Music Curriculum
Music Curriculum
Curriculum Standards Music Pre-K - Grade 8
At The Madeleine Choir School we strive to provide a structured music education program that provides students with a foundation in music theory, music history and musicianship. We provide a meaningful performance experience through singing sacred choral music in a liturgical context. We offer an instrumental program supporting the formation of a well-rounded musician. Most over we strive to develop in every student a liking for listening to music, an interest in studying music history and music theory, and a joy for making music.
Pre-K & Kindergarten
Music Theory
- Write and recognize by sight and ear half-, quarter-, and eighth note
- Echo simple melody patterns using solfege syllables and hand signs
Music History
- Study composers and their compositions
- Learn about individual instruments in the orchestra
Musicianship
- Sing unaccompanied, accompanied and unison songs (focus on folksongs and traditional children songs)
- Play rhythm instruments responsibly
- Move responsibly to music
Grade 1
Music Theory
- Write and recognize by sight and ear whole, half-, quarter-, and eighth note
- Know that music is written on five lines and that notes tell pitch and rhythm
- Echo and sight-sing simple melody patterns using solfege syllables and hand signs
Music History
- Study composers and their compositions (e.g. Saint-Saëns' Carnival of the Animals)
- Learn about individual instrument families in the orchestra
Musicianship
- Sing unaccompanied, accompanied and unison songs (focus on one-part and rounds)
- Play rhythm instruments at a steady beat (solo and accompanying)
- Move responsibly to music
Grade 2
Music Theory
- Write and recognize by sight and ear all note values and rests
- Write and recognize notes in treble clef
- Echo and sight-sing melody patterns using solfege syllables and hand signs
Music History
- Study composers and their compositions (e.g. Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra; The Nutcracker; Hansel and Gretel)
- Learn about each individual instrument and their respective families
- Recognize instrument families by ear
Musicianship
- Sing unaccompanied, accompanied, unison and simple two-part songs (focus on folksongs, hymns and spirituals)
- Develop a healthy vocal technique
- Play violin responsibly (group violin class)
- Move responsibly to music
Grade 3
Music Theory
- Write and recognize by sight and ear all note values and rests
- Write and recognize notes in treble clef and bass clef
- Understand the use of time signature
- Echo and sight-sing complex melody patterns using solfege syllables and hand signs
Music History
- Study composers and their compositions (e.g. Peter and the Wolf)
- Introduction to time periods of classical music
- Study roots of American music (spirituals, Native American, Jazz)
- Learn about each individual instrument and their respective families
- Recognize families and individual instruments by ear
Musicianship
- Sing unaccompanied, accompanied, unison and simple two-part songs
- Sing as a leader and soloist
- Develop a healthy vocal technique
- Play violin responsibly (group violin class)
- Move responsibly to music
Grade 4
Music Theory
- Write and recognize by sight and ear all note values and rests
- Write and recognize notes in treble clef and bass clef
- Understand the use of time signature
- Recognize intervals by sight and ear
- Understand the use of accidentals
- Recognize and use major keys (C, G, D, F)
- Complete melodic -, rhythmic -, intervallic dictation
- Read and write in Gregorian Chant notation
- Echo and sight-sing complex melody patterns using solfege syllables and hand signs
Music History
- Study composers and their compositions
- Study time periods of classical music
- Listen to compositions and place music into appropriate time period
- Study opera
- Review instrument families and individual instruments
Musicianship
- Sing unaccompanied, accompanied, unison and simple two-part songs
- Sing as a leader and soloist
- Develop a healthy vocal technique
- Introduction to vocal anatomy
- Introduction to conducting
- Understand and demonstrate outstanding rehearsal and performance behavior
Grade 5
Music Theory
- Write and recognize by sight and ear all note values and rests, including 32nd notes
- Understand the use of simple and compound time signature
- Transpose by octave (clef transfer)
- Recognize intervals by sight and ear, including augmented and diminished intervals
- Understand the Circle of Fifths (up to 3#s and 3bs)
- Recognize and use minor keys (a, e, d - natural, harmonic, melodic)
- Complete melodic -, rhythmic -, intervallic dictation
- Understand the use of tuplets
- Understand the use of double-#s and double-bs
- Introduction to Music Analysis
Music History
- Listen to compositions and place music intro appropriate time period
- Introduction to Chamber music and Program music
- Music and National identity
Musicianship
- Participation in the choir program on various levels of ability
- Sing as a committed chorister - show leadership
- Focus on sight-singing
- Develop a healthy vocal technique
- Understand vocal anatomy
- Understand conducting gestures
- Understand and demonstrate outstanding rehearsal and performance behavior
- Sing and study repertoire unique to the choral tradition of the Roman Catholic Church
- Participate in national and international performance tours to musical centers of historic importance
Grade 6
Music Theory
- Review the use of simple and compound time signature
- Transpose by octave (clef transfer)
- Review of major, minor, augmented and diminished intervals
- Understand the Circle of Fifths (up to 5#s and 5bs)
- Review all minor keys
- Understand the chromatic scale
- Introduction to Alto Clef
- Complete melodic -, rhythmic -, intervallic dictationIntroduction to the technical names of the scale degrees
- Recognize and write triads on I, IV, V (major and minor)
- Recognize phrase structure by sight and ear (e.g. ABA forms)
- Complete simple harmonic analysis
Music History
- Listen to compositions and place music into appropriate time period
- Introduction to Lied (Art Song) and Symphony
- Study 20th century composers and compose in their style
- Explore the history and development of Jazz
Musicianship
- Participation in the choir program on various levels of ability
- Sing as a committed chorister -show leadership
- Focus on sight-singing
- Develop a healthy vocal technique
- Understand vocal anatomy
- Understand conducting gestures
- Understand and demonstrate outstanding rehearsal and performance behavior
- Sing and study repertoire unique to the choral tradition of the Roman Catholic Church
- Participate in national and international performance tours to musical centers of historic importance
Grade 7 and Grade 8
Music History and Theory (taught on a four semester rotation)
Ancient, Medieval and Renaissance Music
- Intro to the Medieval Period: Music, Art, Architecture
- Plainsong: Neumes, Modes, Ordinary/Proper/Hours
- The Gothic: The School of Notre Dame and the beginnings of polyphony
- Intro to the Renaissance: Music, Art, Architecture
- Forms in the Renaissance Period: Motet, Madrigal and Masses
- Lassus and Palestrina
Music of the Baroque Era
- Intro to the Baroque: Music, Art, Architecture; transition from the Renaissance
- Monteverdi and the birth of Opera; Vivaldi and the Concerto
- J. S. Bach I: Counterpoint, the Doctrine of Affections
- Handel: the Suites and the Oratorio
The Classical Period of Music
- Intro to the Classical Period; Transition from the Baroque
- Parallels in Art and Architecture
- Mozart; Haydn
- Opera in the Classical Period; Gluck, Mozart
- Forms in the Classical Period: The Symphony, Sonata, Concerto, Serenade
Music and Romaniticism
- Romanticism Revisited: Literature, Art and Music
- Program versus Absolute Music
- Schubert and Schumann; Beethoven; Mendelssohn
- Opera in the Romantic Period; Verdi and Wagner
- Chamber Music, Song and Piano Sonata
- Forms in the Romantic Period: The Symphony, Concert Overture and Concerto
- Brahms and Mahler
Twentieth Century Music
- The Twentieth Century: Music, Art, Architecture; New Elements of Style
- Intro to Impressionism
- Debussy and Ravel
- Stravinsky and Bartok
- Twentieth Century Composition
- Poulenc and Britten
Musicianship
- Participation in the choir program on various levels of ability
- Sing as a committed chorister - show leadership
- Focus on sight-singing
- Develop a healthy vocal technique
- Understand vocal anatomy
- Understand conducting gestures
- Understand and demonstrate outstanding rehearsal and performance behavior
- Sing and study repertoire unique to the choral tradition of the Roman Catholic Church
- Participate in national and international performance tours to musical centers of historic importance