On testing day, individual students perform a short piece of music while classmates listen.

At the beginning of the year, Mr. Erickson talks about band to all interested fifth and sixth grade students.

Students practice in school once per week.

As concert time draws near, Mr. Erickson arranges full band practice in the cafeteria.

Students who play the same instrument sit near each other during the concert.

On concert days, students wear blue Westlawn Music shirts to the daytime performances.

The entire school turns out to hear band students perform.

Mr. Erickson highlights each type of instrument in the band and students display them in the hopes of catching the attention of younger students and getting them interested in band.

Students perform on stage in the Falls Church pyramid winter concert.

All fifth and sixth grade students are invited to join chorus. They rehearse at the end of the day.

Students perform for the school in the winter concert.

Younger students listen attentively. Maybe they'll join chorus in the future!

Fifth grade students learn to play the recorder. Even if students do not join band or strings, they still learn to read music and play an instrument.

Students sit in pairs and practice keeping a rhythm using rhythm sticks.

At the beginning of the year, students sit in a circle and pass around an object. Each child has the opportunity to sing their name when they hold the object.

Ms. Pivetta listens while a student introduces himself by singing his name.

Physical movement is incorporated into music class to introduce students to concepts of musical theater.

Assemblies with musicians can enhance students' general music knowledge. Here they learn about the history of percussion.

Mr. Hamilton plays the first grade welcome song while students sing along.

Although students cannot learn to play piano at Westlawn, those who enjoy playing are often invited to share their talents with the class, and play the music to accompany class songs.

In sixth grade, students dive more deeply into their recorder lessons and learn how to play calls and responses in pairs.

Students often play the xylophone and other simple instruments in music class. Here, a group of third grade students plays music while classmates act out "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein.

Third grade students act out "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein. Taking different roles to create a production introduces students to the concepts of musical theater.

Students play dreidel after learning how to sing "The Dreidel Song" as part of a look into cultural music.

Kindergarteners don different hats to represent the different roles involved with a portion of "The Nutcracker." Each role came with different allowable movements that students used to maneuver through the room.

Sometimes strings classes can be small and have only 2-3 students.

Ms. Emery plays alongside a class of strings students.

Learning how to hold the instrument and the bow is very important to create good sound.

Ms. Emery directs the students during the winter concert.

Some students are invited to play in the Falls Church all-pyramid orchestra.

Playing in the Falls Church all-pyramid orchestra is an honor.