Music Education

Elementary Music Education Program Overview

Music education at Madison provides experience with a variety of musical styles, rhythm instruments, hand bells, and Orff instruments. Throughout the year, we focus on learning to read the music we sing, increasing pitch matching ability, learning recorders for supporting note-reading, and solfege handsigns to help with ear training. Each month focuses on a different style of music in upper elementary. All grades learn about preparing for performances; singing solo, in unison and part-singing; how to conduct ourselves for becoming better musicians and performers; and learning to sing a variety of multicultural music.

Music Education Standards

Content standards for music education are as much a focus in our district as for other academic subjects. Different music education standards exist at the national, state, and local levels. Because elementary music programs support choral and instrumental music at middle and high school levels and prepare more accomplished musicians, much support is given to elementary music. At Madison, Ms. Crawford meets each week with kindergarten for 20 minutes, grades 1-3 for 30 mintes, and grades four and five for 40 minutes. Each weekly general/choral music lesson is designed to meet the National Standards in Music Education:

1. Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
2. Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
3. Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments.
4. Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines.
5. Reading and notating music.
6. Listening to, analyzing, and describing music.
7. Evaluating music and music performances.
8. Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts.
9. Understanding music in relation to history and culture.

Upcoming Concert Performances

We currently have concerts planned for mid-December for fourth and fifth grades, and our spring concert for all grades will be held in May. Stay tuned for further details!

Meet Our Music Teacher!

Music educator, composer, researcher, curriculum developer, and grants/funding proposal writer for music and arts education, Lisa Crawford holds two masters degrees (Master of Music, Music Education and Master of Education, Curriculum & Instruction) as well as a music teaching credential for K-12 choral, instrumental, and general music. Having taught music for many years simultaneously with a professional background in business development for arts, entertainment, and technology companies, Ms. Crawford has developed a nonprofit, The Music Stand Foundation, supporting California school districts, music teachers, and arts organizations in raising money for music and arts education programs. This follows several years of research and study of philanthropy in the United States, arts funding issues, and cultural policy in California. In addition to being focused on elementary music singing and repertoire, Ms. Crawford works with young pianists, emerging composers, and songwriters. Ms. Crawford also loves video games and creative music websites.

Cool Music Education Websites

There is something for everyone at these sites, K-5 and in some cases, K-8. Even parents may find these sites hard to resist!

CREATING MUSIC
http://www.creatingmusic.com/
Education World has given this website an A+ rating for grades K-8. Students! Check out the Rhythm Band section and let Ms. Crawford know what you think!

EXPLORATORIUM - Science of Music
http://www.exploratorium.edu/music/
See if you can create a piece that can be repeated with each sound bank.

PBS
http://www.pbs.org/jazz
PBS has done a great job of archiving many kinds of music and jazz is one of them. Older elementary students will enjoy getting to know this site as we work with jazz styles usually after winter break through the end of the school year.