Music is integral to the culture of The Philadelphia School. The music program aims to enable all students to develop a positive connection to their innate musical ability. It balances creativity with discipline, ensemble with solo activities, and music making with active listening. Students learn the elements of music through song, instrument playing, movement, and listening to music. The performance repertory and work in music theory are largely based on classroom themes.
Students become familiar with folk song literature from a variety of world cultures; with works by European composers from the medieval period to the 20th century; and with pieces by American composers, including classical, jazz, blues, and some popular forms.
Students have many opportunities to be members of an audience – at student recitals, at concerts by guest performers, and during trips to the Kimmel Center or Academy of Music to hear The Philadelphia Orchestra or Opera Philadelphia. Musicians in residence have included the Jasper Quartet, string players from the Philadelphia Orchestra, violinist Gil Morgenstern, and drumming ensembles. Whenever possible, the musical talents and interests of our children are incorporated into classroom projects and productions.
During the 2017-18 school year, a collaboration between Temple Music Prep, Temple University’s Boyer College of Music, The Philadelphia School, and the Chester Arthur School led to the creation of the cantata “The World is Changing." which premiered in May 2018 at the Church of the Holy Trinity on Rittenhouse Square.
In fall 2016, our string ensemble performed with the Temple University Youth Chamber Orchestra and Iceland's Tonskoli Sigursveins Youth String Orchestra (see the video to learn more about the collaboration).
In fall 2015, The Philadelphia School was our city's venue for Playing for Change Day.