarten, children learn the building blocks of music by participation in two 35-minute classes a week. Students meet the Indiana Standards of Music throughout the year by singing, playing instruments, improvising, composing, reading music, evaluating performances, listening to a variety of music, and learning how music connects to other subjects and to history and culture. Each grade level will have two performances throughout the year: one in winter, and one in spring.
5-8 General Music
At the end of 4th grade, students may choose to continue their music education through general music, band, or choir. If students choose general music, they will continue to improve upon their established music skills. Students will continue to build on their rhythmic and melodic reading, listening, composing, and improvising skills.
ICS Band
The Irvington Community School has two bands: Concert Band and Advanced Band. The Concert Band is comprised of 5th and 6th graders who are learning how to play their instruments. At the beginning of the year, these students will learn the building blocks of ensemble music as well as learn their specific instruments. The Advanced Band is made up of 7th and 8th grade students that continue to build on their previous band experience in both rehearsal and performance etiquette fundamentals. More time is spent on individual parts in order to gain an ensemble sound. Students in the band program will also meet all Indiana Music Standards.
The bands demonstrate their understanding of playing instruments through concerts. Each year, the ICS bands have two concerts, one in winter and one in the spring. Concerts are held in the ICS Gym. Families and friends are encouraged to attend, as this is a great learning opportunity for both the performers and audience.
There is also an opportunity for the Advanced Band members to participate in the District Solo/Ensemble Festival. This festival is sponsored by the Indiana State School Music Association. Students from across our district (District 6, which is comprised of Hancock, Henry, Randolph, Wayne, Fayette, and Union counties) participate in a variety of ways: singing or playing instruments – piano, strings, winds, and percussion – as a solo or ensemble. (Parents: Please note that this performance requires practice time outside of band class.)
The ICS Band is under the direction of Elizabeth Constantine.
ICS Choir
Irvington Community School offers a 5th/6th grade choir and a 7th/8th grade choir. The choirs will offer at least two performances throughout the year, in the winter and in the spring. Students are also encouraged to participate in the District Solo/Ensemble Festival. Other than singing, students will also have the opportunity to create music, explore the history of music, and study musical performances.
5th-8th Grade Variety Show
The 5th-8th Grade Variety Show has become an Irvington Community School tradition. Each fall auditions are held for students interested in a wide variety of performance skills, including: singing, dancing, instrument playing, poetry reading, comedy acts, and martial arts demonstrations. After auditions are held there is a required dress rehearsal for all participants before the public performance. There are also opportunities for students to work behind the scenes with sound, lights, and stage management.