Ongoing

Each grade level studies the five major elements of music in accordance with the CCSD Elementary Music Curriculum. These five elements, and some major goals for each, are listed below (This list is not exhaustive and merely highlights major concepts within each element).

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Each element is presented through several means: movement, speaking and singing, playing on instruments, listening, reading and writing notation, and creating or improvising original material in a collaborative classroom setting.

 

Rhythm

K-1 Experience and demonstrate steady pulse.

2-3 Develop rhythmic reading and independence.

4-5 Master basic rhythmic patterns, and experience more complex patterns such as mixed meter.

 

Melody

K-1 Experience pitch matching and identify high and low.

2-3 Develop proper singing and playing technique.

4-5 Master common melodic patterns (scales, etc.) and apply to learning new music.

 

Harmony

K-1 Experience and identify changes in harmony; play simple accompaniments on mallet instruments.

2-3 Develop singing and playing in harmony using rounds, canons, etc.

4-5 Demonstrate and identify specific changes in harmony by singing, playing instruments, and listening.

 

Form

K-1 Experience 2-part (AB) form and musical phrase.

2-3 Identify 2-part (AB), 3-part (ABA), and rondo (ABACA) form, and demonstrate musical phrase.

4-5 Demonstrate all basic elements of form, including introduction, interlude and coda.

 

Expressive Qualities

K-1 Experience differences in timbre, dynamics, tempo, etc.

2-3 Identify and interpret common musical symbols.

4-5 Describe or perform a piece of music using appropriate expressive terminology or techniques.