San Antonio Academy
Engaging Through Music
The Academy's music program offers broad, hands-on musical experiences, with training and live performance opportunities in voice, movement and instruments. Our goal is to make music learning fun, practical and stimulating as we seek to develop each boy’s abilities, enjoyment, knowledge, and appreciation of music.
Meet the Music Department
Dr. Owen Duggan
Music Department Chair/ Elementary & Middle School Music Teacher
Traci Navas
Primary School Music Teacher
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Primary School
Students in Pre-Kindergarten through 2nd grade attend two music classes per week. These sessions include creative movement, critical listening, and singing and instrumental activities designed to develop basic music skills, concepts, and vocabulary. Each month, a new composer is studied with life stories and major works highlighted.
Elementary and Middle School
Elementary and Middle School students in grades 3 through 6 participate in one 45-minute class each week. The foundations laid from the Primary School program are reinforced and expanded to include higher level vocal and instrumental performance skills, as well as more sophisticated studies of composers and their works. Melodic and rhythmic tracking and reading, ear-training, creative movement, composition, solo and group singing opportunities are offered. 4th and 5th grade students receive instruction on playing the recorder, and 5th graders also focus on hand bell techniques. Students in grades 2-5 attend one student-oriented symphony concert during the academic year. Both Primary School and Upper School music students present a Holiday Program in December and a Mother's Day Concert in May.
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Concerts
Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade music students present a holiday program in December and a Spring concert in May. SAA families are invited to attend these highly-anticipated events each year, as the boys take to the stage to showcase their musical talents.
Choir
Boys in 3rd through 8th grade are invited to join the San Antonio Academy Concert Choir. These singers perform in both school and community settings. The SAA Concert Choir rehearses one morning each week after Chapel, with additional rehearsals as needed prior to concerts. Included is the opportunity to perform during a Spurs game each year.
Music is the art that keeps on giving. It allows us to speak to each other with or without words, expressing our hopes and aspirations for a better world, and for being the best we can be."– Dr. Owen Duggan, SAA Music Dept. Chair