ACTIVITIES

• Learning how to understand simple music notation and play the glockenspiel, dulcimer, and the recorder
• Experiencing steady beat, meter, and rhythm through listening to music, moving, singing, playing instruments, and reading and writing music notation
• Learning new music concepts through listening, moving, singing, game-playing, visuals, and imaginative play
• Listening to music and sound with an analytical ear and paying close attention to pitch variation and timbre between specific instruments
• Developing their speaking and singing voices through listening, imitating, and exploring
• Participating in a variety of ensemble experiences, including instrumental ensembles, vocal ensembles, and group dancing

SKILLS & BENEFITS

• Ability to read traditional and non-traditional music notation
• Growing ability to extend what has been learned in one context to a new context
• Awareness of steady beat, meter, and rhythm, essential musicianship skills with ties to physical development and coordination
• Development of self-confidence, musicianship, collaboration, and creativity through teamwork, peer interaction, and communication
• Ability to distinguish specific sounds within words and increased awareness of the rhythmic structure of language and developing speaking, reading, and listening skills
• Understanding of music reading, beat competence, expressive movement, singing, instrument playing, and ensemble participation, skills that are beneficial in fields of study that involve problem-solving, creativity, coordination, persistence, fine-motor capabilities, and team participation

CURRICULUM DESCRIPTION

This semester is full of Appalachian, African-American, Native American music, and jazz!  After our first class, you and your child will build a two-stringed dulcimer instrument with materials that we’ll provide (children love to decorate and customize their dulcimers!).  In class, we’ll learn to play chords and simple melodies on the instrument you built together.  We’ll also explore rhythm concepts through dance with an introduction to the basic steps in jazz, ballet, and tap dances.

Home materials: Children’s folder with stickers, games bag, Music at Home cards, Family Songbook, and CD of music from class, dulcimer, and dulcimer bag.

In this final semester, we’ll introduce the recorder, a wind instrument dating back hundreds of years.  As your child is introduced to the basic method of playing simple melodic patterns and songs on this instrument, we’ll also incorporate the instruments, concepts, and songs from previous semesters.  With a special emphasis on multicultural music, your child will learn to improvise and write music, as well as experience the musical styles of the Pacific Islands, Europe, and Africa. We’ll also enjoy dances and games from around the world.

Home materials: Children’s folder with stickers, games bag, and Music at Home cards, Family Songbook, and CD of music from class, and soprano recorder.