Music

MUSIC

Welcome to the Music Department! Here, you'll find information about upcoming concerts, participation in our ensembles, private lessons, news stories, and information about our music faculty.

At Delbarton School, we are extremely proud of the quality and diversity of our Music program and performing ensembles. There are a wide variety of ensembles designed to invite beginners to get involved and to challenge even the most serious minded music student. All of our programs and ensembles are designed to be positive experiences that will nurture the development of young musicians, and foster a lifelong love of music. Some of our performing ensembles are also open to musicians from surrounding schools. We are always excited to have new musicians join us year to year and share their talents with our student body.

As a community, we also strive to come together to enjoy each performance making us better consumers of music and showing our appreciation and support for the hard work of each student musician.

We hope to see you all performing on the stage or enjoying our artistry from the seats in the audience!

ensembles

curricular ensembles

schola cantorum

MR. DAVID BLAZIER, DIRECTOR

This ensemble meets on alternating days throughout the year. Elective Open to grades 9 - 12.

In the upper school ensembles students will be exposed to more advanced, demanding, and varied music representing the standard repertoire for each ensemble. Students will be challenged with advanced ideas of musical expression, dynamic shape, balance, and musicianship. Students will be expected to perform with the ensemble at a variety of school events including school liturgies, morning meetings, and concert events. Repertoire for this ensemble includes sacred and secular music in a variety of styles, historical periods, and languages. This ensemble is open to boys who have had prior singing experience or those with no prior experience that are interested in singing in a choral ensemble. Grades 9 - 12 combined.

wind ensemble

MR. andrew lyman, DIRECTOR

This ensemble meets on alternating days throughout the year. Elective Open to grades 9 - 12.

In the upper school ensembles students will be exposed to more advanced, demanding, and varied music representing the standard repertoire for each ensemble. Students will be challenged with advanced ideas of musical expression, dynamic shape, balance, and musicianship. Students will be expected to perform with the ensemble at a variety of school events including school liturgies, morning meetings, and concert events. This ensemble will include students who have prior experience with concert band instruments (percussion instruments, clarinet, saxophone, flute, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, tuba). The assumption is that students will have played this instrument at some earlier point, but we are open to students beginning a new instrument as well. Students starting an instrument for the first time should reach out to Mr. Lyman to discuss how to get started. Grades 9 - 12 combined.

Brass, percussion, woodwind Ensemble

string ensemble

Mr. Andrew Lyman, Director

This ensemble meets on alternating days throughout the year. Elective Open to grades 9 - 12. String Ensemble is also open to students in grades 7 & 8 as one of three choices to fulfill the requirement.

In the upper school ensembles students will be exposed to more advanced, demanding, and varied music representing the standard repertoire for each ensemble. Students will be challenged with advanced ideas of musical expression, dynamic shape, balance, and musicianship. Students will be expected to perform with the ensemble at a variety of school events including school liturgies, morning meetings, and concerts. This ensemble will include students who have prior experience with string orchestral instruments (violin, viola, cello, upright bass). All ability levels are welcome, even those with no prior experience. Students starting an instrument for the first time should reach out to Mr. Lyman to discuss how to get started. Grades 7 - 12 combined.

middle school band

Mr. Andrew Lyman, Director

This ensemble meets on alternating days throughout the year. One of three choices to fulfill the requirement for grades 7 & 8.

The middle school ensemble students will be challenged to read a variety of age appropriate music with attention to reading rhythms accurately and sight reading new music. Emphasis will be placed on developing healthy technique and sound production for all musicians. Students will be expected to perform with the ensemble at a variety of school events including school liturgies, morning meetings, and concerts. This ensemble is ideal for students who have prior experience with concert band instruments (flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophones, bassoon, trumpet, french horn, trombone, baritone horn, tuba and percussion). All ability levels are welcome, even those with no prior experience. Students starting an instrument for the first time should reach out to Mr. Lyman to discuss how to get started. Grades 7 & 8 combined.

middle school chours

Mr. David Blazier, Director

This ensemble meets on alternating days throughout the year. One of three choices to fulfill the requirement for grades 7 & 8.

The middle school ensemble students will be challenged to read a variety of age appropriate music with attention to reading rhythms accurately and sight reading new music. Emphasis will be placed on developing healthy technique for all musicians. Students will be expected to perform with the ensemble at a variety of school events including school liturgies, morning meetings, and concert events. This ensemble will include boys who have had prior singing experience or those with no prior experience that are interested in singing in a choral ensemble. In this age group we will work with voices that are unchanged, in the middle of the voice changing, and some students whose voices have already dropped substantially. Grades 7 & 8 combined.

enrichment ensembles

benedictones

Mr. david Blazier, director

This is a smaller auditioned vocal group focusing on a cappella vocal music from pop, jazz, rock, and barbershop influences. This ensemble is geared towards more experienced singers capable of reading music well and singing confidently without accompaniment. Students in this ensemble are also encouraged to study, write, and prepare arrangements in order to teach and direct them with the ensemble.

Rehearsal Schedule

Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM, in the Fine Arts Center, Room F171

rock band club

Mr. Dan Pieraccini, Director

The Rock Band Club is open to all instrumentalists (no vocalists at this time) who are interested in learning more about playing and performing this style of music. This club usually meets once a week after school to rehearse and has performed in the past at theater productions and coffeehouse gigs. Open to Delbarton students in all grades.

Rehearsal Schedule

Rehearsal is every Thursday afternoon from 2:35 PM to 3:45 PM in the Instrumental Rehearsal Room.

abbey orchestra

MS. NORMA DAVIS, DIRECTOR

The Abbey Orchestra performs works from all corners of the traditional orchestral repertoire at four concerts each year. This is a very unique ensemble because it draws from the talents of students, adults, and professional musicians to produce an exquisite concert each season performing film scores, movements from concertos and symphonies as well as complete symphonic masterworks.

The Abbey Orchestra is open to students in all grades as well as community members. A placement audition is held for new members.

REHEARSAL SCHEDULE

Wednesdays 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM in the Fine Arts Center Auditorium

jazz ensemble

Mr. Nathan Eklund, Director

The Delbarton Jazz Ensemble is a traditional Big Band of approximately 16 pieces. The group performs the works of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Thad Jones and other great composers of jazz. Open to Delbarton students in all grades by audition.

Rehearsal Schedule

Wednesdays 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM in the Fine Arts Center, Instrumental Rehearsal Room

winter musical pit band

Mr. David Blazier, Director

Each year we bring together an incredible pit band to play the musical score for the Winter Musical Production. This is a unique experience to play challenging music in a short time frame. Student musicians are supplemented with professionals from the area who have experience playing countless shows and some have played shows on Broadway. Instrumental parts are distributed in the beginning of December and rehearsals occur in January.

If you are interested in being a part of this approach Mr. Blazier as soon as possible to reserve your spot!

Upcoming Events
Private Study

Upcoming Events

Private Study

Private study is a critical part of any young musician’s development. We strongly encourage each of our musicians to study with a private teacher to further the student’s musical development, increase individual confidence, and experience the discipline necessary to achieve excellence in his art. This one-on-one mentoring relationship is an extremely important teaching tool to show a student what it means to be a musician. Private teachers are available most days after school and into the evenings.

Private Instruction offered in:

Voice
Piano
Organ
Guitar
Bass
Drum Set

Percussion
Trumpet
Clarinet
Saxophone
Violin

If you have questions or are seeking a recommendation for a private teacher for your child, please inquire with Mr. Blazier or speak to your child’s ensemble director.

Lesson Tuition

30 minute lesson = $35/ lesson
45 minute lesson = $50 / lesson
60 minute lesson = $70 / lesson

*Some instructors may have a different fee structure. Please discuss scheduling, payment, and rates with the private teacher prior to beginning lessons.

Lesson billing is handled by the Delbarton School business office, and families will receive a monthly bill for lessons. As a courtesy please contact your private instructor more than 24 hours in advance of a missed lesson. If a student regularly misses a scheduled lesson the student may have to sacrifice his lesson time to another student.

We never want financial need to be a reason for a student not participating in the music program or studying privately. There are scholarships funds in place for families who express a need. Contact Mr. David Blazier to find out more about these opportunities.

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Violinist Austin Lee '20 Receives President's Volunteer Award

Tue Mar 12

Violinist Austin Lee '20 recently received the President's Volunteer Service Award for his work as founder of the Bernards Ensemble, a philanthropic performing group...

Spirit Week Video!

Fri Feb 15

Snow and ice couldn't dampen Spirit Week. Check out our Spirit Week 2019 video...