Music Arts
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Music is a language, the form of communication that unites mankind. It helps us understand the universe, transmitting cultural heritages. Music aids us in discovering who we are, our traditions, and the ways we think and act. It helps us to learn about others, their traditions and values. Music is a learning process, an academic subject that involves knowledge, skills, attitudes, and feelings. Music provides a means of developing self-expression and creativity. It provides many opportunities for developing thinking which leads to new ways of doing.
Music in the Preschool, Lower School and Middle School divisions follows national standards. Standards help us focus on children, aligning curriculum development with appropriate objectives, lesson planning, and assessment. They help us clarify these expectations, setting an agenda for learning, not just entertaining. The National Standards for Arts Education provide basic guidelines for curriculum development in music including:
- Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
- Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
- Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments.
- Composing and arranging music with specific guidelines.
- Reading and writing music.
- Listening to, analyzing, and describing music.
- Evaluating music and music performance.
- Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts.
- Understanding music in relation to history and culture.
Music should be fun for everyone involved. Children learn when the environment is exciting, challenging, and creates involvement with the material.