Academics ~ Enrichment
Music

"Let the children be their own composers." ~ Carl Orff
"It's okay to make mistakes when you've tried. It's a mistake not to try." ~ Lori Jungers

Music Curriculum

Pre-K
Pre-K music is based on Orff-Schulwerk methodology, incorporating speech, singing, movement, and instrument playing. The emphasis in each class is the active participation of each child. Students are introduced to pitched and unpitched percussion instruments, and are allowed to move freely and with a steady beat.  Rhythmic patterns are introduced and performed as well as singing and matching pitch.

Kindergarten
Kindergarten music is based on Orff-Schulwerk methodology, incorporating speech, singing, movement, and instrument playing. The emphasis in each class is the active participation of each child. Students learn to echo sing using all scale degrees, recognize musical symbols, plus note and rest values of quarter and eighth notes through the heart chart.  The students also learn to recognize instrument families of the orchestra, recognize instruments, move in rhythmic patterns, and properly play the barred Orff pitched percussion using correct mallet technique.

First Grade
First Grade music is based on Orff-Schulwerk methodology, incorporating speech, singing, movement, and instrument playing. The emphasis in each class is the active participation of each child. The students learn to sing on pitch, recognize note values, move in structured patterns, create simple movements for various styles of music, and improvise various ostinatos and sounds on the barred instruments.  Rhythmic speech is learned and transferred to both pitched and unpitched percussion instruments.

Second Grade        
Second Grade music is based on Orff-Schulwerk methodology, incorporating speech, singing, movement, and instrument playing. The emphasis in each class is the active participation of each child. Students will build upon knowledge gained in previous years.  Students will improvise melodies from the rhythm of words, create dances, and play simple Orff arrangements using both pitched and unpitched percussion.

Third Grade
Third Grade music is based on Orff-Schulwerk methodology, incorporating speech, singing, movement, and instrument playing. The emphasis in each class is the active participation of each child. Students will build upon the skills that have been taught in previous years. In addition they will learn the note names of the treble clef, learn all of the note and rest values, demonstrate music reading skills, explore the music and lives of various famous composers gaining an appreciation of classical music. They will also demonstrate good singing skills.

Fourth Grade
Fourth grade music is based on Orff-Schulwerk methodology, incorporating speech, singing, movement, and instrument playing. The emphasis in each class is the active participation of each child. Students will build upon the skills that have been taught the previous years as well as using music reading skills in playing the soprano recorder and in playing the pitched and unpitched Orff instruments. Students will also learn and perform folk dances from around the world, study famous composers and their music, and begin two part harmonic singing.

Fifth Grade
Fifth Grade music is based on Orff-Schulwerk methodology, incorporating speech, singing, movement, and instrument playing. The emphasis in each class is the active participation of each child. Students will build upon the skills that have been taught in previous years as well as utilize all aspects of instrument playing and  movement.  Students will also use creative improvisational skills,  continue to study famous composers and their music, and further develop their singing skills.

Sixth Grade
Sixth Grade music is based on Orff-Schulwerk methodology, incorporating speech, singing, movement, and instrument playing. The emphasis in each class is the active participation of each child.Students will build upon the skills that have been taught in previous years.  They will work to demonstrate good singing and instrument playing skills, and demonstrate the ability to play polyrhythmic patterns on various unpitched percussion instruments.  American jazz music and its composers and artists will be covered.

Seventh Grade
Students in seventh grade will learn theatre vocabulary and successfully perform a variety show highlighting song and dance.  Rehearsals are primarily held during their music classes. Two performances are held for the school and the public.

Eighth Grade
Students in eighth grade will successfully perform a full length musical.  Auditions are held at the beginning of their quarter.  Rehearsals are primarily held during their classes.  In addition to learning and memorizing lines, students learn detailed choreography for all musical numbers.  Three performances are held for the school and the public.

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