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 MUSIC

¯ Overview

As in previous years, we will use a series of books called “God Made Music.”  Levels K through 6 have a sing-a-long CD of fun songs, American heritage songs and spirituals.  All levels focus on two master composers.  Skills are presented and explored through a variety of activities:  written work, game playing, dances, drawing and listening exercises.  Singing is the most important and valuable of all music experiences and all grades will sing many types of music from different cultures!  Whenever possible, music is used to enhance topics taught in other subjects such as Art, Foreign Language, Literature, Global Studies and Science.  

 There are three annual major musical presentations:  Grand Pals Day, our Thanksgiving celebration, which features our Choir and selected classes; our Christmas program which features our Choir and all grades; and our Spring Concert.

 

 ¯ Choir

Choir is open to students in grades 5 through 8 and has a 30-minute rehearsal once per week.  No auditions necessary.  Choir sings at school Mass. 

 

¯ Grade Level Information

Frequency

 We are beginning a new schedule this year which involves three 6-week rotating cycles. Each class will have two music cycles, within the school year, which will meet for the following amounts of time:

 Kindergarten meets for music for 40 minutes, five times per week.

1 - 3 students meet for music for 45 minutes, five times per week. 

Grade 4 students meet for music for 40 minutes, three times per week.

Grades 5 - 8 students meet for two 50-minute music classes, twice a week.

 

What We Learn

Parents are encouraged to purchase personal copies of the classical listening CD’s that coordinate with each level.  Listening at home will greatly enhance student appreciation and knowledge of music.

● Kindergarten	● Fourth Grade
● First Grade	● Fifth Grade
● Second Grade	● Sixth Grade
● Third Grade	● Seventh & Eighth Grades
● K-4 Instruments	● World Music Drumming

 

 Kindergartners learn to distinguish singing from talking, high from low, fast from slow and other broad musical concepts.  We do lots of vocal exploration and practice pitch matching.  We also play lots of rhythm games and practice steady beats through dancing games.  We listen to The Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saens and The Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky.

 First Grade text is supported by Grofe’s Grand Canyon Suite and Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf.  Students are introduced to musical symbols and orchestra instruments.  Vocal exploration, pitch matching games, rhythm games and activities continue.

 Second Grade text is supported by Aaron Copland’s Rodeo and Greig’s Peer Gynt Suites I and II.  This level reinforces recognition of musical symbols and note values.  Students begin to learn note names on the Treble staff in addition to recognizing and describing orchestra instruments and their families.

 Third graders continue with musical symbols, note reading and rhythm comprehension.  We will be enhancing our musical experience by learning how to play recorders!  The text is supported by Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition and Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture.

 Fourth Graders continue reviewing and practicing note reading on Treble and Bass staffs, rhythm comprehension, instrument recognition.  The text is supported by Holst’s The Planets and Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 and Symphony No. 41.  We will be learning how to play our recorders through the text and the “Recorder Karate” program!

 Fifth Grade text is supported by Dvorak’s New World Symphony and Verdi’s opera Aida.  We learn and practice conducting patterns, tempos, dynamics, pitch intervals and become familiar with the history and story lines of many American Musicals. Intelligent listening skills and the ability to describe music are important at this level. Previously taught fundamentals are reinforced.

 Sixth Grade text is supported by Camille Saint-Saens Symphony No. 3, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, Bela Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra and Handel’s The Messiah. Historical and social influences are connected with the music.  Intelligent listening skills and the ability to describe music are important at this level.  Previously taught fundamentals are reinforced.

 Seventh & Eighth Graders will have guitar lab!  Students will learn basic guitar playing skills and will become aware of the many different styles of guitar music through listening exercises.  Students are expected to execute specific strumming and picking patterns, play scales and simple melodies, and play with other instrumentalists and vocalists.

K-4 INSTRUMENTAL OPPORTUNITIES

Students in grades K-4 will have the opportunity to experience music through hands' on experience with percussion instruments, hand bells, and xylophones and glockenspiels!

WORLD MUSIC DRUMMING

In addition to the above information, students in grades five and six will begin the "World Music Drumming" curriculum. This curriculum teaches students how to work together in a percussion ensemble, how to develop the listening and playing skills that are prevalent in African and Caribbean music, while also developing a knowledge and awareness of African and Caribbean cultures.