Every grade from kindergarten through fifth grade features active music making with chants, singing, movement, instrument and games.
There are six primary concepts in the music curriculum:
Melody: high & low sounds, the ability to hear and match individual pitches both vocally and on instruments.
Harmony: recognizing and playing accompaniments, learning to sing in canon (rounds), partner songs & chords.
Rhythm: recognition and playing steady beat as well as patterns of notes and rests.
Form: identification of patterns and phrases within songs.
Timbre: identification of sound quality and classification (instrument family, choral families).
Expression: recognition and practice of how music conveys and inspires emotion.
Kindergarten-Fifth Grade: grades are issued twice a year for special area classes at end of second & fourth quarters in December & May.
Students receive two marks as follows:
Demonstrating musical growth & development: demonstrating progress on the concepts above. Students are graded on a 1-4 scale for special area as follows:
1: Student is just starting to learn a new concept.
2: Student can demonstrate concepts with assistance.
3: Student can demonstrate concepts independently.
4: Student demonstrates significant mastery and assists others in need of help.
Appropriate effort & attitude: Students are graded on a 1-4 scale for music as follows:
1: Student is struggling significantly. Teacher has been in contact with parents.
2: Student may struggle at times but is making progress towards class & individual goals.
3: Student is making good progress towards class & individual goals.
4: Student is exceptional and is soaring above & beyond!
Students attend music class once a week for 60 minutes. Please consult your child's class schedule for when your child will attend class.
Students can expect to sing, move, and play instruments each week in music class. We will also practice both audience and performance behaviors as well as active listening with musical selections from a variety of time periods and world cultures.
Performances are an exciting a part of the active music making process! This year's concert calendar is below. Elementary concerts are typically 3-6 songs with an estimated running time of 20-35 minutes. This year at Crossroads, you will experience several Orff concerts that are based on picture books. Orff programs incorporate a combination of singing, saying (chants and rhythms), movement, and instruments. Concerts are prepared as part of the school day and do not require students to attend rehearsals outside of school hours except for the final performance.
Kindergarten Celebration: "Mini-Concert" of 2-3 shorts songs on Monday, May 11th, 2026 at 6:30pm at Liberty High School.
1st grade: No performances this year. We will be doing a performance in 2nd Grade next year!
2nd grade: "The Day the Crayons Quit" on Tuesday, April 14th, 2026 at 6:30pm at Liberty High School.
3rd grade: No performances this year. We will be doing a performance in 4th Grade next year!
4th grade: No performances this year. We will be working on how to be great audience members in the classroom!
5th grade: No performances this year! We will be prepping everything the kiddos need to know before they move on to 6th grade next year!
While not required, athletic shoes are a good idea as we do a great deal of movement activities, not to mention your student will be playing at recess everyday!
Get to Know the Crossroads Music Teachers!
Ms. Caylee McGlasson:
Hello! This will be my 6th year teaching in the Wentzville School District. However, the 2025-2026 school year will be my 8th year teaching elementary music! I began my teaching career in 2018 in the Rockwood School District and I have also worked in the St. Charles School District.
I have my Bachelors in K-12 Vocal and Choral Music Education from Lindenwood University. I am an active member of the St. Louis American Orff-Schulwerk Organization as I am passionate about creative and active music-making in the music classroom. I am certified in Level 1 and Level 2 of the Orff-Schulwerk approach. This means that your students will have many opportunities to sing, move, and play instruments throughout music class! I am also very passionate about equity and diversity and I strive to make sure all my students feel welcome and represented in my classroom.
Outside of school, I enjoy reading, traveling, going to coffee shops, and enjoying live music events. Additionally, I love to spoil my two kitties, Marshmallow and Malt Ball.
Mr. Nathan Prater:
This year will be my 2nd year teaching, but my first year teaching in the Wentzville District. Last year, I taught K-6 music in the St. Joseph School District, living just an hour north of Kansas City!
I have a bachelor's degree in K-12 Music Education, with an instrumental focus. My primary instrument is the clarinet, which I have been playing for 12 years! I am very passionate about creativity and letting students find ways to express themselves and collaborate in new ways through music.
Outside of school I am a huge fan of Star Wars, superheros, and building/collecting Legos!
Dr. Marc Strathman:
My name is Marc Strathman and I am glad to be starting my first year at Crossroads teaching music.
I am dad to Emily (14) and Chris (21) and I very proud of the young people they have become. I am an avid St. Louis Sports fan and can be found at a Blues, Battlehawks, City or Cardinals game pretty much any time.
In addition to my teaching, I am also the music director at St. Cletus Parish in St. Charles. And I sing with the 5 time international gold medal winning chorus The Ambassadors of Harmony.
Mr. Matt Hayes:
This is my 20th year teaching, and my 3rd year teaching at the elementary level. After 17 years of teaching band at the secondary level, I decided to switch to teaching elementary, and I love it!
In addition to Crossroads, I also travel between 3 other WSD elementary schools teaching music and computers.
I am from Wright City, MO, and I received my degrees from Truman State University. My wife and I live in Wentzville with our kids, Nolan (14) and Maggie (13), and our dog Harry. I am very excited for this school year!
Some images of Ms. McGlasson throughout her teaching career.