"The Arts provide:
-A means of communication
-Opportunities for becoming skillful
-A means of expression of both emotional and intellectual perspectives
-Exposure to other cultures and other times
-A means of accessing other disciplines
-A vehicle for wandering, reflecting and consolidating"
(IB Primary Years Program Scope and Sequence)

At HKA, there is a specialist Music teacher who works, each week, with all students from K3 to Middle School.
The aim of the Music program is to develop composing, performance and listening skills. This is done through a combination of inquiry and direct teaching. Music enables students to communicate in powerful ways. They are encouraged to explore, respond to and create different styles of music, as well as to learn from music of different times and cultures.

The Primary Program
The program, operating within the Primary Years Program (PYP) curriculum framework, concentrates on four main strands:
-performing
-creating and composing
-notation and
-listening and appreciation.
In Year 3 students will focus on these skills through playing the recorder. Year 4 and 5 students will explore these areas by learning to play a band instrument. Wherever possible, the work undertaken in the Music lessons supports the units of inquiry in the classroom and sometimes leads them. Choir and string ensemble are offered as after school activities.

Assessment
In Early Childhood and Primary, assessments are made and reported upon using the following (PYP) criteria:
-Performing
-Singing and Playing Instruments
-Creating and Composing
-Notation
-Listening and Appreciation
-Attitude and Engagement
Each statement is broken down into more subject specific criteria directly relating to each Music strand at each year level.