The Arts

Building an appreciation for the arts begins early at Independence. General music instruction starts in preschool, inspiring young students to participate in the instrumental and choral programs that are offered from 1st-8th grades. Art class is also part of the curriculum at every grade with students exploring a wide variety of fine art methods, including ceramics. Drama club and Shakespeare scene studies in Middle School teach stage presence and dramatic expression. Field trips to concerts, plays and other cultural venues begin in Early Childhood and continue throughout Middle School, providing an enriching exposure to the arts for students.

Independence offered so many creative outlets, including the strings program, the annual talent show, and seasonal concerts, during my time there. The support and encouragement that I received from teachers and students alike helped shape me into the musician and person I am today.

Katie Jacoby '04
professional Violinist

General Music

At Independence, we foster all types of musicians, exposing them to nearly every genre imaginable while providing a wide range of ensembles in which they can perform.

The foundation is built at a very young age, with the onset of co-curricular, general music classes in Early Childhood I. Choir participation starts as early as first grade, while students may begin instrumental music in third grade with the Elementary String Orchestra program. Band becomes available in fourth grade. Performances in our 900-seat Gore Auditorium provide the students the chance to shine under the spotlight.

Band

In the Independence band program, students start with the fundamentals of playing an instrument, both solo and together as an ensemble. As they progress through middle school, the focus turns to learning and refining more advanced musical concepts such as phrasing, expression, major and minor scales, arrangement and rhythmic improvisation. The Stage (Jazz) Bands embrace rhythmic and melodic improvisation, aural dictation and blues and modal scales, and they perform a range of swing, big band, fusion, pop and rock tunes.

Orchestra

The orchestra program at Independence beings in 3rd grade with weekly 30-minute group lessons. As students get older, the length of these lessons will increase and there are options to form advanced string trios and duos in middle school, with additional opportunities for performing. String instruments are among the hardest to master, but teach students important life skills such as patience, diligence, fine motor control, critical listening, and teamwork. Music department faculty working with our orchestra students include Banu Fields, a cellist who has performed with the Newark Symphony Orchestra, and Lingchin Liao, a violinist who has performed with national and international orchestras, as well as ensemble groups as a soloist and chamber musician.

Choir

In Choir, students learn about musical theatre, theory and history. These groups also study and perform a wide variety of musical genres, from classical and jazz to pop and classic rock. Every year, select Independence vocalists participate in the Delaware All-State Chorus and American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Honor Choir, a testament to their talent, skill and hard work. Choir starts in 1st grade with choral ensembles continuing through lower and middle school.

Visual Arts

The art program at Independence focuses on individual growth, with strong beliefs that each student possesses unique artistic ability. As a result, students are encouraged to explore and discover through creative expression. Beginning in Early Childhood II, the elements of art and principles of design are introduced, in addition to the language of art. Students are provided with countless opportunities to create works in a variety of mediums and styles while also evaluating their own artwork and that of their classmates. The students’ confidence in the creative process grows with each passing year.

Drama

Drama Club is a popular extra curricular offering for Middle School students. Annual performances may be specially-adapted junior productions of well-known musicals, such as The Wizard of Oz, Frozen, or Annie, or lesser known dramatic plays. These productions take place on the stage in our 900-seat auditorium giving students fantastic experience with sound, lighting, set production and more. Dramatic experiences are found also in the classroom associated with different areas of curriculum. Most notable are the Shakespeare scene studies as part of 7th and 8th grade English. Students perform these scenes outdoors at the Great Barn or on the amphitheater stage in the Funk Outdoor Classroom.

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