Bess and Paul Sigel Hebrew Academy of Greater Hartford

Music, art and drama can be heard, seen and experienced throughout the school. Wall murals, mobiles, and computer graphics enrich the entire school and community, and appear everywhere! All grades receive a period dedicated to art once a week in which many forms of art and history are studied.

Music activities are designed to develop leadership, poise, and self confidence. Beginning in pre-school and throughout the primary grades, the music curriculum provides students with basic experiences that help them develop both an appreciation of, and skill in, music. Musical works from around the world in English, Hebrew and Yiddish are studied.

The playing of the recorder is introduced in the fourth grade to help students develop an interest in playing an orchestral or band instrument.

Students in the fifth grade present an annual musical production that helps them develop poise, confidence and a healthy self-image, while working together as a group toward a common goal. The production, a Chanukah tradition, is performed at a gala, schoolwide dinner.

The seventh and eighth grades are introduced to various forms of music and composers and develop their own percussion band that perform during the year.

Our school has a school band and choir and each perform in community and school wide functions .

Drama is encouraged as an expression of self. Skits are created as outgrowths of stories the students have read. Plays by recognized authors or student authors are performed for small groups, other classes and the entire student body.

During the past two years we have performed the musicals “Joseph and his technicolor dreamcoat” and “Annie”.