Elementary Music

Ages

Students are grouped by age, and students should be the required age on the first day of class. Fall and Spring semesters are different so a student may take two semesters of the same age group class.

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Elementary Music 6 - Age 6 by the first day of class

Elementary Music 7 - Age 7 by the first day of class

Elementary Music 8 (Music Explorations) - Age 8 by the first day of class

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Class Size

5-12 students

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Prerequisites

No previous musical experience required

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Required Materials

There are no required materials to bring to class for the 6- & 7-year-old classes. Music Explorations (8) students will be learning to play the recorder in the fall term. Students will need to purchase their book ($5) and recorder through FAYM ($9). If you already own a recorder, please have it approved by the teacher - it needs to be a German fingering system, not the Baroque fingering system. All other instruments and equipment will be provided for the class, including markerboards, bells, chimes, percussion instruments, or anything else used in the class.

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Homework

Some homework/practicing will be assigned to the 8-year-old Music Explorations class. Parents should be sure to assist students in completing any assignments before the next class.

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Performance Opportunities

All students in elementary music classes are required to participate in the Class Showcase at the end of the semester.

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Class Descriptions

The elementary classes are active and hands-on classes that follow a sequential and developmental approach to building a foundation for later musical pursuits. Students will learn about the basics of music, including pitch, rhythm, solfege, and notation. Students will experience making music through singing games, movement activities, playing instruments, and listening activities. Students should expect to play instruments such as basic rhythm instruments, bells, boomwhackers, tone chimes, as well as singing. 

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For the Age 8 Music Explorations class: We will focus on playing new instruments such as the keyboard, the ukulele, the recorder, and the Windstar pre-band instruments like the P-buzz (a brass instrument), the NUVO Toot (a beginning flute type of instrument) and NUVO Dood (a beginning single reed instrument). We will build ensemble skills and sample different instruments to prepare and spark and interest for ensembles (band/orchestra/chorus). We will still learn to read music, play games, and sing but the focus is more on early instrumental skills.