A Modern General Music Program.
Students will learn how to play popular instruments, understand musics' place in our culture and how we have arrived with todays music through invention and improvisation, creating music with technology, understand the careers and hobbies in music that will last a lifetime, and the ways studying music positively improves and supports all core subjects, their focus, fine motor skills, and practice strategies for success. Students are given a foundation they can continue to build outside of school.
In fifth grade we learn and review introductory music theory. Then learn how to play beginner piano and how music and sound are used in media. In sixth grade students will build on what they have learned on piano the year before with the addition of intervals, chords, and world music through percussion ensembles. We will also use technology to record what they've learned, create presentations on composers and periods, and use software to improve their reading and composition skills. In seventh students move from piano to guitar, bass, and drums. What they have learned and experience with fine motor skills prepares students well to succeed in playing these popular instruments. They are introduced to chord progressions and reading lead sheets. They will have a final project that involves the history of blues. Finally in eighth we will expand on their seventh grade experience and learn more chords and do more popular music. Students will be expected to become more independent learners. This will result in a rock band experience.
In fifth grade we learn and review introductory music theory. Then learn how to play beginner piano and how music and sound are used in media. In sixth grade students will build on what they have learned on piano the year before with the addition of intervals, chords, and world music through percussion ensembles. We will also use technology to record what they've learned, create presentations on composers and periods, and use software to improve their reading and composition skills. In seventh students move from piano to guitar, bass, and drums. What they have learned and experience with fine motor skills prepares students well to succeed in playing these popular instruments. They are introduced to chord progressions and reading lead sheets. They will have a final project that involves the history of blues. Finally in eighth we will expand on their seventh grade experience and learn more chords and do more popular music. Students will be expected to become more independent learners. This will result in a rock band experience.