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Music touches the mind, body, and spirit. Music is a compelling, meaningful, and powerful force in our lives. The study of music is vital to the appreciation and understanding of our culture and other cultures of the world. Through listening, performing, and composing, we create opportunities for our students to have a deeper understanding of music.
The music curriculum is based on experiential learning. The primary goal of the music program is to develop basic music literacy and to insure that students have a basic knowledge of music history and literature. The music curriculum is organized as an inverted pyramid. As beginning musicians, students learn general skills and concepts. Once they develop more skills, they have access to a wide variety of performance, composition, and theory courses, so they can explore their own creative musical impulses.
Research shows music skills directly improve reading, math, and coordination. Singing is a daily experience in the lower school music classroom. Additionally, movement, instrumental accompaniment, and improvisation are used on a regular basis. All children are encouraged to respect each others efforts as well as to be accepting partners in any game or movement. Children learn to listen, observe, and evaluate their own efforts and musical growth.
Private music lessons are available after school. Please contact main office for more information.
Kindergarten
Kindergartner's engage in music through guided exploration that allows them musical self- expression. Children learn songs, and follow simple dance and movement directions with different rhythms.
First and Second Grade
First and second graders further develop their understanding of pitch, melody, and rhythm by being the musicians and dancers themselves. In addition to being introduced to the basic elements of music, students are also exposed to various aspects of music such as syncopation; they learn how these terms relate to things they hear, sing, and enjoy.
Third Grade
Third Graders sing more complicated melodies with longer texts. The accompaniments are longer and more complex and two-part singing is introduced. Third graders are expected to further their musicianship, focus, and concentration. The increased use of the instruments helps to develop the student's skill and growing sense of musical aesthetics. The children realize that they are truly becoming musicians. Students begin playing the recorder. Additional musical terms and directions are introduced and students begin to develop an awareness through playing of the importance of practice as one of the keys to improvement.
Fourth Grade
Students in fourth grade receive information about different aspects of the musical experience (composition, choral singing, rhythm, etc.) A key component of the fourth grade curriculum is preparing students for fifth grade. Instrument and vocal demonstrations are given, as well as time for each child to try the various instruments taught in fifth grade, so that families can make informed decisions in regard to how their child will receive musical instruction the following year.
Fifth and Sixth Grade
Beginning in fifth grade and continuing through eighth grade, the middle school music curriculum is a mix of spotlight on music by MacMillan/McGraw-Hill on rhythmic patterns, playing, singing, sight reading, and composing, along with Appreciating Music by BJU Press where students will learn about basic sound producers, elements of music, forms of music, and music historical prospective.
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