Core Program
Students enter our Core program as early as grade 1 and can continue as Core students until grade 8. Once a student is accepted into Sistema Toronto, they do not need to re-apply; their spot is reserved for as long as they would like to remain in the program or until they graduate elementary school. In their first year of the core program, students take part in an introductory vocal and percussion program called Music & Movement, and then move into separate classes for orchestral instruments, choir, wind instruments, and percussion the following year. After graduating from the Core program in grade 8, students are invited to continue their music education throughout high school by joining our Honours Orchestra, where they are able to continue to play in an ensemble while gaining leadership experience by mentoring younger students.
Strings
Once students graduate from Music & Movement, they participate in our Core Program, which involves learning a string instrument (violin, viola, cello, or double bass). Students learn fundamental skills in playing their designated string instrument in a small class setting. Students learn from their teacher, and also through peer learning. Collaboration and teamwork though experiential learning and critical thinking are the overarching principals in strings classes.
The smaller strings classes for each level join together to create a larger orchestra where they learn and perform orchestral strings music. Orchestra is led jointly by the strings teachers for each class. Students work on large ensemble skills, and learn how to sight read, play harmony parts and follow a conductor.
Percussion
The Sistema Toronto percussion curriculum focuses on progressive skill acquisition in stick technique, understanding of time signatures, world-beats and patterns, mallet instruments and technique, instrument care and setup, rhythmic ear training, and performance.
Sistema Toronto students learn Pachanga, which is a form of Cuban bucket drumming. Pachanga classes are designed to develop aural, rhythmic and ensemble skills that will enhance students’ musical abilities and help them in their ensemble playing. Percussion ensembles also make use of hand drums, xylophones, glockenspiels, and other instruments.
Like in other program areas, students are divided into junior, intermediate, and senior groups to align with and support the learning outcomes for each level in the strings and choir curricula.
Choir
The Sistema Toronto choir curriculum focuses on five components of choir and singing skill sets: vocal production, technical skills (pitch matching, singing scales, rhythm), sight singing, performance and presentation, and repertoire.
Choir classes are designed to enhance students’ musical abilities and help them in their ensemble playing in orchestra, percussion, and instrumental classes. There is also a strong social component to choir repertoire selection so that students learn lyrics that support Sistema Toronto’s social curriculum (including topics such as empathy, attitude, and effort) or promote our mission for diversity.
In 2023-24, students learned and performed music in Tibetan with instruction from musician Penpa Tsering; learned music by Black composer Rollo Dilworth with the Toronto Children’s Chorus; learned to sing Aretha Franklin songs with the TSO’s guest artist, Shaleah Adkisson; and received a workshop with Black choral conductor and founder of the Nathaniel Dett Chorale, Brainerd Blyden-Taylor. In 2024-25, students will be receiving choral workshops with a focus on inclusivity from Newchoir, and learning from JUNO-nominated Jamaican reggae artist, Jah’Mila
Music & Movement
Students in our Core Program begin in grade 1 (ages 6-7) by participating in Music & Movement. This is a class for beginners that has its own curriculum focused on preparing students to play orchestral instruments in their second year. Students sing, play pitched and non-pitched percussion instruments, learn music theory and notation, and build confidence together to develop a strong musical foundation. Music & Movement classes are game-based, interactive classes where students learn fundamental skills in note-reading, pitch, dance, singing, and Orff/Kodaly percussion techniques, as well as social skills like sharing, focus, teamwork, and listening.
The Music & Movement class also provides leadership opportunities for senior students, who introduce the younger students to orchestral instruments. By collaborating with beginner musicians, senior students are given a sense of pride in their accomplishments, a responsibility to model positive behaviour, and an opportunity to begin learning to teach. The younger students receive mentorship and learn that they have older kids in their community to rely upon.
Social Development
Students’ social development is our top priority. At Sistema Toronto, social learning is both woven into instrument classes and has its own learning modules, outcomes, and evaluation. Our students explore a monthly theme, and discuss what it means and how it applies in music, at school, and at home. Our social curriculum themes include Teamwork, Listening, Respect, Problem Solving, Responsibility, Organization, Communication, Pride, and Leadership; each month the students explore one of these themes in-depth.
Check out the Sistema Toronto blog for a look inside our classrooms and to see our social development curriculum in action.
Nutrition Program
One in five of households in Toronto experience food insecurity.* Kids that come from food insecure households are more likely to experience poor mental and physical health, greater risk of chronic disease, and other long-term adverse health impacts. It also negatively impacts their academic and social performance.
Every Sistema Toronto program day begins with a healthy snack. We believe that sharing a snack together is one of the best ways to build community and break down communication barriers between children and adults.
Our Nutrition Program allows students to boost their energy levels and focus on learning. It evens the playing field for students who do not have access to healthy snacks at home, ensuring they are not at a disadvantage when it comes to learning new skills and fully participating in Sistema Toronto programming.