Music Department

Elementary Course Offerings

The instructional program of the Boise Public Schools is guided by a master plan that outlines desired educational outcomes for each subject area. It is the District's philosophy that General Music should be offered to every elementary student, K-6, for a minimum of 60 minutes per week.

This is a summary of the approved instructional program in music being followed in kindergarten through sixth grade in our district. Our elementary curriculum is available on the District's Curriculum portion of the web site.

Kindergarten

• Moves freely with no external beat and to an established external beat.
• Reproduces low and high sounds and sings simple songs.
• Listens and responds to appropriate listening lessons.
• Identifies patterns in songs and arranges rhythmic patterns into various forms.
• Develops an awareness of dynamics and tempo.

Grade 1

• Moves freely with no external beat and to an external beat to structured patterns.
• Demonstrates progress in ability to produce a pleasing vocal quality.
• Sings simple songs as a group or individually.
• Listens and responds to appropriate listening lessons.
• Reads and writes rhythms from charts and cards.
• Identifies differences in dynamics and tempo.

Grade 2

• Moves freely with no external beat and to an external beat.
• Sings appropriate songs with an increased vocal range, enunciation, and dynamics.
• Identifies instruments of the orchestra, and listens and responds to appropriate listening lessons.
• Expands ability to control dynamics and tempo when playing or singing.

Grade 3

• Moves freely with no external beat and to an external beat.
• Sings appropriate songs with an increased vocal range.
• Sings two and three part rounds with good enunciation and varying dynamics.
• Listens and responds to appropriate listening lessons.
• Learns usage of terms and symbols.
• Expands ability to control dynamics and tempo when playing or singing.

Grade 4

• Moves freely with no external beat and to an external beat using a variety of props.
• Sings appropriate songs with increased vocal control over an expanding range.
• Sings in harmony.
• Identifies instruments of the orchestra and classifies them into families.
• Expands ability to control dynamics and tempo when playing or singing by reading markings in music.

Grade 5

• Moves freely to piano or recorded music using a variety of props.
• Sings appropriate songs in harmony with increased vocal control over an expanding range.
• Reviews instruments and families of the orchestra.
• Listens to recordings of great composers and program music.
• Expands ability to control dynamics and tempo when playing or singing by reading markings in music.

Grade 6

• Moves freely to piano or recorded music using a variety of props.
• Sings appropriate songs with increased vocal control, range, and harmony.
• Reviews instruments and families of the orchestra.
• Continues to structure rhythm patterns into various forms.
• Reads and sings melodic patterns from charts, cards, and music books.
• Expands ability to control dynamic level and tempo when playing or singing with an emphasis on blend and musicality.

Instrumental Music

• Instruction in violin, viola, cello and string bass is offered to all interested 5^th and 6^th grade students.
• Instruction in wind instruments and percussion is offered to all interested 5th (selected schools) and 6^th grade students.

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