Music

Pre-K,  Jr.-K and Sr.-K

1.     To instill a sense of steady beat through the use of marches, clapping, and rhythmic activity songs.   

2.    To help the students develop accurate vocal pitch matching.

3.    To learn many songs that will be basis of a musical "library" in their lives.

4.    To encourage joy through music and personal expression through rhythm instruments

5.    To learn to listen to music and recognize simple forms and instruments aurally.

6.    To recognize some basic music symbols such as clef signs, the staff, notes and rests.

7.    To be able to sound out some basic rhythms through the use of the "heart chart."

8.    We use a sequential planned out curriculum to give a well-rounded, comprehensive music education that will be a basis for future music exploration.

9.    To begin to recognize instruments visually and aurally.

First through third grade

1.     To continue to add to all goals in the Pre-K through Sr.-K levels

2.    To introduce students to the concept of singing in a "choir" with a few unison anthems.

3.    To use music as an education aid for all areas of the school.   The first graders usually learn all the States in alphabetical order set to music; the second graders usually learn all of the Presidents in order of service; the third grade usually learns about 90 countries of the world set in alphabetical order.   We have learned songs about what a reptile is, what a bird is, etc.

4.    To learn the instruments of the orchestra and what families each one belongs to.

5.    To learn about new, unusual instruments through physically seeing them and also through the use of videos about instruments such as the bandura, the harpsichord, the accordion, etc.

6.    To learn many more songs that are both fun and educational.   

7.    To learn songs that are the beginning of harmony such as rounds (Like "Row, Row, Row, your boat"), and quodlibets (such as putting two or more songs together at the same time that have harmonies that will match).

8.    To begin to learn about music in other cultures.

9.    To perform with "Boomwhackers," autoharps, rhythmic instruments and Orff instruments.

10.    To learn about classical music performers, composers and compositions.

11.    To enjoy seasonal music that is appropriate for Patriotic occasions, Christmas, Hanukkah, Halloween, St. Patrick's Day, Cinco de Mayo, etc.

Fourth and Fifth grades

1.    To expand further on all skills and goals from Pre-school through third grade.

2.    To learn to perform music vocally though unison and two-part anthems.

3.    To perform and read instrumental music by learning to play the recorder and possibly the baritone ukulele as they progress.   The baritone ukulele is perfect for future development in instruments since it is exactly like the four smaller strings of a guitar.   It is not a big jump to go to guitar after that.

4.     To sing harmony and understand how harmony makes music more enjoyable.

5.    To study musical symbols and theory enough that they can have a reasonable understanding of music when they look at a piece of music.

6.    To understand and appreciate the complexities of opera and musicals (We try to study at least one of these in depth each year).

7.    To attend live musical performances with their class and their families (We try to go to at least one performance each year).

8.    To learn more folk songs and fun songs, especially those that are from popular music, musicals, and other public arenas.

9.    To begin to try to see a bigger picture as far as music history is concerned and how the composers and compositions are a result of what was happening in the world at that time.