Music and performance

In May, our fourth graders focused on physical expression and non-verbal storytelling on stage, crafting small-group scenes that communicated character, setting, and emotion without a single word. They experimented with gesture, levels, tableaus, and purposeful movement to make meaning clear to an audience, and their choices grew more precise and confident each week. Throughout MDM this year, these students have shown tremendous growth as collaborative performers, thinkers, and creators—I’m so proud of their progress and can’t wait to see what they bring to the stage as fifth graders!

In May, our third graders dove into proverbs—unpacking their meanings and bringing them to life both silently and with scripts. They’ve become true experts at silent scene work, using gesture, facial expression, and staging to communicate big ideas without a word. Along the way, they strengthened script reading and writing, sharpened their timing and collaboration, and continued to shine as singers and movers. We’ve seen tremendous growth in their confidence as performers, creative writers, dancers, and supportive team players—what a year of MDM progress!

In May, our Music, Drama, and Movement classes were full of joyful growth—especially in PreK! These students looked like confident Kindergarteners as they danced with creativity and strong spatial awareness, moving safely and expressively around the room. They also took the stage for their very first performance in front of a huge audience of grandparents and special friends, and they were amazing—singing with clear voices, jumping with energy, tossing in playful winks, and showing just how much they’ve learned and grown this year. We’re so proud of their courage, musicality, and teamwork!

In May, our Music, Drama, and Movement classes were buzzing with creativity and confidence. First graders stole the show in the Great Hall with “Better Together,” singing with bright, steady voices and reciting original poems celebrating their wild mascots—they were awesome! We practiced expressive acting with clear voices and bold gestures, and learned to collaborate through ensemble games and simple choreography. Students grew in rhythm reading, memorization, stage presence, and teamwork, and they showed such kindness cheering one another on. What a wonderful way to end this fantastic school year!

Fourth graders have begun studying Japanese history in their classrooms, and we are learning about modern day life in Japan here in Music, Drama and Movement. Ask your child to show you how to sing and play "Se Se Se!" They are also working on scenes describing many cultural elements of modern day life in Japan, and these fourth graders are particularly adept at adding humor and creativity to informative scripts. I'm excited to continue our work together this spring!