Arts at Coppin

The arts are very important to us at Coppin.

All students in grades K-8 have art and music class at least once in our 6-day rotation!

 

Visual Arts

An art classroom with many desks and chairs

 

Music

The Fanny Jackson Coppin Music Program offers students, grades Kindergarten through
eighth grade wide and diverse learning opportunities. K-1 students learn a foundation in vocal
and pitch exploration, as well as rhythm and pulse. Yearly objectives include having the
students sing on pitch and with rhythmic accuracy. These foundations are met with daily
singing activities and use of our extensive hand/world drum collection. Students are exposed
to a wide variety of classical repertoire through such series as Classical Kids Storytime, where
we watch classic fables scored with classical pieces, as well as Little Amadeus, which offers
exposure to the music and life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Students in the second and third grade continue these foundations, and begin playing
soprano recorders and ukulele. Our ukulele curriculum offers the student their first exposure
to learning how to read and interpret a chord/lyric chart, which can be used if the child is
interested in joining one of our after-school band ensembles.
Fourth graders begin playing guitar, bass “world” percussion and drums, which they will
learn throughout the remainder of their time at Coppin. Dancing Classrooms Philadelphia
(Ballroom Dancing) is a partnership we have had at Coppin for ten years, which the students
will be offered in their 5 th grade general music classes.

Through an affiliation with the Metropolitan Opera of New York, middle school students
begin learning about opera. The Met offers us access to their entire catalog of performances,
where we watch and study such operas as Rossini’s, LA CANERENTOLA, Engelbert
Humperdinck’s, Hansel & Gretel, and W.A. Mozart’s, The Magic Flute.
We have two after school ensembles at Coppin. “HOME” is our rock band, where
students can take their work they are doing in the classroom to a higher level. Students in
HOME perform on keyboards, drums, bass and guitar as well as sing. We perform concerts
numerous times a year, and also are visited by international musical figures to do master class
jam sessions. Our HOME Junior band is the feeder program that prepares students to work in
HOME. HOME typically consists of students from grades 6-8, and Junior band students typically
range from grades 4-5.

For more information regarding the program or bands, please contact Chris Argerakis at
cargerakis@philasd.org.

If you would like to help support the program/bands, a donation to Mr. Argerakis’ Donors
Choose fund-raising page can be made at DonorsChoose.org/Mr.Argerakis

 

Instrumental Music Program

Concert Band taught by Ms. Lineman is for 5th through 8th grade students who want to learn the flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, trombone and percussion. Students borrow an instrument from our school inventory at no cost. The lessons are once a week, on Tuesdays. We have 2 performances a year; Winter and Spring Concerts. Students who advance have the opportunity to audition and perform with the All-City Middle School Band.

 

String Orchestra Program

String Orchestra taught by Mr. Jones is for 3rd through 8th grade students who want to learn the violin, viola, cello and double bass. Students borrow an instrument from our school inventory at no cost. The lessons are once a week, on Wednesday. We have 2 performances a year; Winter and Spring Concerts. Students who advance have the opportunity to audition and perform with the All-City Middle School Orchestra.