Music Curriculum
BOTELLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
General Music
From Pre-K all the way through 6th grade, every student will sing, move, and play instruments in music class at Botelle. Students begin learning about the concept of beat from the beginning of Pre-K, and build on this concept through learning more and more complex rhythms each year. Rather than learning rhythms by rote (as many of us were forced to do in school!), students learn and practice rhythm counting using a variety of methods: dancing, marching, tapping rhythm sticks, playing bucket drums, writing their own rhythmic exercises, and even fruit rhythms (think: pear, ap-ple, wa-ter-me-lon, etc.)! Learning is fun in music class at Botelle!
As students move into the upper grades, we begin to explore the elements of music, such as pitch, dynamics (volume), tempo (speed), and more. Understanding how music is created helps us make connections to why music is created, and we can then begin to explore the intent behind different composer's works. This exploration includes the study of music in movies and television, music with a purpose (e.g. protest songs), and the way music evokes different emotions in us as listeners.
Finally, students will learn about themselves and the world around them through studying music from different places and cultures around the world. Each year, all classes begin by learning a Spanish language song to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, and enjoy learning about many other cultures throughout the year, from Irish Step Dancing to Native American Drumming to Chinese Dragon Dances and more!
Click here to view the National Music Standards for PK-8 General Music.
Click on the document to below to view the "What We Learn" summary created by our music curriculum partner, MusicPlay®.
Students in each multiage class will cover the content of both grade levels from the document throughout their two years in class (ex. Primary students will cover everything on the Pre-K and Kindergarten page during their two years in Primary music).
PK-6 What We Learn in Music - overview, good for open house.pdf
Instrumental Music: Band
Students participating in instrumental music lessons and the band ensemble at Botelle will improve their skills as both individual musicians and as an important part of a performance-based ensemble.
Instrument mechanics and technique begin in 3rd grade as students learn how to assemble and hold their instrument correctly, proper embouchure (mouth position) to create the optimal sound, and tonguing technique for starting and stopping each note.
Over the following three years, up through 6th grade, students evolve their perception of what it means to play an instrument; from beginners who simply make sounds with (hopefully!) the correct fingers pressed down, to musicians creating music for self and others. This comes with developing our understanding of why musicians make music, who it is for, how it impacts self and others, and how we receive, interpret, and connect with music as listeners.
In advancing musicality and technique, students learn how to produce a more pleasant tone, how to self-identify and correct pitch, how to play with proper phrasing, breathing, articulation, and more. In this phase, learning to play together as an ensemble is crucial, as we study and practice the concept of balance and blend.
Students perform a variety of repertoire, from concert band classics, to pop songs and movie soundtracks. This variety allows students to build a foundation of classic repertoire while also developing their excitement for performing music that they love!
Most importantly, band students practice creating - for themselves and others - a safe space for learning, where mistakes are welcomed as a part of the learning process and students feel supported and encouraged to take risks and give their best each day.
Click here to view the National Music Standards for Music Ensembles.
VOCAL Music: Chorus
Choral students learn foundational skills of vocal performance through the study of solfege (do, re, mi, etc.), Curwen hand signs (cues for solfege pitches), and sight singing from sheet music to better identify pitches and rhythms.
Vocal students will also develop musical listening skills and identification of both relative pitch and intervals; essential skills in sight-reading and vocal performance.
As skills develop and the group becomes more adept at singing together as a unit, multi-part repertoire will be introduced, in order for students to learn to sing their part concurrently with another part.
Students perform a variety of repertoire, from vocal classics, to pop songs and songs from movie soundtracks. This variety allows students to build a foundation of classic repertoire while also developing their excitement for performing music that they love!
Most importantly, chorus students practice creating - for themselves and others - a safe space for learning, where mistakes are welcomed as a part of the learning process and students feel supported and encouraged to take risks and give their best each day.
Click here to view the National Music Standards for Music Ensembles.
CONTACT Ms. KRUSCH:
At Botelle on Mondays and Fridays:
(860) 542-5286
Via email at kruschm@botelleschool.org
Via ClassDojo messaging