In the kindergarten class the students will be singing, playing instruments, listening and moving to music. Students will be exposed to many different kinds of songs and chants from nursery rhymes to jazz and classical.  They will be developing an ear for, and responding to beat, rhythm and qualities of music, such as loud and soft, and fast and slow.

Throughout grade one the students will continue to develop the five elements of music: rhythm, melody, harmony, form and expression.  The following list provides the specific skills that will be taught and/or reviewed.

• Performing a steady beat using body percussion, pitched and NPP instruments

• Understanding that there is a difference between beat and rhythm

• Experiencing singing alone and in a group

• Singing accurately in unison

• Recognizing, echoing, clapping and writing rhythm patterns consisting of Ta and Ti-Ti

• Playing rhythm and ORFF instruments correctly

• Participating cooperatively in musical activities.

Second grade students are exposed to music of various styles, eras, genres and cultures.  They will learn about famous musicians of the past as well as contemporary musicians and those from various cultures.  Students will develop their understanding of pitch, melody and rhythm by singing, playing instruments and exploring creative movement.  Students will continue to learn and use the vocabulary of music such as tempo, melody, echo, solo, beat, form and dynamics.

Third grade students sing, move to music and begin to play simple melody instruments. They also learn how instruments work together in an orchestra to create one voice. Over the year they will develop recognition of musical notation. They begin to read music from the treble clef staff, identify the symbols of individual pitches and rests as well as explain their purpose and usage. Students will continue to add to their music vocabulary and understanding of pitch, meter, form, rhythm, tempo and melody.

Grade 4 - Fourth grade students explore music through listening, singing and playing various instruments including the soprano recorder.  They will learn to identify various instruments and voices as well as improvise short pieces of music.  We will be studying traditional and folk songs from around the world and many of the songs will reinforce what students are learning in class.

We will be starting on recorder this year.  Please make sure your child brings their recorder home and washes regularly. 

Washing your recorder:

• Each time you use - clean with cleaning cloth inside both pieces

• Once a week - wash in warm/hot soapy water (not boiling), then rinse and let air dry.

• Once per month - run through the dishwasher in the upper tray.

Fifth-grade students explore music through listening, singing, moving, and playing a wide range of instruments, including xylophones, metallophones, rhythm instruments, alto recorders, and ukuleles. They continue to develop a rich musical vocabulary and deepen their understanding of the elements of music; rhythm, melody, harmony, form, expression, and tone colour, building on concepts learned in earlier grades.

Grade 6 students spend the year in a full-year Beginning Band, learning woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments while deepening their understanding of rhythm, melody, harmony, form, expression, and tone colour. They build strong fundamentals, posture, breathing, embouchure, and ensemble skills, while reading more complex rhythms, key signatures, and expressive markings.