
Music Performance
Why?: Performance in any form increases student confidence and self-esteem, and gives them the tools to project self-assurance when talking in front of any size audience, skills that are vital for any career or life path a child may choose. Instrumental performance develops fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and a sense of ensemble, while vocal performance develops intrinsic harmonic ability, language skills, and projection of the voice.
Sample Lesson: A gallery from our second graders' most recent concert, Journey into Outer Space! It's pretty fun; you should take a look!
What?: Potential topics in performance for the six grade levels include:
K: How do we stand/act when we're performing? Singing in small groups and as a class, with movements. Playing percussion instruments for text painting and with a steady beat. Grade level musical performance.
1: Building on previous concepts, and adding more extensive solo singing of short passages. Grade level musical performance.
2: Building on previous concepts, and adding introductory Orff instruments for both ensemble performance and accompaniment of vocal music. Grade level musical performance.
3: Building on previous concepts, and adding playing barred Orff instruments with more complex rhythms and ostinatos, introductory recorder, and singing partner songs and rounds. Grade level musical performance.
4: Building on previous concepts, and adding Recorder Karate, introductory ukulele, and singing in two-part harmony. Grade level musical performance.
5: Building on previous concepts, and adding more advanced ukulele and/or keyboard, singing in two- and three-part harmony. Grade level musical performance.
How?: The study of music performance fulfills and/or supports the following Common Core standards: