Allegro Charter School of Music helps all students develop world class skills, as well as life and career characteristics of the Profile of the SC Graduate by infusing music into an academically challenging environment. Each student at Allegro learns piano, voice, and another instrument of their choice. This was a year of extreme challenge and opportunities for growth, as our students navigated a new school location, different settings, and changing physical health-safety requirements.
Students were able to make sure of many emerging technologies and use our newly created professional recording space to have synergy with each other, and among content areas. Classes of all content areas teach through music, exploring the relationships of technology to instruments in a time period, social dynamics and song composition, and mathematical formulas to music theory. Students participated in several group projects where they chose their members, decided upon a piece, assigned all the parts, and performed the song on their own instruments. Seniors completed a yearlong capstone project as part of graduation requirements. Allegro also has a percussion ensemble, orchestra, band, and school-wide choir. Allegro has a strong partnership with local musicians who perform for our students in monthly concerts, regular masterclasses with professionals, and small-group or individual instruction on an instrument of the student’s choice.
Technology literacy and digital citizenship are emphasized in the entire school with 1:1 iPads in the middle school grades, and MacBooks in high school. Textbooks continue to be all digital and many assignments are submitted electronically, emphasizing real world career skills. This proved particularly fruitful with the sudden and unexpected call to remote learning in the midst of a pandemic. Allegro emphasizes rigor in all classrooms with many 8th grade and some 7th grade students taking Algebra 1, English 1, Biology 1, and Spanish 1. The high school offers AP and dual-credit courses. Students use electronic collaboration for many projects, including recording and mixing musical performances, making short films, and visual artwork.
Our faculty is extremely flexible and caring, ensuring that every child receives the most personalized and highest quality education possible. The Allegro community and school family are supportive, with a high degree of parent involvement and input.
Daniel Neikirk, Principal
Lisa Chapman-Bauknight, Board Chairman
