Hello, PS 896 families and students! My name is Jeff Dupont and I am the 3K-5 music teacher at the School of Creativity and Innovation, PS 896. I’m excited to tell you about what the 2025-2026 school year will include. In music class, students will explore elements of music such as pulse, pitch, rhythm, melody, harmony, and timbre while engaging in experiences with movement, singing, and musical instruments. In my class, every student is encouraged to make music together in many ways. I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone in our community!

Curriculum Overview

Students in every grade participate in singing, clapping, movement, and instrumental activities. Percussion instruments like drums, rattles, bells, and xylophones are used at every grade level from 3K-5. Students in grade 3 will begin to learn to play the ukulele and the recorder, continuing this in the 4th grade, and students in grade 5 will engage with a variety of drums and percussion through the music of the West African Diaspora.

I’m excited to announce that we will be participating in two programs from Carnegie Hall called Musical Explorers and Link Up. Students in grade 2 classes will be engaged with Musical Explorers where they will meet six artists from around the world, representing different cultural traditions, over the course of the year through interactive materials created by Carnegie’s Weill Music Institute. Students are then invited to attend interactive concerts where the musicians they’ve met will perform for and with them. You can find Musical Explorers curriculum resources by following the links below.

Musical Explorers Fall Curriculum 2025: Bomba and Plena, Indian Classical Music, and Freedom Songs.

Musical Explorers Spring Curriculum 2026: Sephardi Ladino, Chilean Folk, and Iranian Folk

Students in grade 4 classes will be engaged with Link Up where they will learn to sing and play orchestral music. They will learn to play the recorder along with singing and dancing while learning about the many ways the orchestra can create music.This year’s theme is “The Orchestra Sings,” which features vocal music from throughout history and across many cultures. You can find Link Up curriculum resources by following the link below.

Link Up New York City 2025-2026: The Orchestra Sings

Rules and Expectations 

To ensure safety and fun in music class

1. We will enter and leave quickly and quietly
2. We will listen to directions
3. We will raise our hands to speak
4. We will participate in class activities
5. We will show respect to others and the instruments

If you have any questions or concerns about the music program, please contact me using ClassDojo. I’m looking forward to getting to know the PS 896 community. Let’s have fun making music together this year.