MUSIC, Art, & Gym

instrumental music program

Starting in first grade, every Bridge Boston student participates in our instrumental music program. Every stakeholder in Bridge Boston’s music program—teachers, parents, staff, and volunteers—strongly believes that every child holds the potential to become a literate and artistic musician. The staff is united in the belief that high-quality music education will develop a child’s perseverance, empathy, curiosity, and self-confidence. Through daily ensemble-based rehearsals, students learn not only how to play, listen to, and appreciate music; they also learn how to persevere through challenges, to hold themselves to high standards, and to achieve in ways they may not have expected.

Concerts

Instrumental music is also a way we enable our entire school community—teachers, parents, students, neighbors—to celebrate and experience beauty together. We have two whole school concerts each year. These concerts are attended by almost all of our families, and the joy of the audience is palpable. We also have two other concerts that focus respectively on our younger and older students. In addition to these, our administration frequently finds opportunities for small groups of students to play at events around the city of Boston, such as performing for patients and physicians at the Boston Medical Center and for our local community at Hibernian Hall.

Dissemination and collaboration

Our music program reflects our high expectations for all students and brings our community together to celebrate their hard work and joy. We collaborate with programs at New England Conservatory of Music, Longy School of Music, and Boston Philharmonic to bring visiting teaching artists to the school. We regularly host visiting groups interested in studying the effects of music training in secondary schools and sharing their work with our students; these groups have included Boston College, Boston University, UMass Lowell, Mass Cultural Council, Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Department of Education and Community Outreach, Cuatro Puntos, Afghani Quartet, Red Line Brass Quartet, Rhode Island Fiddle Project.

Bridge Boston is eager to share best practices in music teaching and string ensemble performance with other teachers and learning organizations. For information regarding our curriculum and program design please contact Music Director Julie Davis.

Visual Arts

The Bridge Boston Art program has continued to grow and flourish as an integral part in our mission to combine creativity, joy, and education.

Art Medium

Fibers: With yarn, fabric, needles, and a variety of other tools, students are able to weave, sew, and knit their own creations.

Printmaking: Students can make their own stamps and use them to print an image over and over again.

Sculpture: Students can create 3D artwork with cardboard, clay, and various other materials.

Drawing: Students use a variety of drawing materials, including crayons, colored pencils, markers, oil pastels, chalk pastels, charcoal, and the classic pencil.

Painting: Watercolor and tempera paints are available for students to use, as well as a variety of brushes.

Collage: Students use paper and glue to make their original collage designs. Patterned scissors, construction paper, magazines, and recycled artwork are all available to experiment with.

ART BY GRADE

K2: Students explore dot, line, shape, color, texture, and form through experimenting with a variety of materials and processes such as drawing, painting, collage, printmaking, fibers, and sculpture.

1st: Students dive deeper into the concepts taught in K2. Specifically, students are exposed to more materials and make more of their own choices about what they would like to do in art class. Students will also learn about the ways in which artists get ideas for their creations, set up their art spaces, work, and clean up their art spaces. Students are also introduced to the process of keeping and maintaining a portfolio of their artwork.

2nd: Students learn about famous artists to find inspiration for their own artwork and become more independent with artistic choices. Students will continue to maintain a portfolio in school.3rd: Students continue to explore art that is inspired by famous artists and maintain their portfolios in school.

4th: Students take a deeper dive into studying the Elements of Art in an effort to better understand the artistic choices they are making. Students continue to maintain a portfolio in school. 

5th: Students continue to enhance their skills and knowledge of the Elements of Art to create memorable projects while continuing to maintain a portfolio in school. 

6th, 7th and 8th: Across the upper grades, students continue to work on engaging projects to harness artistic skills. Students will create artwork that is unique to their personal design choices and identity, which will be added to their portfolio.

Physical Education

Here at Bridge Boston, we aim to have our students understand the importance of physical education, health, fitness and exercise as part of their everyday lives. We also prioritize skill building, respect, teamwork and good sportsmanship through all grade levels with our various games, sports and activities.

Learn more about after-school sports here. For questions about sports, physical education, and gym, contact our Athletics Director, Coach Mike.