During the first week of school, the 2nd grade music students will begin a unit on Tempo, Dynamics, and Articulations. Students will be learning to define and apply dynamics, piano, forte, tempo, presto, largo, legato, and staccato. There will be a unit assessment in mid September where the students will correctly label the tempo, dynamics, and articulations of listening examples. This unit directly addresses Standard E-1.a Demonstrate and connect melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic patterns using expressive elements; Standard E-1.b Demonstrate rhythmic and melodic ostinati in small groups; E-2.b Demonstrate a variety of developmentally appropriate and culturally diverse melodies with accurate rhythm, tempo, and dynamics; Standard E-2.c Make observations and draw conclusions about the rhythms, tempos, and dynamics of the music to which students are singing, playing, and moving; Standard E-2.d Apply the concepts of rhythm, tempo, and dynamics to the music to which students are sining, playing, and moving; Standard T-2.a Tempo: Identify and demonstrate presto/largo; Standard T-2.b Dynamics: Identify and demonstrate forte/piano; Standard T-2.c Articulation: Identify and demonstrate smooth/connected, short/separated; and Standard R-1.a Communicate understanding of music's expressive qualities that influence personal preference.