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Course of study in Music, a K-12 Overview 
Guitar fingering 

 

The school district offers a standard program of study in music in elementary schools. At middle and high schools, students may choose from a variety of music electives. Students in music classes at all grade levels have several opportunities for music performance in a variety of venues. Students and teachers take great pride in quality music performance and artistry. Across the district, student performing groups and individual student performances receive formal and informal recognition for their excellence, maturity, and pursuit of professional quality performances.

 

 

Elementary Music classes meet for 45 minutes, once a week, in kindergarten and 45 minutes twice a week at first - fifth grade. All music classes are taught by music specialists. Student performances are showcased several times per year. Fourth grade students take a standardized district assessment in three of the key music standards. Instrumental music is offered concurrently with general music in the fifth grade.

Middle Level music instruction for the middle level features exploratory courses as well as a full compliment of choirs, orchestras, and bands. Students have several opportunities for individual and group performances at the middle level. 6th grade music classes meet every other day and 7th and 8th grade music classes meet daily. Students who are interested in taking more than one music class at the middle level should inquire with their music teacher and/or counselor for scheduling options that might be available for this level of interest. Eight grade students in core music classes take a standardized district music assessment.

High School students will be provided with a comprehensive slate of audition and non-audition choirs, orchestras, jazz bands, marching bands, concert bands. In addition, in schools where the demand exists, music theory is available. While performance is a strong component of the high school music program, students are engaged in all the music standards for a comprehensive music experience. Many performing groups across the school district are recognized for their excellence and receive numerous awards and recognition. High school students who are interested in taking two music classes should check with their teacher and/or counselor for scheduling options. Music is one of three departments in which students may earn graduation credit toward the humanities/fine arts graduation requirements. 11th grade students in core music classes take a standardized music assessment.

Music Standard 1  

Students will sing alone and/or with others a varies repertoire of music.

Rationale: music-making is one of our oldest , most intimate, and basic forms of communication and cultural expression. Singing and movement provide students with the means of learning musical and developmental skills. Learning to make music enables students to attain individual and group goals, acquire self-discipline, exercise divers problem solving skills, and opens avenues of success for all students. Growth in singing occurs by applying skills to increasingly challenging music literature.

Music Standard 2

Students will perform on pitched and non-pitched classroom instruments, alone and/or with others, a varied repertoire of music.

Rationale: music-making is one of our oldest , most intimate, and basic forms of communication and cultural expression. Playing an instrument provides students with the means of learning musical and developmental skills. Learning to make music enables students to attain individual and group goals, acquire self-discipline, exercise diverse problem solving skills, and opens avenues of success for all students. growth in playing music occurs by applying skills to increasingly challenging music literature.

Music Standard 3 

Students will create, improvise, and/or compose music.

Rationale: Creativity is one of the most important fundamental thought processes of humankind. Through creative activities, such as composing and improvising, students will learn to explore and connect ideas with symbols, sound patterns, and musical elements.

Music Standard 4 

Students will read and notate music.

Rationale: learning to read and notate music helps students comprehend and express the universal language of music. Knowledge and understanding of music notation is essential to music literacy.

Music Standard 5  

Students will listen to, analyze, and describe music.

Rationale: Music is a part of daily life. Students become educated music listeners through learning to describe and analyze music as an expressive art form.

Music Standard 6  

Students will evaluate music and music performances.

Rationale: Music is a part of daily life. Students become educate consumers of music by learning to critically listen to and evaluate music as an expressive art form. Critical listening and thinking skills learned through music are essential to a successful, comprehensive educational experience. 

Music Standard 7  

Students will understand relationships among music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts.

Rationale: Music and the arts connect person and experience directly; they build a bridge between verbal and non-verbal; between the strictly logical and the emotion - the better to gain an understanding of the whole. Both approaches are powerful and both are necessary: To deny students either to disable them. the complete students is one who has both right and left brains stimulated consistently and equally.

Music Standard 8  

Students will understand music in relation to history and culture.

Rationale: Music is an important element of the historical and cultural record of humankind. Students, through the study of music, will develop and understanding and appreciation of various cultures and histories.

 
 

 

For additional information, please e-mail Fine Arts Office.