Music Overview 2009-2010

Music Overview



Pre-K through 1st Grade

Students concentrate on Singing in tune, dance, movement, playing rhythm instuments in time to the music, and creating actions to different song. They can identify simple rhythms.

They also have opportunities to play simple music computer games. Hand drumming is introduced.



2nd and 3rd Grade

Students continue to sing in tune and learn about the musical staff and look at patterns that go up, down or stay the same. They are introduced to form and do simple compositions that they play in class. They begin to work with meter signatures and scales. They also do ethnic dances in their class. By third grade they begin recorders and simple music reading. Rhythmic reading is more complicated and they begin to read simple hand drumming pieces. They also do simple compositions using "Groovey Shapes" on the computer. Musical terms are introduced and they study a major musical form and a major composer.



4th Grade

Continues to build on what is done in the third grade. They begin to do simple compositions using different types of scales. Part singing is introduced. The second half of the year, they start either bells or boomwackers and practice more note and rhythmic reading. Intonation is stressed in singing. Groovey Jungle is introduced on the computers and they use this to compose an AB piece



5th Grade

Continues to work on computers. Garage Band is introduced. They play bells and work on musical reading and terminology the first half. The second half, they learn guitar basics. They write one piece for the guitar and get to work with an artist for 4 weeks.



MiddleSchool

Students have the option of choosing choir or band.

Band: students continue to grow in reading notation and in working together.
They play a variety of familiar pieces and those that are not. Sight reading is stressed
along with good practice habits and performance etiquette and proper care of
the instrument.

Choir: Students work on part singing, intonation, projection and performance etiquette .
They sing early music all they way up to contempory pieces and they work on musical
terminology and sight reading.