Music 6-8

ARTS EDUCATION :: MUSIC :: MUSIC 6-8

MUSIC 6-8

Characteristics of the Young Adolescent

The period of adolescence is one marked by change. Students in grades 6-8 are changing physically, socially, emotionally, and intellectually. During this time, adolescents are struggling to define themselves as individuals and in relation to others. They begin to question the role of adults in their lives, and their peers take on increasing importance. They face many unique challenges as they struggle to find themselves in this transition between childhood and adulthood.

The Learning Experience

The middle grades program is designed to act as a bridge between the elementary and high school music programs. Teachers guide students through developmentally appropriate experiences in music which help to build necessary skills for success in both music and other facets of life. Singing experiences are adjusted appropriately to accommodate the changing voice. Students work more frequently within a group of peers, demonstrating skills of cooperation, and learning to compromise and be team players.

Students will have many opportunities to experience music at the middle school level. They may choose to participate in general, choral, and/or instrumental music courses. Because the curriculum is described in a grade-by-grade format, it will be necessary for the teacher to differentiate objectives appropriately according to the nature of the course and the instructional levels of students. Although more emphasis may be placed on particular objectives according to the content of a course, a comprehensive music education incorporating objectives from all of the competency goals continues through the middle school level to perpetuate the musical growth of every child.

Content Integration

Music is studied both as a self-contained content area and as an integral component of the academic curriculum. Integration with visual arts, dance, and theatre is ongoing, as are interdisciplinary projects with English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and other content areas.

Presentations

Presentation of work is a natural progression in the study of music. Students are provided opportunities to demonstrate their work in many venues at the middle school level. However, the final product or performance should not be the primary emphasis in the music class; performances are simply a culmination of the process of studying and/or creating music. Informances, demonstrating the process for how students arrive at a performance as a result of instruction, are appropriate at this level. Performing is a learning experience that helps students define the roles of performers and audience members, teaches students to respond to and critique music appropriately, and helps students to build confidence and pride in their work. Performances also help foster an appreciation of music as an art form and as a form of communication.

Program Continuity

Ideally, students have completed a rich and comprehensive K-5 program in music before entering the middle school music program. Because of the musical background developed in elementary school, students will be prepared and motivated for more advanced musical experiences. Teachers in varying situations will need to modify objectives depending on the amount of previous music instruction students have received. Additionally, the content, instruction, student outcomes, and evaluation methods should increase in sophistication at each grade level, or whenever differentiation is appropriate. The middle school music program prepares students to continue music studies at the high school level.

MUSIC - Grade 6

The study of music is cumulative and sequential to include learning from previous grade levels. The focus areas for learning at this level include:

Demonstrating appropriate expressive and technical vocal and instrumental practices
Demonstrating pitch and rhythmic accuracy
Reading and notating rhythmic and melodic patterns
Identifying and applying traditional symbols and terms and using appropriate terminology
Improvising, composing, and arranging music
Listening to, analyzing, and evaluating music
Developing understanding of music in relation to history, culture, and other content areas
Showing respect for the efforts of others

Strands: Creating, Performing, Responding, Understanding

COMPETENCY GOAL 1: The learner will sing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. (National Standard 1)

Objectives

1.01 Sing with pitch and rhythmic accuracy and proper breath control, in an appropriate range.

1.02 Respond to the cues of a conductor.

1.03 Sing music of appropriate voicing, with expression and technical accuracy.

1.04 Sing music representing diverse styles, genres, and cultures.

1.05 Show respect for the singing efforts of others.

Additionally, for students participating in choral classes:

1.06 Create harmony by singing 2-part songs, partner songs, and rounds.

1.07 Sing music written in easy keys, meters, and rhythms in limited ranges.

COMPETENCY GOAL 2: The learner will play on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. (National Standard 2)

Objectives

2.01 Play at least one instrument with appropriate posture, playing position, and technique.

2.02 Respond to the cues of a conductor.

2.03 Play music representing diverse styles, genres, and cultures.

2.04 Show respect for the instrumental playing efforts of others.

Additionally, for students participating in instrumental classes:

2.05 Play on at least one instrument, music at an appropriate and increasingly difficult level, with expressiveness and technical accuracy.

2.06 Play music written in easy keys, meters, and rhythms in limited ranges.

COMPETENCY GOAL 3: The learner will improvise melodies, variations, and accompaniments. (National Standard 3)

Objectives

3.01 Improvise melodies.

3.02 Improvise rhythmic variations of given melodies.

3.03 Improvise short melodies while accompanied by specified patterns.

3.04 Show respect for the improvisational efforts of others.

COMPETENCY GOAL 4: The learner will compose and arrange music within specified guidelines. (National Standard 4)

Objectives

4.01 Compose short pieces using the basic elements of music to demonstrate repetition and contrast.

4.02 Create an arrangement of an existing composition, using different voices and/or instruments.

4.03 Use a variety of sound, notational, and technological sources to compose music.

4.04 Show respect for the composing and arranging efforts of others.

COMPETENCY GOAL 5: The learner will read and notate music. (National Standard 5)

Objectives

5.01 Read whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, and dotted note and rest durations in 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 6/8 and 2/2 meters.

5.02 Identify pitches in treble and bass clefs.

5.03 Sightread simple melodic notation in the treble clef.

5.04 Identify standard notation symbols for pitch, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, articulation, and expression.

5.05 Show respect for the reading and notating efforts of others.

COMPETENCY GOAL 6: The learner will listen to, analyze, and describe music. (National Standard 6)

Objectives

6.01 Identify specific music events in a given aural example, using appropriate terminology.

6.02 Identify elements of music in aural examples representing diverse genres and cultures.

6.03 Identify the basic principles of meter, rhythm, and tonality in analyses of music.

6.04 Demonstrate auditory perceptual skills by conducting, moving, answering questions about, and describing aural examples of music.

6.05 Show respect while listening to and analyzing music.

COMPETENCY GOAL 7: The learner will evaluate music and music performances. (National Standard 7)

Objectives 7.01 Devise criteria for evaluating the quality and effectiveness of music performances and compositions, and apply criteria in personal listening and performing.

7.02 Evaluate the quality and effectiveness of compositions, arrangements, and improvisations by applying specific criteria appropriate for the style of the music and offer constructive suggestions for improvement.

7.03 Identify and describe how interacting musical elements impact one's feelingful response to music.

7.04 Show respect for the musical efforts and opinions of others.

COMPETENCY GOAL 8: The learner will understand relationships between music, the other arts, and content areas outside the arts. (National Standard 8)

Objectives

8.01 Identify similarities and differences in the meanings of common terms used in dance, music, theatre arts, and visual arts including line, color, texture, form/shape, rhythm, pattern, mood/emotion, theme, and purpose.

8.02 Describe ways in which the concepts and skills of other content areas taught in the school including English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies are related to those of music.

8.03 Demonstrate the character traits of responsibility, self-discipline, and perseverance while informally or formally participating in music.

COMPETENCY GOAL 9: The learner will understand music in relation to history and culture. (National Standard 9)

Objectives

9.01 Identify the distinguishing characteristics of representative music genres and styles from a variety of cultures.

9.02 Describe how elements of music are used in various exemplary musical compositions.

9.03 Compare across several cultures of the world and in history, the functions of music, roles of musicians, and conditions under which music is typically performed.

9.04 Show respect for music from various cultures and historical periods.

MUSIC - Grade 7

The study of music is cumulative and sequential to include learning from previous grade levels. The focus areas for learning at this level include:

Demonstrating appropriate expressive and technical vocal and instrumental practices
Demonstrating pitch and rhythmic accuracy
Reading and notating rhythmic and melodic patterns
Identifying and applying traditional symbols and terms and using appropriate terminology
Improvising, composing, and arranging music
Listening to, analyzing, and evaluating music
Developing understanding of music in relation to history, culture, and other content areas
Showing respect for the efforts of others

Strands: Creating, Performing, Responding, Understanding

COMPETENCY GOAL 1: The learner will sing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. (National Standard 1)

Objectives

1.01 Sing consistently on pitch, with accurate rhythm and proper breath control, in an appropriate range.

1.02 Respond to the cues of a conductor.

1.03 Sing music of appropriate voicing, with expression and technical accuracy.

1.04 Sing music representing diverse styles, genres, and cultures.

1.05 Show respect for the singing efforts of others.

Additionally, for students participating in choral classes:

1.06 Sing music written in two and three parts.

1.07 Sing music written in a variety of keys, meters, and rhythms, in limited ranges.

COMPETENCY GOAL 2: The learner will play on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. (National Standard 2)

Objectives

2.01 Play at least one instrument with appropriate posture, playing position, and technique.

2.02 Respond to the cues of a conductor.

2.03 Play music representing diverse styles, genres, and cultures.

2.04 Play by ear simple melodies.

2.05 Show respect for the instrumental playing efforts of others.

Additionally, for students participating in instrumental classes:

2.06 Play on at least one instrument, music at an appropriate and increasingly difficult level, with expression and technical accuracy.

2.07 Play music written in a variety of keys, meters, and rhythms in limited ranges.

COMPETENCY GOAL 3: The learner will improvise melodies, variations, and accompaniments. (National Standard 3)

Objectives

3.01 Improvise melodies and accompaniments.

3.02 Improvise melodic variations using major and minor pentatonic and diatonic scales.

3.03 Improvise short melodies, unaccompanied and over given rhythmic accompaniments.

3.04 Show respect for the improvisational efforts of others.

COMPETENCY GOAL 4: The learner will compose and arrange music within specified guidelines. (National Standard 4)

Objectives

4.01 Compose short pieces using the basic elements of music to demonstrate tension and release.

4.02 Create an arrangement of an existing composition, using different voices and/or instruments.

4.03 Use a variety of sound, notational, and technological sources to compose and arrange music.

4.04 Show respect for the composing and arranging efforts of others.

COMPETENCY GOAL 5: The learner will read and notate music. (National Standard 5)

Objectives

5.01 Read whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, and dotted note and rest durations in 2/4, 2/4, 4/4, 6/8, and 2/2 meters.

5.02 Identify pitches in the treble and bass clefs.

5.03 Sightread pitch notation in the treble and bass clefs.

5.04 Identify standard notation symbols for pitch, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, articulation, and expression.

5.05 Use standard notation to record own musical ideas and musical ideas of others.

5.06 Show respect for the reading and notating efforts of others.

COMPETENCY GOAL 6: The learner will listen to, analyze, and describe music. (National Standard 6)

Objectives

6.01 Discuss specific musical events in a given aural example, using appropriate terminology.

6.02 Discuss elements of music in aural examples representing diverse genres and cultures.

6.03 Identify and discuss the basic principles of meter, rhythm, tonality, intervals, chords, and harmonic progressions in the analyses of music.

6.04 Demonstrate auditory perceptual skills by conducting, moving, answering questions about, and describing aural examples of music.

6.05 Show respect while listening to and analyzing music.

COMPETENCY GOAL 7: The learner will evaluate music and music performances. (National Standard 7)

Objectives

7.01 Devise criteria for evaluating the quality and effectiveness of music performances and compositions and apply criteria in personal listening and performing.

7.02 Evaluate the quality and effectiveness of compositions, arrangements, and improvisations by applying specific criteria appropriate for the musical style and offer constructive suggestions for improvement.

7.03 Identify and describe how interacting musical elements impact one's feelingful responses to music.

7.04 Show respect for the musical efforts and opinions of others.

COMPETENCY GOAL 8: The learner will understand relationships between music, the other arts, and content areas outside the arts. (National Standard 8)

Objectives

8.01 Compare in two or more arts areas how the characteristic elements of each art form can be used to transform events, emotions, or ideas into works of art.

8.03 Demonstrate the character traits of responsibility, self-discipline, and perseverance while informally or formally participating in music.

COMPETENCY GOAL 9: The learner will understand music in relation to history and culture. (National Standard 9)

Objectives

9.01 Discuss the distinguishing characteristics of representative music genres and styles from a variety of cultures.

9.02 Identify various exemplary musical compositions and discuss characteristics that cause each work to be considered exemplary.

9.03 Compare across several cultures of the world and in history functions of music, roles of musicians, and conditions under which music is typically performed.

9.04 Show respect for music from various cultures and historical periods.

MUSIC - Grade 8

The study of music is cumulative and sequential to include learning from previous grade levels. The focus areas for learning at this level include:

Demonstrating appropriate expressive and technical vocal and instrumental practices
Demonstrating pitch and rhythmic accuracy
Reading and notating rhythmic and melodic patterns
Identifying and applying traditional symbols and terms and using appropriate terminology
Improvising, composing, and arranging music
Listening to, analyzing, and evaluating music
Developing understanding of music in relation to history, culture, and other content areas
Showing respect for the efforts of others

Strands: Creating, Performing, Responding, Understanding

COMPETENCY GOAL 1: The learner will sing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. (National Standard 1)

Objectives

1.01 Sing consistently on pitch, with accurate rhythm and proper breath control, in an appropriate range.

1.02 Respond to the cues of a conductor.

1.03 Sing music of appropriate voicing, with expression and technical accuracy.

1.04 Sing music representing diverse styles, genres, and cultures.

1.05 Show respect for the singing efforts of others.

Additionally, for students participating in choral classes:

1.06 Sing music written in 2 and 3 parts.

1.07 Sing music written in modest ranges which may include changes of tempo, key, and meter.

COMPETENCY GOAL 2: The learner will play on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. (National Standard 2)

Objectives

2.01 Play at least one instrument with appropriate posture, playing position, and technique.

2.02 Respond to the cues of a conductor.

2.03 Play music representing diverse styles, genres, and cultures.

2.04 Play by ear simple melodies and accompaniments.

2.05 Show respect for the instrumental playing efforts of others.

Additionally, for students participating in instrumental music classes:

2.06 Play on at least one instrument, music at an appropriate and increasingly difficult level, with expressiveness and technical accuracy.

2.07 Play music written in modest ranges which may include changes of tempo, key, and meter.

COMPETENCY GOAL 3: The learner will improvise melodies, variations, and accompaniments. (National Standard 3)

Objectives

3.01 Improvise melodies and harmonic accompaniments.

3.02 Improvise rhythmic and melodic variations using major and minor pentatonic and diatonic scales.

3.03 Improvise short melodies, unaccompanied and over given rhythmic accompaniments, each in a consistent style, meter, and tonality.

3.04 Show respect for the improvisational efforts of others.

COMPETENCY GOAL 4: The learner will compose and arrange music within specified guidelines. (National Standard 4)

Objectives

4.01 Compose short pieces using the basic elements of music to demonstrate repetition and contrast, and tension and release.

4.02 Create an arrangement of an existing composition, using different voices and/or instruments.

4.03 Use a variety of sound, notational, and technological sources to compose and arrange music.

4.04 Show respect for the composing and arranging efforts of others.

COMPETENCY GOAL 5: The learner will read and notate music. (National Standard 5)

Objectives

5.01 Read whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, and dotted note and rest durations in 2/3, 3/4, 4/4, 6/8, 3/8, 2/2, and mixed meters.

5.02 Read melodic notation in the treble and bass clefs.

5.03 Identify symbols and traditional terms referring to expressive musical qualities including dynamics and tempo.

5.04 Use standard symbols to notate meter, rhythm, pitch, and dynamics in simple patterns.

5.05 Show respect for the reading and notating efforts of others.

COMPETENCY GOAL 6: The learner will listen to, analyze, and describe music. (National Standard 6)

Objectives

6.01 Describe and explain specific musical events in a given aural example, using appropriate terminology.

6.02 Analyze elements of music in aural examples representing diverse genres and cultures.

6.03 Describe and explain the basic principles of meter, rhythm, tonality, intervals, chords, and harmonic progressions in the analyses of music.

6.04 Demonstrate perceptual skills by conducting, moving, answering questions about, and describing aural examples of music.

6.05 Show respect while listening to and analyzing music.

COMPETENCY GOAL 7: The learner will evaluate music and music performances. (National Standard 7)

Objectives

7.01 Devise criteria for evaluating the quality and effectiveness of music performances and compositions, and apply criteria in personal listening and performing.

7.03 Identify and describe how interacting musical elements impact one's feelingful responses to music.

7.04 Show respect for the musical efforts and opinions of others.

COMPETENCY GOAL 8: The learner will understand relationships between music, the other arts, and content areas outside the arts. (National Standard 8)

Objectives

8.01 Compare in two or more arts areas how the characteristic elements of each art form can be used to transform events, emotions, or ideas into works of art.

8.03 Demonstrate the character traits of responsibility, self-discipline, and perseverance while informally or formally participating in music.

COMPETENCY GOAL 9: The learner will understand music in relation to history and culture. (National Standard 9)

Objectives

9.01 Describe and explain the distinguishing characteristics of representative music genres and styles from a variety of cultures.

9.02 Classify various exemplary musical compositions and discuss the characteristics that cause each work to be considered exemplary.

9.03 Compare in several cultures of the world and in history the functions music serves, roles of musicians, and conditions under which music is typically performed.

9.04 Show respect for music from various cultures and historical periods.

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