Music at GICS

You are also invited to visit Mrs. Vernon's Music Page to learn more about special performances and activities.  Be sure also to check out our Monthly Highlights following the Curriculum Overviews.

Curriculum Overview

Pre-Kindergarten
          Students are introduced to basic music elements such as pitch and tempo.  Students are also introduced to the four major instrument groups and exposed to different music genres through composer of the month and multicultural music.  Cross-curricular approaches such as the use of Nursery Rhyme Book and/or ABC Book of Music are integrated into music lessons in cooperation with the homeroom teachers.  Performance opportunities occur in class and during the December Holiday Program and Assembly Programs.

Kindergarten
          Students further explore basic music elements such as pitch and tempo with the introduction of basic rhythmic patterns.  Students learn to sing with hand cues and advanced repetition.  They also continue to learn about the four major instrument groups and are exposed to different music genres through composer of the month and multicultural music.  Cross-curricular approaches are integrated into music lessons in cooperation with the homeroom teachers.  Exposure to performance opportunities occurs in class and during the December Holiday Program and assembly programs.

1^st Grade
           Students continue to explore basic music elements such as pitch, tempo and basic rhythmic patterns, and are introduced to basic music notation.  Students learn to sing by repetition and hand cues, and they are exposed to basic two-part and round singing.  They learn to play a variety of percussion instruments.  They study the four major instrument groups and are exposed to different music genres through a composer of the month and multicultural music.  Cross-curricular approaches are integrated into music lessons in cooperation with the homeroom teachers. Exposure to performance opportunities occurs in class and during the December Holiday Program and Assembly Programs.

2^nd Grade
         Students continue to explore basic music elements such as pitch, tempo, rhythmic patterns and basic music notation.  They learn to sing by reading and are offered opportunities to sing solo.  They also continue to learn two-part songs and rounds, and to play various percussion instruments.  Another focus is expanding their knowledge of the four major instrument groups and exposure to different music genres through a composer of the month and multicultural music.  Cross-curriculum approaches will be integrated into music lessons in cooperation with the homeroom teachers.  Exposure to performance opportunities occurs in class and during the December Holiday Program and through Assembly Programs.

3^rd Grade
          Students continue to explore basic music elements such as pitch and tempo as well as more complex rhythmic patterns and music notation.  They can sing as a group or solo.  Most of the music is two-part singing with movement. Another focus is expanding the four major instrument groups and exposure to different music genres through a composer of the month and multicultural music.  Cross-curriculum approaches such as having the students take notes about important musicians are integrated into music lessons in cooperation with the homeroom teachers.  Exposure to performance opportunities occurs in class and during the December Holiday Program and through Assembly Programs.

4^th Grade
         Students continue to explore basic music elements such as pitch, tempo, as well as increasing complex rhythmic patterns and music notation.  Most of the songs they learn are two-part and involve movements.  Students continue to expand their knowledge of the four major instrument groups and exposure to different music genres through composer of the month and multicultural music.  They also learn to use new percussion instruments and tone chimes.  Cross-curriculum approaches are integrated into music lessons in cooperation with the homeroom teachers.  Exposure to performance opportunities will occur in class, during the December Holiday Program and through Assembly Programs.

5^th Grade
          Students continue exploring music elements such as pitch, tempo, complex rhythmic patterns and music notation.  They learn songs with two parts and others offering solo opportunities.  Another major focus will be the reinforcement and expansion of the four major instrument groups and exposure to different music genres through composer of the month and multicultural music.  The fifth graders are required to take notes on these famous musicians.  There are many performance opportunities in this class: during the December Holiday Program, through Assembly Programs, and performing a class show.  The scenery for such events is prepared in the art class, and research or writing is done in language arts class.

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Music Highlights

May & June 2008

Pre-K:  Pre-K and K will finish off the year with a musical trip to the beach! We’ll sing and move to some fun “Beach Party” songs, use unpitched instruments to accompany poems about seashells and fish, and play some solo singing games.

Kindergarten:  Pre-K and K will finish off the year with a musical trip to the beach! We’ll sing and move to some fun “Beach Party” songs, use unpitched instruments to accompany poems about seashells and fish, and play some solo singing games.

1^st Grade:  First grade will be learning songs about America. We will sing and move to patriotic and American folk songs, and learn some traditional folk dances.

2^nd Grade:  Second grade will be finishing off the year in the meter of 3. We will waltz solo and with a partner, create movement patterns in 3, and learn a song on the Orff instruments to accompany the fairy tale “The Twelve Dancing Princesses.”

3^rd Grade:  Third Grade will be adding two notes to our recorder toolbox: low F# and high E. We will be spending less time “perfecting” in class and more time working on sight reading. We will be playing some games and doing some speed drills to increase note recognition.

4^th Grade:  Fourth grade and fifth grade will be preparing songs to perform at the upcoming graduation ceremony.

5^th Grade:  Fourth grade and fifth grade will be preparing songs to perform at the upcoming graduation ceremony.

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