Strongest music programs (White Plains, Bedford, Tarrytown: private school, living in, moving)

[cpv]

We're moving from the Bay Area to Westchester next spring/summer and I'm wondering if anyone can provide some insight into the music programs at Westchester schools. Both our kids are young (they will be going into 4th grade and kindergarten in fall 2021). The oldest is serious about music and plays piano, violin, and takes composition - she typically plays 2-3 hours/day, voluntarily. She's been in private school in Marin county thus far, at a school with a strong music conservatory program. Do any of the schools in Westchester (or even possibly Connecticut) have such a thing, especially for kids so young? We're leaning towards continuing with private school for both kids, but haven't made up our minds on that without doing more research. We're likely going to be living in the Chappaqua/Bedford area, or Irvington/Tarrytown - mostly dependent on the school situation.

Thanks!

[hominamad]

I would say a bunch of the public schools have decent to great music programs. My kids are very serious about music and we are in the White Plains district. I would say their music program is great, for a public school. As they get older, there are a lot of different types of bands and orchestras, jazz band, marching band, etc in the high school they can participate in.


That said, I think that if any kids are really serious about music and perusing it, they have to supplement whatever they do in the public school with some sort of private program. Either lessons, performance groups, etc at a music school or privately.

[cpv]

Thanks for the response. Our girls do study privately with their various teachers, but at least some of that has been an offshoot of programs started at school. If we have to piece together their music education through outside resources that's okay, but I was curious if any of the schools were known for being particularly strong in this regard (conservatory programs, facilities, etc...). Nothing stands out in an obvious way on the various school websites.