The Foundation for a Meaningful Life
Kindergarten - Grade 9 in Southborough, MA
Arts

Music

Fay musicians learn by doing.

Fay's music curriculum emphasizes learning by doing. In every grade, music is a regular part of every student's schedule, and our hands-on program helps students to develop proficiency in reading and writing music, and comfort and experience performing in groups and ensembles. 

Primary & Lower School
In our Primary and Lower Schools, the music curriculum is based on the educational philosophy of Zoltán Kodály and also incorporates the Orff and Dalcroze methods. Children develop musical skills through activities that include singing, movement, music reading and writing, improvisation, and playing instruments.

In fifth and sixth grade, students choose to participate in Chorus, Band, or Beginning Strings. The Lower School Chorus is a treble choir that sings pieces in unison and two parts. Students also practice music reading and listening skills through the use of movable do solfege and rhythm syllables. In Beginning Band, students choose from flute, oboe, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, trombone, and baritone horn, while in Beginning Strings, students choose from violin or cello. In both groups, students learn the basics of playing their instruments and play beginning-
level music as an ensemble. No previous instrumental experience is necessary.

Upper School
In the Upper School, students choose a music course each year from an array of options that include Chorus, Hand Bells, Strings, Band, and Music Exploration. These courses extend the theory and performance skills developed in the Lower School, but students new to Fay will also find that they can succeed in an ensemble placed at an appropriate level. Click here to read about our Upper School music offerings.
 

Meet our Music Teachers

Philip Montgomery

Philip Montgomery has been on the Fay School faculty since 1994 and has taught music at all grade levels. In addition to his two master's degrees, he is a certified instructor in both the Orff-Schulwerk and Kodály methodologies of music education. He also participated in both the 25th and 26th International Kodály Seminars at the Zoltán Kodály Pedagogical Institute of Music in Kecskemét, Hungary, the birthplace of Zoltán Kodály. Philip also completed levels 1, 2, and 3 of the "Creating Artistry Choral Conductors Workshop" with Henry Leck, founder and director of the Indianapolis Children's Chorus. Philip has served as both Assistant Organist at All Saints Church in Worcester and as Organist and Choirmaster of Saint Mark's Church, Episcopal in Southborough. He is currently Associate Artistic Director of the Worcester Children's Chorus, where he conducts the Da Capo and Bel Canto choirs. Additionally, Philip is a faculty member of the Kodály Music Institute. Philip is currently President of BAKE (Boston Area Kodály Educators), the local chapter of OAKE (Organization of American Kodály Educators).

Trey Dugger

Trey Dugger is a music educator, composer, and performer. He earned a Master of Fine Arts in Music Composition from Vermont College and a bachelor's degree in music education from Ithaca College. At Fay, Trey teaches a variety of music classes, including Music Exploration, Studio Recording, Beginning Band, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, String Orchestra, and Jazz Band. Before joining Fay in 2016, Trey taught music in Vermont at various middle and high schools and served as a guest conductor for several district music festivals. Aside from teaching, Trey is actively involved in musical theater as an actor and music director. He has performed in various productions, including Hairspray and Rent with the Lyric Theater, as well as Guys & Dolls with the Undailla Theater. In addition, Trey has served as a musical director for Rent with the Green Mountain Theater Group and for Nine with the Stowe Theater Guild. Trey is also an accomplished musician, proficient in playing the trombone, piano, percussion, and voice. He has performed with numerous musical ensembles across Vermont, such as the Montpelier Gospel Choir, the Chad Hollister Band, Saturn People's Sound Collective, Apex, TURN, Too Hot To Handle, Dave Contois School of Music Band, and the Big Bang Bhangra Brass Band. Currently, Trey is a vocalist for Soho under Nightshift Entertainment, Boston Common Band, and Groovin You in Boston, MA.

Caitlin Fisher

Caitlin Fisher joins Fay School from Stoneleigh-Burnham School where she was the IB music, vocal, and string ensembles teacher. She studied music as an undergrad at Mount Holyoke College and earned her masters degrees in music and music education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Caitlin started learning violin at the age of six and has been lucky enough to travel the world playing in ensembles and orchestras from Peru to Italy. She was very fortunate to study violin performance at the Vienna Conservatory. Caitlin first fell in love with teaching as a teaching fellow with Breakthrough Collaborative in Norfolk, VA where she taught writing to underserved middle schoolers. She is certified in the Suzuki Method and Every Child Can and believes that, when nurtured, every child can achieve great things. Caitlin teaches the vocal ensembles, bell ensembles, and strings at Fay and is so excited to present all of her students' hard work. She also serves as a houseparent and lives in Village Girls with her pet crested gecko, Bel Canto.
48 MAIN STREET
SOUTHBOROUGH, MA 01772
main number 508-490-8250
admission 508-490-8201