ES Band – Grades 4 and 5
ES Band is a performance ensemble for students in grades 4 and 5 who are interested in learning to play the clarinet, flute, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, French horn, baritone, tuba, or percussion. Students must attend a mandatory group rehearsal once a week on Fridays. There are optional rehearsals for woodwind players on Tuesday and brass players on Thursday. This is a year-long activity and students are expected to join with the intention of staying in the ensemble throughout the year. Students need to purchase or have their own instrument to participate. The ISB Performing Arts Department also has a limited number of instruments (trumpet, trombone, French horn, baritone, and tuba) available for rent. We will have the opportunity to perform at a variety of school events, assemblies, and concerts throughout the year.
ES Strings Performance Ensemble – Grades 3 to 5
ES String Ensemble is an ensemble-playing focused string group for intermediate level ES string players (roughly ABRSM G3 equivalent). Students will need to PASS AN AUDITION to get into this group. Students will need to meet twice-weekly (from Tuesday to Friday) after school to work on their ensemble music pieces. Systematical private tutoring outside school is encouraged. Ensemble teachers will focus on ensemble playing-related skills and experiences for students during class.
ES Developing Strings – Grades 3 to 5
ES Developing String is the ES string group for students with 1 or 2 years of basic string technique training at ISB. The Developing String's focus is to reinforce students’ previous years' learning and continue developing the essential string instrument playing technique for students to independently respond to ensemble music playing situations in the future Middle School Ensembles. There is no automatic level up from ES Developing String to the ES String Ensemble. The teachers in EDS will show students a path and guide students towards independent ensemble playing. ES Developing string Does Not cover all the Intermediate technique requirements at the ES String Ensemble (ESE) level. ESD group suits most students who want to have a long-term string ensemble experience in middle school years at school and have a comfortable learning pace till the end of the 5th grade.
ES Beginning Strings – Grades 3 to 5
This is the group helping young students start playing a string instrument (violin or cello). Most students will move up to the developing string group by the end of the school year, and some students will be asked to redo the Beginning String again if necessary during the 2nd year if these students are still keen on doing a string instrument at school.
Treblemakers - Grades 4 and 5
This choir meets once a week to sing songs from many different countries and that represent many different genres of music. If students join the choir, they will have the opportunity to perform regularly, both in and outside school.
Junior Choir – Grades 2 and 3
This choir meets once a week on Thursdays to sing songs from different countries and different genres of music. There are regular performances throughout the year in school and out in the community for students to take part in.
