Music Curriculum

Curriculum Standards Music K-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.

 

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