From African percussion to Flamenco dance, rock band to chamber music, Third Street’s broad array of programs give schools and organizations in New York City myriad options for building music and dance into their curricula.

Music & Movement (Grades 3K – 2)

Using song, language, movement and instruments, every child participating in Third Street’s Music & Movement program is encouraged to “be his or her own instrument” – to develop the creativity within by sharing ideas, improvising rhythms and melodies and creating movements to accompany songs throughout the year. Students will develop a repertoire of 30 songs and gain a basic understanding of pitch matching, following the beat, reading notation and creating rhythmic and melodic patterns while celebrating the seasons and exploring music from different cultures around the world.  All activities promote positive self-image, social interaction, and offer an uplifting experience. This foundation course prepares students for further studies in music and dance and concludes with a culminating performance or a ‘music share’ for family and friends.

Dance (Grades Pre-K – 12)

Dance classes offer a high-energy way for students to explore their creativity while engaging in exercise, developing self-confidence, and learning team work. In Hip-hop dance, Third Street’s main offering, students learn dance combinations to their favorite pop songs and experiment with choreography.  In Flamenco dance, students learn the fundamentals of this Spanish art form which includes footwork, hand-movements, arm-movements and rhythmic hand-clapping.

Choir (Grades 4 – 12)

The choir program strives to help students discover their creative abilities in music. Emphasis is placed on developing the singing voice by learning proper vocal technique. Students gain a basic understanding of rhythm, note placement, and reading music from a choral score.  They sing songs of various styles, cultures, and traditions, from traditional folk music to contemporary popular music, and end with a culminating performance.

African Percussion (Grades 4 – 12)

In African Percussion, students are introduced to traditional West African music and culture. They learn the fundamentals of rhythm, time signatures, and call and response as they acquire the techniques involved in playing the djembe, a West African hand drum, and the doun douns, or African stick drums. Students perform their pieces for their friends and family at the conclusion of this program.

Strings (Grades 3 – 12)

Violin, viola, and cello students practice proper posture and bowing technique, learning simple tunes using the Suzuki approach and performing for their families and school communities at the end of the year.

Rock Band (Grades 3 – 12)

Students learn group collaboration skills in guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, and/or rock/pop vocals as they work on rock classics and popular songs spanning from the 1960’s to the present.  Rock band classes culminate in a group performances at the end of each semester.

Concert Band (Grades 4 – 12)

Woodwind and brass students learn to read music, count rhythms, and play their instruments. Some schools elect to focus on a single instrument or band section. Others prefer to have concert bands, where the distinct parts are woven into a unified whole. Whatever model schools elect, their students learn to collaborate with their peers, open their ears, and work together toward a group performance.

If you think your school would benefit from a partnership with Third Street, please contact Lauren Bloom at 212-777-3240, ext. 53 or lbloom@thirdstreetmusicschool.org or click here.