Kindergarten
In kindergarten, our main focus is on musical opposites. These opposites include the differences between fast/slow, loud/soft, high/low, up/down and long/short as well as the ability to keep a steady beat, play simple rhythms and recognize the mood of a piece of music. We use a variety of nursery rhymes along with our normal ETM songs to work on this and use several picture books along the way as well. All music "reading" at this level is done using iconic symbols and student created symbols.
1st Grade
In first grade, we deepen our knowledge of the musical opposites learned in Kindergarten by learning some more technical musical terms. In addition, traditional music notation is introduced for the first time with emphasis on being able to read simple rhythms with double eighth notes, quarter notes and quarter rests. Our big musical study this year includes Camille Saint-Saens' Carnival of the Animals!
2nd Grade
2nd graders continue to enrich their knowledge of music with the introduction of more complex rhythms including half notes and sixteenth notes. At this level, students are also introduced to the musical staff for the first time concentrating on the differences between line notes and space notes. We use a book called Freddie the Frog and the Thump in the Night to introduce the first 6 notes of the Treble Clef in the Fall. Then, we follow that up in the Spring with Freddie the Frog and the Secret of Crater Island to finish off the Treble Clef notes. The kids love Freddie and it helps them remember the note names on the staff better than just memorizing like I did back in the "old days". 2nd graders will end the year with an all school assembly where they are the featured performers.
3rd Grade
The main focus of 3rd grade music is Instruments. We learn the 4 families of instruments, how instruments get classified into those categories, and which instruments fit into each family. We do this by listening to the various instruments as well as studying how they look and how they are made. After studying each family, we build our own instrument from that family to take home. We will also take a field trip to see an Orchestra in the Spring and bring in small chamber groups to perform in the classroom when possible.
4th Grade
The main focus of 4th grade music is on playing the recorder. All musical skills, such as rhythm, note reading, dynamics, tempo and composition, will be taught through the use of the recorder.
5th Grade
Students in the 5th grade will put their prior musical knowledge to good use as we study meter, rhythm patterns, melodic elements, form and composition. In addition, students will experiment with harmony and identifying music from a variety of time periods and genres. Recently, 5th graders have concluded their year with an assembly allowing them to put all of their musical skills to good use and say goodbye to their time as Leal students.