Welcome back to school!! Hopefully everyone is relaxed and ready to begin another school year. We have worked very hard this summer preparing for our music classes and are very excited to see all of you.
Music classes are filled with opportunities for children to sing, dance, create, perform, and enjoy music all while learning the fundamentals of music. In the music room, music is learned for the most part by doing. For example, we learn about composers by actually composing. Much of our time is spent playing instruments, dancing, and singing; however, we also play music games to help maintain interest and enthusiasm. We also take time to assess student knowledge and skill through age-appropriate worksheets and in-class performances.
During music class students are expected to participate in all activities to the best of their ability. Proper posture for singing is explained and encouraged as well as proper instrumental technique (holding mallets properly, treating the instruments kindly, etc). Students are also expected to respect one another during music class, especially when classmates perform alone or in small groups.
While musical knowledge is important and stressed within the music room, we also feel that it is essential to instill a love of and an appreciation for music. We do take time to “sing for the sake of singing.” Music is an inherent part of our history and culture. That being said, it is important that we take time to enjoy music for the art that it is. Our curriculum is based upon the National Standards for Music Education, and in striving to teach to these standards, children have the opportunity to express their individual creativity, learn about music as a “science,” and share in the beauty of music as an art. It is our belief that by laying a strong foundation in our elementary general music classes we are setting students up for success within the many musical opportunities that lie ahead for them in the Baldwin-Whitehall School District.
Music classes are filled with opportunities for children to sing, dance, create, perform, and enjoy music all while learning the fundamentals of music. In the music room, music is learned for the most part by doing. For example, we learn about composers by actually composing. Much of our time is spent playing instruments, dancing, and singing; however, we also play music games to help maintain interest and enthusiasm. We also take time to assess student knowledge and skill through age-appropriate worksheets and in-class performances.
During music class students are expected to participate in all activities to the best of their ability. Proper posture for singing is explained and encouraged as well as proper instrumental technique (holding mallets properly, treating the instruments kindly, etc). Students are also expected to respect one another during music class, especially when classmates perform alone or in small groups.
While musical knowledge is important and stressed within the music room, we also feel that it is essential to instill a love of and an appreciation for music. We do take time to “sing for the sake of singing.” Music is an inherent part of our history and culture. That being said, it is important that we take time to enjoy music for the art that it is. Our curriculum is based upon the National Standards for Music Education, and in striving to teach to these standards, children have the opportunity to express their individual creativity, learn about music as a “science,” and share in the beauty of music as an art. It is our belief that by laying a strong foundation in our elementary general music classes we are setting students up for success within the many musical opportunities that lie ahead for them in the Baldwin-Whitehall School District.
