Students in 4th Grade learn to play the recorder. Through the Recorder Karate Curriculum students learn to read music - a skill that can be used for the rest of their lives. The Recorder Karate Curriculum uses a scaffold approach to learning how to read music and how to play the instrument (each concept builds upon the next – like climbing up a ladder). Every student has the ability to work at a pace that is perfect for him/her while still providing each young musician with a sense of accomplishment.
Students are assessed throughout the unit in various ways from individual playing tests to acquire belts, to notation and playing worksheets, to written quizzes and tests.
In addition to Recorder Karate, 4th graders also folk dance, sing, play other classroom instruments, listen and respond to pieces of music in various styles and genres.
Students in grades K-5 will participate in at least 1 concert per year.