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Elementary Music

The Music Curriculum for the Elementary grades are as follows:

Learning Focus: 
Our music program here at St. Leo Catholic School is based upon the Orff Schulwerk Approach which is focused on the creative process in learning music through singing, moving, and instruments. 

 

Kindergarten
During Kindergarten, students learn how to show and experience steady beat;  imitate 2 pitch melody and recognizing the melody using iconic symbols;  dynamics and tempo recognition;  compose and read simple rhythm patterns using iconic symbols for quarter notes and quarter rests. 

First Grade and Second Grade
Begin using proper technique and problem solving strategy techniques when singing and playing variety of music using pitched and unpitched instruments.  Steady beat proficiency is continued along with imitating 3 note patterns.  Iconic symbols and standard notation is used to identify half notes, quarter notes, half and quarter rests and beamed eight notes.

Third Grade and Fourth Grade
Apply changes in dynamics, tempo, timbre and texture when singing and playing.  Use expressive qualities when performing music from different genres and cultures.  Interpret and notate rhythm patterns in 2/4, 3/4, 4/4.  Recognize standard symbols and terms for dynamics, tempo, and articulation.  Also recognize treble clef notes. Begin part singing through vocal ostinatos, partner songs, counter-melodies in rounds of two or more parts.  4th grade begins learning to play the recorder.

Fifth Grade
Continuation of recorders.  Recognize and interpret patterns in 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 6/8 using whole, half, dotted half, quarter, dotted quarter, eighth, and sixteenth notes and rests.  Recognize bass and treble clef notes. 

The curriculum used in the elementary grades will be drawn from Music Express, Gameplan, First Steps by John Feierabend and Music Play.