MUSIC CONTENT STANDARDS

Standard 1: Students, alone or with others, sing and/or play instruments, using a varied repertoire of music.

Standard 2: Students read and notate music.

Standard 3: Students create music.

Standard 4: Students listen to, respond to, analyze, evaluate, and describe music.

Standard 5: Students understand music in relation to history and a variety of cultures.

Standard 1: Students, alone or with others,

sing and/or play instruments,

using a varied repertoire of music.

Key Components

In order to meet this standard, students will

1.1 sing and/or play, using musical elements of rhythm, melody, harmony, timbre, form, and expressive elements;

1.2 demonstrate appropriate sound production skills;

1.3 sing and/or play music within a variety of genres and styles; and

1.4 demonstrate appropriate ensemble skills when performing with others.

Rationale

Music-making is one of our oldest, most intimate and basic forms of communication and cultural expression. Singing and playing instruments (for example, classroom, folk, orchestral, band, and electronic instruments) provide students the means of developing musical knowledge and skills. Learning to make music enables students to attain individual and group goals, to develop self-discipline, artistic sensitivity, and to exercise diverse problem-solving skills. Learning to make music opens avenues of success for all students. Growth in singing and playing music occurs with regular and continuous opportunities to apply skills to increasingly challenging music literature.

Standard 2: Students read and notate music.

Key Components

In order to meet this standard, students will

2.1 identify, define, notate, and apply symbols and traditional music terms;

2.2 read and notate traditional and, when appropriate, nontraditional music notation; and

2.3 utilize current music technology to apply reading and notation skills.

Rationale

Music notation is one of the forms of communicating ideas from one person to another and is one illustration of the phenomenal power and drive of humans to develop various communication systems. Learning to read and notate music helps students comprehend and express the universal language of music. Knowledge and understanding of music notation and current music technology are essential to music literacy.

Standard 3: Students create music.

Key Components

In order to meet this standard, students will

3.1 translate ideas into sound;

3.2 organize and express musical ideas;

3.3 improvise melodies, variations, and/or accompaniments; and 3.4 create compositions and/or arrangements.

Rationale

Music is a vehicle for self-expression. Through creative activities, students will learn to explore, invent, and connect musical ideas. As they create various forms of music, they learn how to express themselves and how to communicate with others. They cultivate their imaginative and creative potential and thus contribute to the richness of their lives.

Standard 4: Students listen to, respond to,

analyze, evaluate, and describe music.

Key Components

In order to meet this standard, students will

4.1 actively listen to music of various genres and styles; 4.2 listen for and identify musical elements;

4.3 analyze and compare music using appropriate vocabulary; 4.4 convey musical understanding using a variety of means; 4.5 constructively evaluate musical performances; and 4.6 demonstrate appropriate audience behavior.

Rationale

Music is a part of daily life. Students become educated consumers of music by learning to listen critically, then analyze, evaluate, and describe music as an expressive art form. These skills enable students to recognize and pursue excellence in their musical experiences. Critical listening and thinking skills that can be learned through music are essential to a successful, comprehensive, educational experience.

Standard 5: Students understand music

in relation to history and a variety of cultures.

Key Components

In order to meet this standard, students will

5.1 demonstrate a respect for music of diverse cultures through appropriate responses; and

5.2 understand the integral role of music and musicians in history.

Rationale

To participate fully in a global society, students must understand their own historical and cultural heritage and those of others within their communities and beyond; and through their behavior demonstrate basic regard for music of diverse cultures.