Goals in Vocal Music

The Music Department in North Salem Middle/High School bases curriculum on three Essential Questions:

• How do people express themselves through music?
• What makes a piece of music expressive?
• What musical skills do I need to understand music?

In the Vocal Music Department, we scaffold curriculum to build from Sixth Grade Chorus through four years of High School Madrigals.

6th Grade Goals include:

• recognition of basic note and rest qualities
• recognition and performance of basic expression markings, including dynamic marks and articulation marks
• reading and composing rhythms in time signatures including, but not limited to: 2/4, 3/4, 4/4
• analyzing lyrics and creating a point of view to tell the story that the composer and lyricist wrote.

7th Grade Goals include:

• recognition of smaller/larger note and rest qualities
• recognition and performance of more complicated expression markings, including dynamic, articulation, and tempo.
• reading and composing rhythms in more time signatures, such as 3/8 and 6/8
• sight-singing simple melodies with intervals from unisons through perfect fourths on Solfege syllables or numbers
• continued analysis of lyrics and creation of points of view to tell the stories that the composers and lyricists wrote.
• beginning understanding of evolution of music history

8th Grade Goals include all of the above plus:

• independent reading of rhythms and simple melodies
• ability to sight-sing melodies ranging from unisons to full octaves
• knowledge of proper breathing technique
• proper vowel shaping and placement
• demonstration of healthy posture
• knowledge of helpful body energies to sing in a healthy manner

Madrigal/Concert Choir Goals include all of the above plus:

• ability to collaborate with section members to read and interpret harmonies and section lines
• understanding of popular music throughout modern history
• knowledge and continued understanding of vocal technique through Lessac exercises and theories
• understanding of societal and cultural influences on music and vice versa

Standards Addressed in Vocal Music

The standards we address are from the National Association for Music Education Ensemble Strand. (http://www.nafme.org/my-classroom/standards/core-music-standards/)

6th Grade Standards:

• MU:Pr4.2.E.5a Demonstrate, using music reading skills where appropriate, how knowledge of formal aspects in musical works inform prepared or improvised performances.
• MU:Pr4.3.E.5a Identify expressive qualities in a varied repertoire of music that can be demonstrated through prepared and improvised performances
• MU:Pr5.3.E.5a Use self-reflection and peer feedback to refine individual and ensemble performances of a varied repertoire of music.
• MU:Pr6.1.E.5a Demonstrate attention to technical accuracy and expressive qualities in prepared and improvised performances of a varied repertoire of music.
• MU:Pr6.1.E.5b Demonstrate an awareness of the context of the music through prepared and improvised performances.
• MU:Re8.1.E.5a Identify interpretations of the expressive intent and meaning of musical works, referring to the elements of music, contexts, and (when appropriate) the setting of the text.
• MU:Re9.1.E.5a Identify and describe the effect of interest, experience, analysis, and context on the evaluation of music.
• MU:Cr3.2.E.IIa Share personally developed arrangements, sections, and short compositions – individually or as an ensemble – that address identified purposes.

7th Grade Standards:

• MU:Pr4.2.E.5a Demonstrate, using music reading skills where appropriate, how the setting and formal characteristics of musical works contribute to understanding the context of the music in prepared or improvised performances.
• MU:Pr4.3.E.8a Demonstrate understanding and application of expressive qualities in a varied repertoire of music through prepared and improvised performances.
• MU:Pr5.3.E.8a Develop strategies to address technical challenges in a varied repertoire of music and evaluate their success using feedback from ensemble peers and other sources to refine performances.
• MU:Pr6.1.E.8a Demonstrate attention to technical accuracy and expressive qualities in prepared and improvised performances of a varied repertoire of music representing diverse cultures and styles.
• MU:Pr6.1.E.5b Demonstrate an understanding of the context of the music through prepared and improvised performances.
• MU:Re7.2.E.8a Describe how understanding context and the way the elements of music are manipulated inform the response to music.
• MU:Re8.1.E.8a Identify and support interpretations of the expressive intent and meaning of musical works, citing as evidence the treatment of the elements of music, contexts, and (when appropriate) the setting of the text.
• MU:Re9.1.E.8a Explain the influence of experiences, analysis, and context on interest in and evaluation of music.
• MU:Cr2.1.E.8a Select and develop draft melodies and rhythmic passages that demonstrate understanding of characteristic(s) of music or text(s) studied in rehearsal.

8th Grade Standards include:

• MU:Pr4.2.E.Ia Demonstrate, using music reading skills where appropriate, how compositional devices employed and theoretical and structural aspects of musical works impact and inform prepared or improvised performances.
• MU:Pr4.3.E.Ia Demonstrate an understanding of context in a varied repertoire of music through prepared and improvised performances.
• MU:Pr5.3.E.Ia Develop strategies to address expressive challenges in a varied repertoire of music, and evaluate their success using feedback from ensemble peers and other sources to refine performances.
• MU:Pr6.1.E.Ia Demonstrate attention to technical accuracy and expressive qualities in prepared and improvised performances of a varied repertoire of music representing diverse cultures, styles, and genres.
• MU:Pr6.1.E.Ib Demonstrate an understanding of expressive intent by connecting with an audience through prepared and improvised performances.
• MU:Re7.1.E.Ia Apply criteria to select music for specified purposes, supporting choices by citing characteristics found in the music and connections to interest, purpose, and context.
• MU:Re8.1.E.Ia Explain and support interpretations of the expressive intent and meaning of musical works, citing as evidence the treatment of the elements of music, contexts, (when appropriate) the setting of the text, and personal research.
• MU:Re9.1.E.Ia Evaluate works and performances based on personally- or collaboratively-developed criteria, including analysis of the structure and context.

Madrigals/Concert Choir Standards include:

• MU:Pr4.1.E.IIIa Develop and apply criteria to select varied programs to study and perform based on an understanding of theoretical and structural characteristics and expressive challenges in the music, the technical skill of the individual or ensemble, and the purpose and context of the performance.
• MU:Pr4.2.E.IIIa Examine, evaluate, and critique, using music reading skills where appropriate, how the structure and context impact and inform prepared and improvised performances.
• MU:Pr4.3.E.IIIa Demonstrate how understanding the style, genre, and context of a varied repertoire of music informs prepared and improvised performances as well as performers’ technical skill to connect with the audience.
• MU:Pr5.3.E.IIIa Develop, apply, and refine appropriate rehearsal strategies to address individual and ensemble challenges in a varied repertoire of music.
• MU:Cr6.1.E.IIIa Demonstrate an understanding and mastery of the technical demands and expressive qualities of the music through prepared and improvised performances of a varied repertoire representing diverse cultures, styles, genres, and historical periods in multiple types of ensembles.
• MU:Pr6.1.E.IIIb Demonstrate an ability to connect with audience members before and during the process of engaging with and responding to them through prepared and improvised performances.
• MU:Re7.1.E.IIIa Use research and personally-developed criteria to justify choices made when selecting music, citing knowledge of the music, and individual and ensemble purpose and context.
• MU:Re7.2.E.IIIa Demonstrate and justify how the analysis of structures, contexts, and performance decisions inform the response to music.
• MU:Re8.1.E.IIIa Justify interpretations of the expressive intent and meaning of musical works by comparing and synthesizing varied researched sources, including reference to other art forms.
• MU:Re9.1.E.IIIa Develop and justify evaluations of music, programs of music, and performances based on criteria, personal decision-making, research, and understanding of contexts.