Music is taught sequentially by grade level, building off of the previous years skills and knowledge. Students music lessons include a range of activities that address the National Standards of Music and the counties expectations. A variety of songs and listening activities are used drawing on music from different genres and culture.

Kindergarten and First Grade

Students in Kindergarten and First Grade experience a variety of activities with the goal of producing Tuneful, Beatful, Artful students. Students follow the musical workout outlined in John Feierabend's method "First Steps in Music". Students also receive a variety of experiences with classroom instruments. 1st graders also attend the Pied Piper Musical at Thalian Hall in January. For more information on First Steps in Music, please follow the link below. 

https://www.feierabendmusic.org/first-steps-in-music-for-preschool-and-beyond/  

2nd Grade

2nd grade students continue with the tuneful, beatful, artful activities from 1st grade as well as learning more advanced singing games and dances. This year, students are working on music literacy through the program, Conversational Solfege. This is a ear before eye method of teaching music reading and listening. Students also learn about the instruments in the orchestra through the musical tone poem, Peter and the Wolf, as well as attending the Pied Piper Musical at Thailian Hall in January. For more information on Conversational Solfege, please see the link below. 

 https://www.feierabendmusic.org/conversational-solfege/ 

3rd Grade

3rd graders are also working through Conversational Solfege, in which music literacy is taught with an ear before eye approach. Students experience songs, games and dances that build their music making skills. Students do group projects where they produce their own simple music compositions. We study composers purpose as well as musical elements that composers use to convey moods in music. Students work on soundscapes, creating music to go with wordless books, and putting sounds with stories.

4th Grade

4th grade students do an extensive study on the orchestra, which culminates in a field trip to see the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra. Students also learn beginning recorder playing in 4th grade. We start by learning simple notes and songs by ear, and then move into note and rhythm reading. Music games and activities are also still experienced.

5th Grade

5th graders continue with their recorder studies and advance their skills of note and rhythm reading. 5th graders also experience world drumming and ukuleles. Students get experiences making music in groups and using these instruments to accompany each other. Music games and activities are experienced at the students skill level.

** Having a music space this year will allow for much more instrument and movement opportunities. We will be taking advantage of this in all grade levels**