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Le Mars Community Schools Music Philosophy

It is the goal of the Le Mars Music Department to develop students’ learning skills in the following areas:

1. Kinesthetic – This is the physical aspect of learning to sing and play a musical instrument.. Kinesthetic learning involves breathing, blowing air, manipulating valves or fingers, moving sticks or mallets, reading music, tapping your foot, watching the conductor, tone production, and listening. This is demonstrated by students during performances. 

2. Cognitive – This is the “thinking” part of learning music. Cognitive skills include reading musical notation, terminology, retention of fingerings, and mental recognition of higher order concepts such as intonation, embouchure, and balance/blend. This includes the concepts of Music Theory, Music Literacy, Music History, culture, analysis, evaluation, and critique.

3. Affective – This is the emotional side of learning. Students will express moods and feelings through singing or playing an instrument. They will also be asked to convey historical events and social ideas through the sounds that they create.This is demonstrated by students during performances.

4. Character – Through their participation in music, students will improve their organizational skills, self-discipline, responsibility, perseverance, and citizenship by caring for an instrument, regular practice, lesson attendance, working towards goals even when they become difficult, and practicing polite etiquette during a large group rehearsal.

Through these types of learning and skill development, our musicians will become better overall students and citizens for our society. It is our hope that students will leave with a lifelong appreciation for music.