Music
Be Comfortable Being Loud.
At Dawson School, music is more than a class, it’s a joyful, developmental journey. From a child’s first exploration of rhythm to advanced performance and composition, students learn to listen thoughtfully, perform courageously, and express themselves creatively.
Lower School: Building the Foundation
Discover the joy of music through participation, movement, singing, and play. Our curriculum develops essential skills through the Kodály and Orff-Schulwerk approaches. By fifth grade, students confidently read music, follow a written score, and perform on instruments.
- Kindergarten–Grade 2: Students begin with vocal exploration, learning to match pitch and understand tempo, dynamics, and tonality.
- Grades 3–5: Students improvise and refine their musicianship using recorders, handbells, ukuleles, piano keyboards, and percussion.
- Dawson Harmonix: A beloved choir that performs at school celebrations and community events, including Nuggets games.
Middle School: Expression and Exploration
Students are encouraged to explore their musical identity and dive deeper into whatever inspires them.
- Grade 6: A semester-long course teaching theatrical techniques alongside singing, drumming, and strumming.
- Electives: Choose from a wide selection of electives such as Chorus, Rock Band, Choir, Dance, and Musical Exploration.
Upper School: Artistry and Performance
A performance-driven program, designed for students eager to reach advanced levels of musical excellence.
- Rock Band: Emphasizes technical growth, performance, and creativity with any instrument. Students explore composition, arranging, and technology.
- Music Production: Learn the basics of producing, engineering, recording, mixing and mastering, all using modern Digital Audio Workstations.
- Vocal Performance: Students learn the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and perform a repertoire that ranges from Italian art songs and German Lieder to American musical theater.
- Upper School Chorus: Members develop advanced sight-singing and aural skills while performing at school events and regional festivals.
- Lost Keys A Cappella: A long-standing Upper School tradition. The Lost Keys raise their voices at school events, community gatherings, and venues such as the University of Colorado.
Dawson’s Battle of the Bands is one of the most anticipated events of the year, bringing together musicians from all grade levels for an evening of high-energy fun.
