Kindergarten: Class is all about sing, say, dance and play!! Focus is mainly on internalizing the steady beat, using a proper singing voice and basic rhythm identification
1st Grade: Rhythm - reading and performing rhythms using 4-beat quarter note, quarter rest and eighth note patterns. Pitch - singing patterns using "sol, la and mi" in echo form and from notation on a 3-line staff. Accompanying song with a steady beat pattern on instruments. Learn theme-related dances.
2nd grade: Rhythm - reading and performing rhythms using 4-beat quarter note, quarter rest, eighth note, half note and half rest pattern Pitch - singing patterns using "do, mi, sol and la" in echo form and from notation on the music staff. Accompanying song with a steady beat, moving pattern on instruments. Learn theme-related dances
3rd grade: Rhythm - reading and performing rhythms using 4-beat quarter note, quarter rest, eighth note, half note, half rest and dotted half note patterns. Pitch - singing patterns using "do, re, mi, sol and la" in echo form and from notation on the 5-line staff. Theory - learning the parts of the music staff and identifying the notes by name on the music staff. We will start learning to play the recorder while reading music from the music staff!!!
4th grade: Rhythm - reading and performing rhythms using quarter note, quarter rest, eighth note, half note, half rest, dotted half note and syncopated patterns. Pitch - singing patterns using "do, re, mi, fa, sol, la and high do" in echo for and from notation on the 5-line staff. Student learn about the instrument families. We also travel the world through music, exploring various cultures and making connections to our own culture here in America!
5th grade: We are experimenting with using everyday objects as instruments. After working in groups and reading off of a musical score, students will record a unique composition which implements new rhythmic patterns.
6th grade: We are exploring the genre of Rap. Students will work together to compose a rap of their own which will then be recorded. Not only will the raps be recited, but students will compose steady beat ostinatos to perform along with their words.
7th grade: Students are studying the music of the Jazz Era. They will analyze various pieces of music, compare and contrast them to music of today, and discover the importance of that music in culture and society. Musicians include Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Benny Goodman.
8th grade: Students are exporing music in our everyday lives. After leading a discussion on how music is incorporated throughout our daily routine, we will create and record radio commercials. These will include specific music selections, along with understanding the importance of inflection and use of the voice.