Mary E. Dardess

Elementary School

Music

Play the music, not the instrument. 

~Author Unknown

Curriculum

Music Goals by Grade

 

K           Find and use one’s singing voice (echo and unison)

             Keep the steady beat with body movements and instruments

             Play traditional play party games

             Learn basic musical concepts (loud/soft, high/low, fast/slow)

 

1            Sing unison songs

             Play beat, ostinati, and rhythm of words

             Play traditional play party games

             Use basic musical concepts (loud/soft, high/low, fast/slow)

 

2            Sing unison songs

             Play beat, ostinati, and rhythm of words

             Play traditional play party games

             Create and use homemade instruments

 

3            Play ostinati independently

             Create and perform a Vivaldi Season “play”

             Dance to Classical and African music

             Sing, dance, and play music from around the world

            

4            Sing unison, round, and partner songs

             Sing solo in front of class and practice being a “helpful and kind” listener

Improvise and compose music for classroom instruments

Sing, dance, and play music from America

Music Goals by Skill

 

Singing

K           Singing voice, echo, solo, group

1            Sing in unison, read contour cards

2            Sing in unison, read contour of songs

3            Sing unison and round songs, read do re mi

4            Sing unison, round, and partner songs, read do re mi fa so

 

Rhythm

K           Perform steady beat

1 Perform beat, word rhythm, and ostinati:

             - use quarter note, double eighth notes, and quarter rest

2            Perform ostinati, read rhythms: review previous year, add half note

3            Perform ostinati, read rhythms: review previous year, add whole note

4            Perform ostinati, read rhythms: review previous year, add 1/16 notes and ties

 

Movement

K           Body and space awareness, beat, play simple play party games

1            Finding a partner

2            Dancing in Longways formation

3            Dancing Italian and African Folk Dances

4            Dancing American Folk Dances

 

Concept Focus

K           Beat, Singing Voice, High vs. low, Fast vs. slow, Loud vs. soft

1            Solo/group, Dynamics

2            Dynamics, Verse vs. Refrain, Rhythm Reading

3            Playing instruments in an ensemble, Multi-cultural music

4            Singing, American music

 

Instrument Use

K           Non-pitched sound effect & beat

1            Non-pitched ostinato

2            Pitched Orff instruments, homemade instruments

3            African drums

4            Pitched Orff instruments, hand drum

 

Improvisation/ Composition Opportunities

K           Suggest movements & words

1            Improvise rhythms on non-pitched percussion

2            Improvise rhythms on Orff instruments

3            Improvise and compose rhythms on drums

4            Compose drum corps song, orchestrate songs for Orff instruments