Music

Our Mission:

The General Music Department at Marshall Road is devoted to instilling a strong appreciation of music in all students. Students are given opportunities to explore every aspect of music: listening, composing, creating, performing and more!

Content Emphases:

The following are brief descriptions of what each grade level will be accomplishing this year. Check back here after Back-to-School night for quarterly goals for each grade level.

KINDERGARTEN:

The standards for Kindergarten General Music serve as the foundation for further music instruction. Students are introduced to basic musical concepts through singing, playing instruments, listening, and moving. Emphasis is placed on beginning to obtain musical knowledge, skills, and understanding as performers, composers, and listeners. Students investigate personal feelings and preferences evoked by musical experiences.

FIRST GRADE:

The standards for Grade 1 General Music emphasize the language and production of music. Instruction focuses on the development of skills in singing, playing instruments, listening, moving, and responding to music. Emphasis is placed on performing simple rhythms and developing aural skills related to pitch, musical form, and instrument identification. Students investigate the purpose of music and how people participate in music in everyday life.

SECOND GRADE:

The standards for Grade 2 General Music enable students to continue developing musical skills and concepts in singing, playing instruments, listening, performing, responding with expression, creating/composing, and moving with a focus on fine motor skills. Emphasis is placed on ensemble playing, notating pitches and rhythms, and identifying orchestral instruments. As the students begin to further develop their critical listening skills, they will reflect upon the successes of their performances, recognize areas for improvement and communicate feedback. Students investigate the roles of music in various world cultures, make connections between music and other subject areas, and explore how music evokes personal ideas and emotions.

THIRD GRADE:

The standards for Grade 3, enable general music students to continue developing musical skills and concepts in singing, playing instruments, listening, performing, responding with expression, creating/composing, and moving with a focus on fine motor skills. Emphasis is on ensemble playing, recorder playing, notating pitches and rhythms, and identifying orchestral instruments. Students investigate the roles of music in various world cultures and explore how music evokes personal ideas and emotions.

FOURTH GRADE:

The standards for Grade 4 General Music emphasize a deeper understanding of musical concepts, including singing, playing instruments, listening, creating, composing, and performing. Students continue to expand their knowledge of orchestral instruments and music from various cultures. Students gain understanding of music styles and listen to, analyze, and describe music.

FIFTH GRADE:

The standards for Grade 5 General Music enable students to use their music knowledge and skills to synthesize information and create music. Students continue to read, write, and compose music, using increasingly complex rhythms and meters. They begin to develop choral skills, including singing in two- and three-part harmony. Students explore and perform a variety of music styles and develop personal criteria to be used for describing and analyzing musical performances.

SIXTH GRADE:

The standards for Grade Six General Music enable students to continue acquiring musical knowledge and skills by singing, playing instruments, performing rhythms, moving to music, composing, and improvising. Students explore music theory by reading and writing music notation, and they become familiar with a variety of musical styles and musical works from different periods of music history. Students demonstrate an understanding of music and its relationship to history, culture, and other fields of knowledge, and they become aware of the contributions of music to the quality of the human experience.

At-Home Enrichment:

Activities to do at home:

The following list is a a small sample of some of the great online music resources out there! These sites include online games and other enriching musical activities

Preschool Prodigies- Great for students of all ages looking to hone their rhythmic skills!

Chuck Vanderchuck's Something Something Explosion- Explore this site to create music and learn about many different types of music.

Little Einsteins- Increase your knowledge of classical music and iconic artwork with the games on this site.

Squeaky's Recorder Playhouse- The resources on this site will help you maintain your recorder skills!

Beep Box- See what it is like to be a music producer by creating and mixing your own electronic music.

Kelly Riley's Online Classroom- Games for all ages to practice skills in every area of music.

Activities to get the whole family out of the house:

Family Friendly Events at the Kennedy Center- Check here for Kennedy Center events for the whole family!