K-6 Curriculum

Music—Kindergarten

Sound Exploration and Movement Exploration

Students will experiment in music, finding their singing voices and develop a sense of personal space through movement games and song. Units in high/low, fast/slow and loud/soft will be taught by listening, creating and responding to music. Integration of beginning literacy and music is also a focus. Classes meet once per week for 45 minutes.

Music—First Grade

Music Reading Readiness & Musical Movement

In the general music program, first grade students begin to create, perform and respond to music through a variety of appropriate grade level games and songs. Students develop music through a variety of appropriate grade level games and songs. Students develop skills in singing, music reading and notating. Students learn solfege syllables and corresponding hand signals for sol and mi. Students learn to read and perform quarter notes, eighth notes and quarter rests in music by sight and sound. Movement games and listening activities enforce steady beat and grade level rhythms. Integration of literacy is stressed. Classes meet once a week for 45 minutes.

Music—Second Grade

Composers and Dance & Rhythmic Composition

Second grade students continue to develop their musical skills through creative use of song and dance. In singing, students continue solfege for sol mi and la, and sing simple rounds. Music literacy develops as students learn to read and perform grade level rhythms adding half notes and repeat signs to their skills. Listening activities include identification of binary form and movement activities incorporate basic folk dance steps. Students will engage in listening activities that identify different composers and types of musical form.Classes meet once a week for 45 minutes.

Music—Third Grade

Introduction to Recorders & Melodic Composition

Musical skills develop further this year as the third grade music student adds do and re to their solfege repertoire. Music literature develops as students learn to read and perform grade level rhythms including whole notes, dotted half notes, half and whole note rests, time signatures, bar lines and fermatas. Students learn to identify by sight and sound the instrument families and continue to develop vocal skills, music reading and notating through formal and improvisational forms. A recorder unit is taught to help develop reading and performance skills. Classroom music reflects the study in the general classroom for literacy and history. Class meets once per week for 45 minutes.

Music—Fourth Grade

Ensemble Awareness

The fourth grade music student develops understanding of the pentatonic scale, vocal ostinati and adds high do, low la and low sol to the solfege repertoire. The music literacy sequence includes letter names and develops proper musical terminology for expression in music. Students read and perform eighth and sixteenth note combinations with eighth note rests added. Students listen and identify rondo form and theme and variations. Folk dances are taught as part of the movement sequence. Classes link concepts of history and culture within unit study.

Along with the 45 minute classroom music experience, students meet within their grade level to form Chorus. The chorus gives students performance opportunity to develop skills taught in music class through performance of partner songs, American Regional music and proper singing technique. Students continue to create, perform, respond, and connect to music.

In the fourth grade, students may elect to participate in the Instrumental Lessons Program for Band or Orchestra. Small Group Lessons are scheduled during the class day on a weekly basis. Students who elect instruments will also participate in either Band or Orchestra, based on instrument choice. These ensembles meet before school.

Music—Fifth Grade

Vocal Development and Musical Ensembles

Students create, perform and respond to music within the music classroom focusing on development of life long appreciation and understanding of music. Classroom vocal technique focuses on independent pitch, rhythm and interpretive accuracy. Compositional and improvisational techniques are explored. Students will explore various genres of music and will identify characteristics and types of musical ensembles.

Students will participate in a grade five Chorus experience. This year, Chorus focuses on development of a blended sound and part singing. Vocal health and proper singing techniques are reinforced in this 35 minute ensemble class. In fifth grade, students may continue with, or elect to participate in the Instrumental Lessons Program for Band or Orchestra. Lessons meet on a rotational basis during the class day and band and orchestra ensembles meet before school.

Music—Sixth Grade

Music of Our World

All students participate in a weekly general music class for one full class period. Students will discover music from different historical periods, genres, cultures and geographical locations. They will learn to compare, analyze and describe styles of music. Students will be able to define the elements of music, learn basic piano skills and will develop a culminating composition project that utilizes the GarageBand app on their iPad.

Band—Sixth Grade

Students who play a band instrument may elect to participate in Band during the school day.  Band meets twice a week during WIN. Instruction in Band includes ensemble development, musical independence, balance, blend and technique. Band students also receive a small group lesson once a week for 20 minutes on a rotating schedule. Group instruction includes individual development of tone, technique and musicianship on their instruments. Students perform appropriate grade level literature for a winter and spring performance. All band students must have at least one year of instrumental lessons and prior ensemble experience (during the previous fifth grade year) on the same Instrument.

Jazz Band—Sixth Grade

Students may audition for the Jazz band, which meets after school once a week on Wednesdays. Jazz band students are able to perform independently on their instrument. Students who are selected to play in the jazz band explore musical styles such as swing, ballads, blues, latin and rock. The beginning skills of improvisation are also taught in this ensemble setting. Any student participating in the band program is eligible to audition for jazz band. Additionally, any 6th grade student who independently plays guitar, electric bass, drum set, and piano may audition for the group. The Gideon Welles Jazz Band performs for the winter and spring concerts.

Chorus—Sixth Grade

Students who wish to sing may elect Chorus during the school day. Chorus meets once a week during the scheduled WIN period and students may elect both chorus and band, or chorus and orchestra. Students perform grade level appropriate songs for winter and spring performances. Instruction includes work on ensemble balance, harmony, blend, diction, expression and note reading accuracy.

The Enharmonics—Sixth Grade

The Enharmonics is an auditioned, select group of singers that meets after school once a week. Students who are in Gideon Welles Chorus are eligible to audition for The Enharmonics. Students who are selected to sing in The Enharmonics perform various songs in non-English languages, songs in three parts, or songs that include complex harmonies. The Enharmonics perform in conjunction with the Gideon Welles Chorus during Winter and Spring Concerts; they also have external performance opportunities such as the Glastonbury District Choral Festival.

Orchestra—Sixth Grade

Students who play an orchestra instrument may elect to participate in Orchestra during the school day. Orchestra meets twice a week during WIN. Instruction in Orchestra includes ensemble development, musical independence, balance, blend and technique. Orchestra students also receive a small group lesson once a week for 20 minutes on a rotating schedule. Group lesson instruction includes individual development of tone, technique and musicianship on their instrument. Students perform appropriate grade level literature for a winter and spring concert. All orchestra students must have at least one year of instrumental lessons and prior ensemble experience (during the previous fifth grade year) on the same instrument.

Chamber Ensemble—Sixth Grade

Chamber Orchestra is an auditioned school string ensemble that meets after school once a week on Wednesdays. Students who are selected to play in the Chamber Orchestra perform various styles of music; classical, movie themes, folk and new original music for string orchestra. Chamber Orchestra students are able to perform independently on their instrument and have developed a practice routine for learning new music at home. The Gideon Welles Chamber Orchestra performs for the winter and spring concerts.