Music

• The primary school years are a time of growth, wonder, and excitement, exploration and discovery. These years are crucial as the child develops a concept of music, gains fundamental skills, and acquires sensitivity to musical sounds and their beauty.

• Experience and explore the singing and speaking voice by matching pith patterns. Discovering different vocal timbres, and managing appropriate dynamic control.

• Express and understand a varied repertoire of music by singing, playing rhythm instruments, moving, and listening.

• Create and compose simple musical responses by employing improvisational techniques.

• Compare and discover relationships between music, the other arts, history and culture by discussing how music connects to the home, school, and community.

The first grade music students broaden their artistic horizons by exploring the different components of music. These include the development of vocal range and production and interpretive movement. Also important is the introduction to music symbols (icons and simplified notation) to develop beginning music reading skills. Students:

• Experience and explore the singing and speaking voice by matching pitch patterns, discovering different vocal timbres, managing appropriate dynamic control, and recognizing and using proper head voice.

• Express and understand a varied repertoire of music by singing alone and with others, playing rhythm instruments, moving, and listening.

• Create and compose simple musical responses by employing improvisational techniques and musical notation.

• Compare and discover relationships between music, the other arts, history and culture by discussing how music connects to the home, school, community, and other places and events where music occurs.

In second grade, the expansion of cognitive abilities continues. Students learn to read notation and use music vocabulary to reflect upon the music they sing and hear. Students recognize the characteristics of musical style and genres. Students:

• Experience and explore the singing and speaking voice by matching pitch patterns, discovering different vocal timbres, managing appropriate dynamic control, and recognizing and using proper head voice.

• Express and understand a varied repertoire of music including patriotic and folk literature by singing alone and with others, playing rhythm instruments, moving, and listening.

• Create and compose simple musical forms (AB, ABA) and responses by employing improvisational techniques and musical notation.

• Compare and discover relationships between music, the other arts, history and culture by discussing how music connects to the home, school, community, and other places and events where music occurs.

At the third grade level, it is appropriate to begin developing an understanding of lifelong participation in music. The students' musical growth is nurtured and encouraged through the enhancement of their musical interests and abilities. Students learn to value and respect music by performing in concerts. Students:

• Sing independently using a clear head tone. Sing in harmony maintaining own part in two and three part canons. Sing and play melodic patterns, intervals, and ostinati to accompany songs or rhythm activities.

• Express and understand a varied repertoire of music including patriotic and folk literature by singing alone and with others, playing rhythm instruments, moving, and listening.

• Create and compose simple musical forms (AB, ABA) and responses by employing improvisational techniques and musical notation.

• Perform simple songs on the soprano recorder using the notes B, A, and G.

• Identify families of instruments and individual instruments visually and aurally.

• Compare and discover relationships between music, the other arts, history and culture by discussing how music connects to the home, school, community, and other places and events where music occurs.

Students in grade four continue to understand and develop with greater accuracy, clarity, and facility many of the skills and values that are introduced in the earlier grades. In addition to comprehensive music classes, students in grade four may participate in instrumental group lessons that are offered in the following classes: 

• Cello

• Clarinet

• Flute

• Saxophone

• Trombone

• Trumpet

• Viola

• Violin

By expanding their musical involvement in this way, students are able to further develop their personal interest in music and pursue a higher level of musical growth. Students:

• Sing independently using a clear head tone. Sing in harmony maintaining own part in two and three part canons. Sing and play melodic patterns, intervals, and ostinati to accompany songs or rhythm activities.

• Express and understand a varied repertoire of music including cultural and ethnical musical styles by singing alone and with others, playing rhythm instruments, moving, and listening.

• Create and compose simple and complex musical forms (AB, ABA, AABA, Rondo, etc.) and responses by employing improvisational techniques and musical notation.

• Identify families of instruments and individual instruments visually and aurally.

• Compare and discover relationships between music, the other arts, history and culture by discussing how music connects to the home, school, community, and other places and events where music occurs.

In addition to comprehensive music classes, students in grade four may participate in instrumental group lessons that are offered in the following classes: 

• Cello

• Clarinet

• Flute

• Saxophone

• Trombone

• Trumpet

• Viola

• Violin

By expanding their musical involvement in this way, students are able to further develop their personal interest in music and pursue a higher level of musical growth. 

Emphasis will be placed on the need for individual discipline, home practice, and concert attendance. All instrumental students are encouraged to take private lessons in the Afterschool Conservatory Program.

Students:

• Assemble their instruments independently

• Demonstrate proper posture and handling of instruments

• Play with a tone that is full, rich, and characteristic of the instrument

• Demonstrate accurate intonation

• Play accurate and precise rhythms and tempos

• Demonstrate proper basics of breathing and articulation

• Know the names of the lines and spaces within the clef or range of their instrument

• Practice instrument on a daily basis

• Perform one major scale appropriate to their instrument such as:

  • Cello: D

  • Clarinet: C

  • Flute: Bb

  • Saxophone: G

  • Trombone: Bb

  • Trumpet: C

  • Viola: D

  • Violin: D

By the completion of the elementary grades, students should be able to demonstrate an increased awareness of music as an important part of every day life, participate in music through singing and playing instruments, enjoy listening to different types of music, and discuss personal responses to art and music. Students have the opportunity to participate and perform in the instrumental and choral programs with other students in an ensemble setting. Students:

• Sing independently using a clear head tone

• Sing in harmony maintaining own part in two and three part canons

• Sing and play melodic patterns, intervals, and ostinati to accompany songs or rhythm activities

• Express and understand a varied repertoire of music including cultural and ethnical musical styles by singing alone and with others, playing rhythm instruments, moving, and listening

• Create and compose simple and complex musical forms (AB, ABA, AABA, Rondo, etc.) and responses by employing improvisational techniques and musical notation

• Identify families of instruments and individual instruments visually and aurally

• Discuss careers, lives, and stylistic characteristics of selected composers

• Compare and discover relationships between music, the other arts, history and culture by discussing how music connects to the home, school, community, and other places and events where music occurs

In addition to comprehensive music classes, students in grade four may participate in instrumental group lessons that are offered in: 

• Cello

• Clarinet

• Flute

• Saxophone

• Trombone Classes

• Trumpet

• Viola

• Violin

By expanding their musical involvement in this way, students are able to further develop their personal interest in music and pursue a higher level of musical growth. Emphasis will be placed on the need for individual discipline, home practice, and concert attendance. All instrumental students are encouraged to take private lessons in the Afterschool Conservatory Program. Students:

• Assemble their instruments independently

• Demonstrate proper posture and handling of instruments

• Play with a tone that is full, rich, and characteristic of the instrument

• Play pitches and notes accurately

• Demonstrate accurate intonation

• Play accurate and precise rhythms and tempos

• Demonstrate proper basics of breathing and articulation

• Know the names of the lines and spaces within the clef or range of their instrument

• Master appropriate fingerings and positions applicable to their particular instrument

• Practice instrument on a daily basis

• Perform major scales appropriate to their instrument including:

  • Cello: D, G

  • Clarinet: C, G, F, Bb

  • Flute: Bb, F

  • Saxophone: G, F, C

  • Trombone: Bb, C

  • Trumpet: C, Bb

  • Viola: D, G

  • Violin: D, G