The choral and dance curriculum emphasizes singing as each child’s natural instrument. All students sing, move, play classroom rhythm instruments, and listen to a variety of music with the goal of developing their sense of pitch and dynamic range, listening skills, group singing abilities, and sensitivity to different musical styles. Students learn Hebrew and English songs on holiday themes, values, and Jewish and Israeli culture. They also learn Israeli folk dancing, and have a variety of performance opportunities, from the monthly Rosh Chodesh celebration at school, to the annual Hanukkah Festival and Graduation ceremonies, to community celebrations.

Song is another medium through which children learn about Jewish history and values: Hebrew Day School students study songs from every era of Jewish history for which we have music. Through this mechanism children experience a vast repertoire of musical styles, from Sephardic/Ladino to wordless Hasidic niggunim, Yiddish songs, klezmer music, and the famous Russian and other eastern European-based music of the first Zionist settlers of Israel. Students also sing modern Israeli songs from every generation since that time, mixing every conceivable international music element reflecting the incredible range of musical styles brought to Israel by refugees from virtually every country of the world. By learning modern Israeli songs, Hebrew Day School students are exposed to disco, tango, blues, rock, and even rap, hiphop, and fusion, reflecting the multitude of musical styles influencing Israeli musicians.