About Our Curriculum
I
follow the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for Elementary
Music. The Orff philosophy is also incorporated into my curriculum
throughout the year.
This philosophy is very interactive,
involving the "whole" child through winging movement and playing
instruments. The Orff philosophy encourages children to experience
music at their own level of understanding. Music activities will be
connected to movement, dance, and speech. This approach builds an
understanding of musical concepts and skills by providing students the
opportunity to experience music on all levels: speech/chants, movement,
singing, drama and by playing pitched and unpitched instruments.
Kindergarten,
first and second graders will be making a singing-reading connection
where words to a song are no longer just words, they are clues to help
children unlock the printed word. After the words are internalized they
can be retrieved and used as a guide for reading and writing.
Third,
fourth and fifth graders will be learning to read rhythmic notation,
keeping a steady beat and "jammin" on unpitched instruments. They will
learn Discipline, Respect, and Unity through Music. They will also
learn to play recorders and other pitched instruments independently and
as a class group ensemble. They will learn to read and perform musician
notation. This is a great building block preparing students for music
in Middle and High School. It is my goal that students continue their
study of music in band, orchestra or chorus and become lifelong
participants, fans, advocates and consumers of music.