Music is alive and well at Hamilton School.  Every student enrolled at Hamilton School takes a music class at least once a week.  The curriculum utilizes the methods of Dalcroze, Orff and Kodály.  Children learn about music notation, instrument names and sounds, world music and folkdances.  Students sing songs in a variety of languages and styles.  Children learn to play instruments including drums, recorder, ukulele, guitar and keyboards.  The whole school learns the process of coming together to rehearse, decorate and perform thematic concerts.  And most importantly, students explore their own creativity through music!

 Choir is very popular at Hamilton school.  Students learn fundamental singing techniques in posture, diction and expression.  Hamilton Choir has performed at The University of Chicago’s Rockefeller Memorial Chapel and participated in the Chicago Public Schools City-Wide Music Festival.  Hamilton Choir members have been nominated and accepted to the Chicago Public Schools All-City Youth Chorus (ACYC).  Hamilton students in the ACYC have performed at Navy Pier and Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center.  Hamilton also has a Percussion Band.  Band members learn world drumming techniques, keyboarding, music notation and improvisation.

 Daniel J. Burke has taught general music, choir and band at Hamilton School since the 2004/05 school year.  Since he has started teaching at Hamilton, he has founded the school percussion band and taken the choir to its first City-Wide Music Festival were they received a rating of Excellent.  Mr. Burke is a member of the Music Educators National Conference, Chicago Area Kodály Educators and the American Orff-Schulwerk Association.  Mr. Burke is an active freelance musician and has performed with da Cornetto Opera co., New Classic Singers and Schola St. Peter’s.  Mr. Burke’s interests outside of music include reading and ice hockey.  Mr. Burke is a graduate of VanderCook College of Music and Hinsdale Central High School.