Welcome to Music

  • Music Education is an integral part of every child's education. Participating in music class promotes the development of focus, confidence, language skills, and academic achievement in other subject areas. Practicing music also builds teamwork, collaboration, communication skills, leadership skills, and creativity.

What Are We Learning in Music?

  • FDES students work on mastery of musical literacy in order to communicate with others through performing, responding, developing their own creative capacity. My students learn higher level thinking skills and set goals towards the improvement of their musicianship. Musically literate students understand works from a variety of cultures and historical periods while appreciating diverse musical forms of enduring quality and significance. Through instrumental performance, singing, and dancing, students develop discipline, confidence, respect of themselves, and the respect of others.  The learning is engaging and rigorous. When you combine these two attributes in a curriculum, it allows students to collaboratively share their work with communities- enhancing the lives of others while establishing a pattern of lifelong learning.

    Please follow this link to see the WPS Elementary Music Curriculum: WPS Elementary Music Curriculum PreK-4

    See the Specials Newsletter for more detailed information about the music classroom.  

Our Music Teacher


  • Tracey Wygal
    Ms. Tracey Wygal
    Music Teacher

    Tracey Wygal is a recognized performer and award-winning music educator. With an undergraduate degree from Shepherd University and a master's degree from West Virginia University, Tracey has applied and shared her passion for music through her career as a choral music educator that spans over 20 years. She has been recognized for her accomplishments in the classroom with Teacher of the Year awards in both 2006, 2014, and 2015 (Shepherdstown Teacher of the Year, James Wood Middle School Teacher of the Year, Northern Shenandoah Valley ARC Educator of the Year), and her choral ensembles have been recognized as "superior" year after year by accomplished adjudicators. As a performer, Wygal has gained equal recognition and praise, notably in her musical tribute to the country legend, Patsy Cline. Her likeness to Cline’s unmistakable, robust voice has received accolades time and time again by many who knew the music legend personally. From Cline's hometown of Winchester, Virginia, where Tracey now teaches to performance locations across the country, audience members have raved about the striking similarities between Cline and Wygal including precise inflections, bold and strong tone, and the emotional portrayal of the unforgettable artist. Ellis Nassour, noted entertainment writer and author of Honky Tonk Angel: The Intimate Story of Patsy Cline, said the following about Wygal's tribute performance: “As you know, Patsy is still unequaled...but hey, she better watch out! This gal has the most fantastic voice!”. Tracey performs for both private and public events, and is currently portraying Patsy Cline in Lovesick Blues: A Tribute to Hank Williams, Sr. and Patsy Cline.  Tracey is also the Chairman, Board of Directors, of Sigma Alpha Iota Philanthropies, Inc.  and serves on the National Executive Board of Sigma Alpha Iota, International Music Fraternity.