Music
About Elementary Music
Elementary Music Education
Kindergarten–4th Grade
All students Kindergarten through 4th grade enjoy a comprehensive General Music program. A highly qualified music teacher on each campus introduces children to rhythm, melody, harmony, form, tone color, texture, and style. Students learn through singing, moving, playing instruments, listening, writing, creating, and improvising. Students at all grade levels perform in musical events throughout the school year.
5th & 6th Grade Music Classes
5th and 6th-grade students have a choice of 3 music classes:
- Band
- String Orchestra
- General music
General Music in 5th and 6th grade is unit-based and continues to build on the vocabularies of music that the students have explored in K–4. Relationships to the student’s social studies curriculum are established, particularly American music in 5th grade and world music in 6th grade. Individual schools may offer experiences with ukulele, guitar, world drumming, keyboards and more when these instruments are available.
Our String Orchestra and Band programs in 5th and 6th grade are led by highly qualified music teachers with a specialty in the area of either string or band instruments. They are teacher-performers who truly love music and are committed to keeping up to date with the latest in music curriculum and teaching strategies. Students have the choice of an extensive range of instruments to learn:
- String Orchestra - violin, viola, cello, bass
- Band - flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, baritone, tuba, percussion
Ultimately the elementary music curriculum is designed to produce performance competencies that are appropriate to the student's music experience and development. Our music classes create opportunities for students to develop many life skills which contribute to their long-term educational and personal development, such as teamwork, self-discipline, concentration, commitment, coordination of muscle motor groups, visual and auditory development, positive self-image, listening skills, self-expression, and creativity.