Music / Overview

Students in Kindergarten, Grade 2, and Grades 4-6 have music for 30 minutes every four-day cycle. Grades 1 and 3 have music 30 minutes every four-day cycle. Students in Grade 7 have music for 45 minute periods twice every four-day cycle for 20 weeks. We teach how to read and write music, how to use standard music notation, sing songs, dance, learn partner games, do activities and play instruments.

We have a wide variety of percussion instruments to use both in the classroom and to enhance our performances. These include enough drums for two classrooms (congas, tubanos, djembes and other hand drums), as well as traditional classroom instruments, such as triangles, maracas, egg shakers, claves, etc. We also enhance our music program by having students use Orff instruments, barred metallaphones, xylophones and glockenspiels. All students in grades 5, 6 and 7 have the opportunity to use iMac computers for two quarters. Using the computers, students create music using loops just like many of their favorite performers. Students also will complete 1-2 research projects about famous musicians and composers, both past and present.

Students in the intermediate grades also have the option of joining two performance groups. Those students who have an interest in singing, dancing and acting have the opportunity to join the Intermediate Choir. Students that would like to learn how to play an instrument can take lessons and join the Band.

Mrs. Best - General Music/Choir

Mr. Pickard - General Music/Instrumental Music