Teacher:

Mrs. Leslie Castellanos

Vocal Music Class Summary

Pre-Kindergarten through Second Grade

Music instruction begins in Pre-K, giving students the opportunity to enjoy and explore music through playing, learning, singing, and moving to music. They are taught the different used of the human voice: whispering, talking, shouting, and singing. As their singing voices develop, they learn to sing within their natural 3-5 note range. Emphasis is put on exploration and effort rather than accuracy.

Building on these basic skills, Kindergarten through Second learn to match pitch accurately within a 5 note range and start to expand their range to an octave. Basic rhythms are taught first by rote and then by symbol recognition. By 2nd grade they should be able to produce these rhythms accurately by clapping or playing on rhythm instruments.

Materials:
1-2-3 Echo Me, rhythm instruments, folk, nursery, and children’s songs, tapes (including Greg & Steve’s “We All Live Together,” John Farrell’s “How About You?” & “Turn the World Around,” and “Time for Music.”

Methods:
Classes meet twice a week. Everyday is spent singing and learning through songs. Some time each week we will learn about a new rhythm, instrument, or musical concept.

Third through Fifth Grade

By Third Grade, students should accurately be able to sing in an octave range. Adding to their skill of matching pitch by rote, they will begin to learn to read notes on the treble and bass clefs. Students will now learn to identify notes by name (quarter, half, whole, eighth, etc.). They will also know basic rhythms and be able to accurately reproduce them. Through 3rd-5th grades, students l expand their musical skills by beginning to learn partner songs and by 5th grade can sing simple two and three part songs. They will also learn to apply their knowledge of rhythms and note reading by playing rhythm and tuned instruments in an ensemble.

Materials:
World of Music (Silver Burdett & Ginn), patriotic, folk, and world music

Methods:
3rd-5th graders learn how music applies to themselves and the world around them. They will learn music from different countries and places, as well as from different historical periods and genres. Classes meet twice each week. Music is taught through singing songs and performing rhythm activities

Sixth through Ninth Grade

Students should be able to sing independently as well as in a mixed choir. Their development from 6th-9th grade should prepare them well to sing 3-4 part songs, having a good understanding of melody and harmony. Emphasis is also placed on their own singing part (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass) and how their voices change during these years. Having a good understanding of note reading, they are taught more complex rhythms (syncopation, dotted rhythms, triplets, etc.). They begin their study of music history, learning about different composers, their music, and their musical period.

Materials:
The Music Connection (Silver Burdett & Ginn)
From Bach to Rock (Kennedy)
Let’s Meet Famous Composers (Kinghorn)
Rhythm instruments
Various recordings of composers

Methods:
Classes meet twice per week. One day each week is spent singing music and learning musical principles. The second day is spent learning about composers and their music.