What are we learning in music class?

Every grade from kindergarten through fifth grade features active music making with chants, singing, movement, instruments and games.  

There are six primary concepts in the music curriculum:

1. Melody: high & low sounds, direction/patterns, the ability to hear and match individual pitches both vocally and on instruments, and reading from icons or notation.  

2. Harmony: recognizing and playing accompaniments, learning to sing in canon (rounds), partner songs & chords.

3. Rhythm: recognition and playing steady beat as well as patterns of notes and rests.

4. Form: identification of patterns and phrases within songs.

5. Timbre: identification of sound quality and classification (instrument families, choral families).

6. Expression: recognition and practice of how music conveys and inspires emotion.

How is my child graded in music class?

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 according to Green Tree's Essentials for Character:

• • 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!

When does my child attend music class?

Students attend music class once a week for 60 minutes.   Specials are scheduled on numbered days 1-5. Please consult your child's class schedule for when your child will attend class.  Some 3rd Grade students in the 2025-26 school year will have Mr. Prater for music.

What can my child expect in music class?

Students can expect to sing, move, and play instruments frequently 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.  We view and critique performances, learning how to become respectful to each other as creators, musicians, and contributors to the musical environment.

Will my child have concerts?

Performances are an exciting a part of the active music making process!  Performing happens throughout the year in our classroom, and at times, for a public audience.

This year's public concert calendar is being finalized.  I view performances as an opportunity to share our learning with an audience, so all performances are designed to support an display the learning goals of the grade level.

Elementary concerts are typically 5 songs with an estimated running time of 30-45 minutes.  A musical is a similar length with short dialog between scenes and simple costumes & scenery.  Concerts and musicals 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: No public performance-- this is a year where we focus on how to make music with others and establish ourselves as beat-keepers, melody makers, and expressive performers in the music room.

• 1st grade: No public performance-- this is a year where we perform rhythms and melodies in class and focus on literacy and making music with others at a cooperative level.

• 2nd grade:  This year, we will present a Veterans Day program during the school day on Tuesday, Nov. 11.

• 3rd grade: No public performance--this is a year where we perform many arrangements in class as we learn to read rhythms and music notation at a higher level.

• 4th grade: We perform musical selections throughout the year. Last year, we enjoyed a recorder music performance in the spring, and this year, we will share a musical "informance" on April 14, 2026.

• 5th grade: Performs at DARE graduation annually as well as 5th grade camp songs.