Students in all elementary grades (K-5) receive 30 minutes of music instruction every other day.  Below is an overview of the major units and curricular objectives at each grade level:

Kindergarten

Students in kindergarten music classes sing, play classroom instruments, and move to music during their music classes.  Kindergarten students learn about how to use each of their four voices (speaking, whispering, calling, and singing) and work to consistently use their singing voices during songs. In addition, kindergarten students also learn how to play all basic classroom instruments, and they develop a basic movement vocabulary.  A primary focus of kindergarten and first grade music is learning how to keep a steady beat. Kindergarten students regularly practice keeping the steady beat on their bodies (patting, clapping, etc.) and on classroom percussion instruments while singing or listening to recorded music.  Music classes in kindergarten typically end with listening to or singing a songtale (song story).

1st Grade

Students in first grade music classes regularly sing, play classroom instruments, move to music, and listen to songtales and recorded music.  First grade students work to become proficient at keeping a steady beat on their bodies (patting, clapping, etc.) and on classroom percussion instruments.  Formal music notation is presented for the first time in first grade, as students are introduced to the quarter note (ta), quarter rest (shh), and pair of eighth notes (ti-ti).  Developing the student’s natural singing voice, rather than a speaking or speak/singing voice, remains a major focus in first grade. Students work on singing in-tune as the first notes in the scale (mi, sol, la) are presented and practiced with singing games.  In the spring, first grade students are introduced to the instruments of the orchestra through an interactive program called The Instrument Adventure, produced by Carnegie Hall.

2nd Grade

Students in second grade music classes regularly sing, play classroom instruments, move to music, and listen to songtales and recorded music.  Second grade students’ rhythmic vocabulary continues to grow, adding the half note (ta-a) and half rest to the rhythms already learned in first grade.  Work on in-tune singing also continues in second grade. By the end of second grade, students know the full pentatonic scale (do, re, mi, sol, la) and practice singing and writing those pitches with singing games and simple composition activities.  Second grade students begin formal keyboard (piano) instruction and learn how to play melodic phrases and short melodies on the black keys of the keyboards. In the spring, second grade students put on a Story and Song music program in conjunction with the second grade reading fair.

3rd Grade

Students in third grade regularly sing, play classroom instruments, move to music, listen to recorded music, and compose/arrange music during their music classes.  Third grade students’ rhythmic vocabulary continues to grow, adding the dotted half note (ta-2-3), whole note (ta-2-3-4), and whole rest to the rhythms already learned in second grade.  The note names of the treble clef are introduced in third grade before students begin learning to play the soprano recorder. Third grade students also continue their keyboard (piano) studies and learn how to play melodies on the white keys of the keyboard.  In the spring, third grade students prepare for and present a children’s musical on the gym stage. Recent third grade musicals have included Hats, Squirm, and Three of a Kind.

4th Grade

Students in fourth grade regularly sing, play classroom instruments, move to music, listen to recorded music, and compose/arrange music during their music classes.  Fourth grade students’ rhythmic vocabulary continues to grow, adding syncopation (syn-co-pa) to the rhythms already learned in third grade. Students are also introduced to the extended note names of the treble clef.  Fourth grade students continue to increase their note naming and instrumental playing skills while continuing to play the soprano recorder and keyboards (pianos). In the winter, fourth grade students prepare for and present a children’s musical on the gym stage.  Recent fourth grade musicals have included Go West and Joust.

5th Grade

Students in fifth grade regularly sing, play classroom instruments, move to music, listen to recorded music, and compose/arrange music during their music classes.  Fifth grade students’ rhythmic vocabulary continues to grow, adding sixteenth note (ti-ka-ti-ka) rhythms to the rhythms already learned in fourth grade. Students are introduced to the note names of the bass clef in fifth grade, and students apply that knowledge while increasing their keyboard (piano) skills in the keyboard lab.  In addition to keyboards, fifth grade students also learn to play the ukulele for the first time in their music classes. In the fall, fifth grade students prepare for and present a children’s musical on the gym stage. Recent fifth grade musicals have included Pirates, Rock and Roll Forever, and Lights, Camera, Action!