Students receive curriculum Music lessons PK3 - Grade 8, with Music electives for grades 9 and 10. IB Music is an option as part of the IB Diploma program for students who wish to study Music further in High School. Alongside curriculum Music, ASB offers a wide range of Music activities; MAIS Choir, Concert Band, Ukulele group, ABRSM Music Theory, instrument lessons and a variety of other musical ensembles. ASB is a host destination for visiting musical groups and professionals to share their expertise with the students. Students from ASB give various concerts throughout the year, which parents and students are encouraged to watch.
In Elementary School, students have access to a wide range of Performing Arts activities. Students have curriculum music lessons where their skills and knowledge are developed and extended. Students further develop performance skills on tuned and untuned percussion, ukuleles, recorders and voice and learn how to compose with increasing awareness of the musical elements. Students learn how to describe music using the correct vocabulary and place music within its culture, time or place. Students are assessed using the National Core Arts Standards. Grade 4 and 5 follow an instrumental curriculum, with every child learning to play an instrument in a band or in an orchestra. There are many times to perform throughout the year, with each grade having at least one "big" performance a year. Students have access to instrument lessons and a variety of Performing Arts after school clubs including the popular ES Musical Theater group, which perform a full scale musical.
In Middle School, students receive one 70 minutes lesson of Music in a six day cycle. In all units, students develop their performance and composition skills as individuals and within a group. Students learn how to analyze and evaluate music related to each area and connect the music they perform and compose to the social and historical context of each starting point.
Each unit has an extended project set for homework to encourage research skills at home.
Grade 6 have one extra class of band / orchestra and grade 7 will have one extra class of Theater / Choir in in 2021-2022.
In High School, students can access high quality Performing Arts throughout. Music runs as an elective in Grades 9 and 10. In Grades 11 and 12, students can choose Music at IB DP level. Throughout HS students can join our range of Performing Arts LYNX activities and students can also access the after school activities. Throughout the year students can perform at whole school events, such as the Winter Bazaar and International day alongside HS events, such as Open Mic and Spirit week concerts. Students can opt for Performing Arts CAS projects, such as the very successful "BISA Talent Show". Students in grade 12 showcase their skills in their graduation.