Elementary School

Elementary School:

Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade students meet once a week for 40 minutes. Students participate in activities designed to encourage exploration of the basic concepts of music. Through singing, moving, listening, creating and performing music, our young students begin their musical journey!

During 3rd grade, students spend the first half of the year developing the various concepts of music - pitch, form, dynamics, rhythm, tempo, timbre, style and expression. Each third grade class meets once a week for 40 minutes. Lessons focus on a particular concept through various activities that include singing, moving, performing on instruments, active listening or music creating. The second half of the 3rd grade curriculum involves the reading of music and performance on recorders (small flute-like instruments). After students have become proficient in music reading they then begin practical use of their knowledge. Recorders are provided by the school and become the responsibility of the student. Students are expected to bring their recorder and music to music classes each week. This part of the curriculum serves as a preparatory unit to our school's orchestra and band programs which begin in fourth and fifth grade respectively.

The fourth grade music curriculum provides an opportunity for students to expand their musical knowledge. Concepts are explored in more detail, resulting in a project-based approach. Students spend five to six weeks on a specific musical concept, in which each week builds on the previous week's work. Many projects lend themselves to group work, encouraging peer tutoring and cooperative learning. Students learn in an aural, visual, and kinesthetic manner while studying rhythm/duration, style, musical form, melody, harmony, instrument study, music careers, timbre, musical expression and composition. Many lessons conclude with a final group performance for the class.

All students in 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade participate in a grade level chorus where they develop their singing voices as well as fine tune their musical skills. Each chorus has a 40 minute rehearsal per week which culminates in two performances - a Holiday Concert in December and a Spring Concert in June. In 4th grade, students may audition for the Select Chorus, which also rehearses once a week. In addition to these two concerts, the Select Chorus will also perform on the District All Choral Concert and for various special events.