The Pingry Difference

"A lot of what I did at Pingry really shaped what I did in college. You have a camp of people who go into college trying to reinvent themselves. For me, I didn't feel like I was doing anything different. The path I took at Pingry really helped to pave the way for me going forward."—TanTan Wang '16

The Pingry Difference

Music

At Pingry, we believe that music is an indispensable part of a well-rounded education. With that in mind, we offer students the opportunity to study vocal and instrumental music as well as music theory, addressing the needs of both experienced and experimental musicians through individualized and group instruction.

We believe that a strong foundation in the classic repertoire not only allows students to experience musical performance with greater understanding, but also encourages them to explore other musical styles and textures. Our performance classes expose students to classical, traditional, world, folk, jazz, musical theater, a cappella, and popular/contemporary repertoire.

No background in music? Don’t worry! Many of our programs require no more than a commitment to consistent rehearsal and performance attendance. Eager to take your skills to the next level? Our department includes professional musicians who offer students private study in particular instruments or vocals.

For course descriptions, please refer to the Curriculum Guide .

Band

Middle and Upper School

Pingry offers Middle and Upper School students a host of ways to catch the beat including 6th, 7th and 8th Grade Bands and Upper School Wind Sinfonia. Jazz Ensemble is an Upper School elective. All groups hold performances throughout the year and all ensembles perform at the Winter Festival concert in December and the Spring Festival concert in May.

Upper School bands also perform at a separate instrumental concert in the spring and the Jazz Ensemble performs at the Upper School Ensembles Concert in November well as at other concerts, both at Pingry and in the community.

Basking Ridge Campus Band Director: Mr. Sean McAnally

Lower School

The Lower School offers a comprehensive music program for K-5 students. Singing, playing a wide variety of musical instruments, learning to appreciate music from many cultures, and music performance are key components of a Pingry music education. The Lower School music program provides a foundation for a life-long enjoyment of music.

Many students in Grades 4 and 5 elect to participate in the optional Instrumental Music program.

Chorus

Upper School

Pingry Glee Clubs are open to all voice types-sopranos, altos, tenors, basses- in the Upper School. All students, regardless of experience, are encouraged to participate in these ensembles. Membership in the Balladeers (sopranos and altos) and Buttondowns (tenors and basses), our more selective a cappella groups, is gained through spring and fall auditions. Each ensemble contains approximately 18-22 singers and performs many genres of music: a cappella madrigals, a cappella and accompanied classical music, music in world languages, world and traditional music, jazz, and popular repertoire in the college a cappella group style.

Directors: Dr. Andrew Moore and Mr. Jay Winston

Middle School

In the Middle School, music is mandatory for one trimester at each grade level. 6th through 8th grade students can choose to participate in the Tenor, Baritone, Cambiata Ensemble or the Soprano and Alto Ensemble. After rehearsing over the course of the trimester, students will have the opportunity to share their performances at a seasonal concert. Eighth grade students have the option to participate for a full year. An 8th grade voice/chorus elective is offered.

Directors: Dr. Andrew Moore and Mr. Jay Winston

Lower School

All students in Grades 4 and 5 participate in Chorus.

Lower School Director: Ms. Emma Liu

Handbells

Middle and Upper Schools

Love music, but lack a background in the discipline? Our Handbells clubs are a wonderful way to get your feet wet, offering students the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of music and perform in an ensemble. We begin with important music basics such as rhythm, meter, tempo, and pitch and progress to learning, rehearsing, and performing a variety of music written for handbells.

Director: Mr. Jay Winston

Lower School

Grade 5 Handbell Choir meets weekly for rehearsal. The Band, String Ensemble, and Handbell Choir perform at regularly scheduled concerts during the school year, with occasional additional performance opportunities. The Handbell Choir is designed primarily for those students who do not play band or orchestra instruments, in order to provide them with an ensemble experience.

Director: Mrs. Patty Finn

Strings

Upper and Middle Schools

At the Basking Ridge Campus, strings are the thing! In the Middle School, Grade 6 and 7 students rehearse separately from the eighth graders, but combine during concerts as the Middle School String Orchestra. Middle School students who choose orchestra/strings as their music option will rehearse during Conference Period (CP). The Upper School String Orchestra welcomes any student who plays a string instrument, and orchestra rehearses during CP.

Lower School

The Lower School offers a comprehensive music program for our K-5 students. Singing, playing a wide variety of musical instruments, learning to appreciate music from many cultures, and music performance are key components of a Pingry music education. The Lower School music program provides a foundation for a life-long enjoyment of music.

Grades 4 and 5 Strings students are offered instruction through our after-school enrichment program.

Director: Mrs. Alyson Whelan