General Music Program

Goals:

Music class develops MUSICIANSHIP, the skills and understanding required by all music makers.

Music class is filled with active music making. Students learn by doing.

Music class develops fluency with music. Students internalize the structure of music, gain a rich musical vocabulary, and express their understanding through creative improvisation and composition.

Music class immerses students in the rich musical heritage of America and provides meaningful experiences with other cultures of the world.

Music class provides sequential musical challenges that constantly stretch the abilities of all children regardless of musical aptitude

Music class reflects the Maine Learning Results and the national standards of the National Music Educators Association.

Activities:

Singing

Children sing in a group and solo

A rich variety of songs of excellent quality

Unison, rounds, part songs

Instrument Playing

Percussion instruments

Xylophones and other Orff Instruments

African and Latin American drums

Recorder (4th grade)

Kinesthetic Movement

Expressive movement and body awareness

Beat exploration

Singing games

American folk dances (ex: play party dances, contra dance, square dance)

International folk dances (ex: Jewish circle dances, English Morris Dance)

Dramatizations of songs and stories

Improvising, Arranging, and Composing

Improvisation of tonal and rhythmic patterns (ex: musical "conversations")

Vocal improvisation of melodies

Instrumental accompaniments to songs

Compositions for xylophones and percussion

Song writing

Tunes for recorder

Listening

Listening supports active music making by providing a model of musicianship

Listening introduces children to more complex music beyond their performance abilities