Lisa Crawford
Washington - Elementary Music Education Program Overview
Music education at Washington 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 music theory knowledge, and solfege hand signs 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 and in unison, how to conduct ourselves for becoming better musicians and performers, and learning to sing a variety of multicultural music. We currently have concerts mid-December for fourth and fifth grades, and our spring concert for all grades is held in May.
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 Washington, 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.
Fourth Grade 2007 Spring Concert
Fourth Grade 2007 Spring Concert
CREATING MUSIC Website
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!
EXPLORITORIUM - Science of Music Website
http://www.exploratorium.edu/music/
See if you can create a piece that can be repeated with each sound bank. Take notes if that will help.
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