Elementary School General Music Program

“Music is a more potent instrument than any other for education.”  - Plato

Music participation provides a unique opportunity for literacy preparation. Recent research has found that music uses both sides of the brain, a fact that makes it valuable in all areas of development. Music affects the growth of a child’s brain academically, emotionally, physically and spiritually.  The elementary school’s general music program is taught by Mr. DiMiceli.

*First grade general music is largely a continuation of the curricular themes introduced in kindergarten.  

*Students continue to sing, say, dance and play.

*Main themes are rhythm, melody, form and dynamics 

Second Grade

*Music notation is introduced

*Connection is now made between the previous two years’ musical experiences and written musical symbols

*Further exploration of classroom percussion instruments and their relationship to written music

*Explore improvisation

*Acoustics (the science of sound)

Third Grade

*The Third Grade General Music curriculum is largely a continuation of the themes explored in Second Grade. Practice makes perfect! 

*Introduction to recorders (This is a main idea for at least ½ of the school year.) 

*Deeper exploration of multicultural music

*Harmony is explored 

Fourth Grade

*In the class songwriting is explored (poetry and music) in large and small group. 

*Acoustics (the science of sounds) revisited

* In class, small group, percussion “bands” are formed.

 Fifth Grade 

* Songwriting and poetry continued

* Continuation of xylophone, drums/percussion, recorder, etc. for the purpose of teambuilding, music making, and self-expression

* Musical instrument making project; final culmination of our study through the years of acoustics and the families of musical instruments

* Vocal instruction continues

* Program is aligned with the New York State Standards for the Performing Arts for Vocal Instruction

* SOLFEGE/KODAY :pitch/ear training instruction methods

* Basic Music Theory: geared for vocalists to identify the steps of the scale, basic chord progressions and music reading