Music Class Information
Expectations
Every student in music class is expected to Make Music. (see picture)
These expectations are building wide expectations for Fairview Elementary School. We regularly practice and discuss the Boys Town Social Skills in order to understand the steps in meeting class expectations. Consequences may include verbal prompts, verbal warnings, timeouts, recess detentions, notes or phone calls home, or administrative intervention.
Evaluation
Students are evaluated in music class based on performance of musical skills. The essential objectives for each grade level are:
EO 1 - Students will sing.
EO 2 - Students will play instruments.
EO 3 - Students will read musical notation (grades 1-6). Students will describe music (kindergarten).
Since the essential objectives look the same at each grade level, students learn different elements at various grade levels.
Kindergarten: Voice Choice, Fast/Slow, Soft/Loud, Steady Beat, High/Low, Matching Pitch
1st Grade: Steady Beat, rhythms: quarter notes, quarter rests, eighth notes, pitches: so, mi, la.
2nd Grade: rhythms: half notes, pitches: do, re, instrument accompaniments
3rd Grade: rhythms: sixteenth notes, pitches: low la, instrument accompaniments,
4th Grade: pitches: high do, treble clef notes, playing recorder, rhythms: syncopa (eighth-quarter-eighth)
5th Grade: pitches: fa, playing melodies (recorder & instruments), rhythms: dotted quarter notes
6th Grade: rhythms: 6/8 meter, sixteenth notes, ensemble playing, pitches: ti
Common assessments have been developed by the Bellevue Public Schools Music Curriculum Committee. These assessments are administered to students after sufficient practice and preparation. Results of the assessment are shared with students and entered in PowerSchool for parents. Due to the performance schedule, assessments may be administered at different times than other elementary buildings. Essential Objective assessments are generally summative assessments, and therefore comprise 70% of the student's quarter grade, according to the Bellevue Public Schools Grading Protocol. Click here for more detailed information on the summative assessments.
Since learning music is a process; participation and effort are inherent to acquiring musical understanding and skills. Therefore, students are evaluated on a daily basis. At the end of the quarter, this score is marked in the Work Skills and Learning Habits portion on the report card. For information on how your child is doing, visit the classroom dojo website and connect with our school and class.
New in 2016-2017, vocal/general music teachers will report student progress during each semester, not each quarter. Essential Objectives will be recorded as they are given. This change will better students' growth and progress learning music skills and concepts during the school year. Please note that due to a limitation in the PowerSchool software, essential objectives can be viewed in PowerSchool's Parent Portal under the "Standards Grade" column only.
Marking
Essential Objectives are scored using the following marks:
AD = Advanced
PF = Proficient
PG = Progressing
BG = Beginning
Students earn the following four grades in music for semester grades:
E= Excellent
S= Satisfactory
I= Improving
N= Needs improvement
Please note - PowerSchool automatically converts scores to percentages. Please pay attention to the letter grade, rather than the percentage, as these percentages are not an accurate reflection of your students' performance according to the rubrics developed by the Bellevue Public Schools Curriculum Committee.
Concerts
Performance skills are essential part of understanding the discipline of music. Your child will participate in one concert per year. For the concert schedule, please refer to the Home Page.
Our concerts at Fairview showcase a variety of music and as well as the skills the students are learning. Performing also develops poise and self-confidence when in front of an audience. These skills will be essential for public speaking, interviewing, and performing in other areas. Performances are required for all students. In extenuating circumstances, students may miss a performance. In this event, please send a note to the school to excuse your child from them performance.
The National Standards in Music Education include performing with others. Attendance will be taken at the concert. While the performance is not weighted in the students quarter grade, attendance is entered into PowerSchool as informational.
Prst=Present
Abst=Absent
Excd=Excused Absence (provided through a written note)
Students will earn a "performance skills application" formative grade during the time that they are preparing and presenting the concert. Performances in music allow students to demonstrate their acquisition and application of performance skills. Performances also allow students to demonstrate their ability to use correct rhythm, pitch and dynamics in an ensemble or group setting. Scores indicate the following - Beginning: Students rarely learned new repertoire, acquired new vocal and/or instrumental skills, practiced with the group during class time, demonstrated performance skills, nor did they perform to the best of their ability in all performance situations. Progressing: Students sometimes learned new repertoire, acquired new vocal and/or instrumental skills, practiced with the group during class time, demonstrated performance skills, and some of the time performed to the best of their ability in all performance situations. Proficient: Students mostly learned new repertoire, acquired new vocal and/or instrumental skills, practiced with the group during class time, demonstrated performance skills, and most of the time performed to the best of their ability in all performance situations. Advanced: Students consistently learned new repertoire, acquired new vocal and/or instrumental skills, practiced with the group during class time, demonstrated performance skills, and consistently performed to the best of their ability in all performance situations.
Recorders
A recorder is an end-blown woodwind instrument that is a forerunner to the flute. Recorders, an integral part of the music curriculum, teach rhythm and note reading and involve fine motor skills.
Here at Fairivew, students in fourth, fifth, and sixth grades study the soprano recorder. Students have three options regarding recorders. They may
Purchase a new recorder.
Borrow one from the school.
Use a recorder they already own.
For further explanation of these options, please contact me for a letter which explains them.
Students greatly enjoy the use of recorders, as it an instrument they may take with them and practice at other times. Students are encouraged to practice outside of music class, even though it is not generally required. Each student will be provided a folder and packet of music. Fourth and fifth grade students will be assessed on their recording playing (EO 2: Playing instruments and EO 3: Reading musical notation.)
Conferences
Working together as a parent-student-teacher team is integral to the success of every student. I am always available at Parent-Teacher Conferences which occur in October and again in March. Since conferences only occur twice a year, I am happy to meet with any parent and student outside of these two times. Individual appointments may be arranged at any time by calling me before or after school.
Every student in music class is expected to Make Music. (see picture)
These expectations are building wide expectations for Fairview Elementary School. We regularly practice and discuss the Boys Town Social Skills in order to understand the steps in meeting class expectations. Consequences may include verbal prompts, verbal warnings, timeouts, recess detentions, notes or phone calls home, or administrative intervention.
Evaluation
Students are evaluated in music class based on performance of musical skills. The essential objectives for each grade level are:
EO 1 - Students will sing.
EO 2 - Students will play instruments.
EO 3 - Students will read musical notation (grades 1-6). Students will describe music (kindergarten).
Since the essential objectives look the same at each grade level, students learn different elements at various grade levels.
Kindergarten: Voice Choice, Fast/Slow, Soft/Loud, Steady Beat, High/Low, Matching Pitch
1st Grade: Steady Beat, rhythms: quarter notes, quarter rests, eighth notes, pitches: so, mi, la.
2nd Grade: rhythms: half notes, pitches: do, re, instrument accompaniments
3rd Grade: rhythms: sixteenth notes, pitches: low la, instrument accompaniments,
4th Grade: pitches: high do, treble clef notes, playing recorder, rhythms: syncopa (eighth-quarter-eighth)
5th Grade: pitches: fa, playing melodies (recorder & instruments), rhythms: dotted quarter notes
6th Grade: rhythms: 6/8 meter, sixteenth notes, ensemble playing, pitches: ti
Common assessments have been developed by the Bellevue Public Schools Music Curriculum Committee. These assessments are administered to students after sufficient practice and preparation. Results of the assessment are shared with students and entered in PowerSchool for parents. Due to the performance schedule, assessments may be administered at different times than other elementary buildings. Essential Objective assessments are generally summative assessments, and therefore comprise 70% of the student's quarter grade, according to the Bellevue Public Schools Grading Protocol. Click here for more detailed information on the summative assessments.
Since learning music is a process; participation and effort are inherent to acquiring musical understanding and skills. Therefore, students are evaluated on a daily basis. At the end of the quarter, this score is marked in the Work Skills and Learning Habits portion on the report card. For information on how your child is doing, visit the classroom dojo website and connect with our school and class.
New in 2016-2017, vocal/general music teachers will report student progress during each semester, not each quarter. Essential Objectives will be recorded as they are given. This change will better students' growth and progress learning music skills and concepts during the school year. Please note that due to a limitation in the PowerSchool software, essential objectives can be viewed in PowerSchool's Parent Portal under the "Standards Grade" column only.
Marking
Essential Objectives are scored using the following marks:
AD = Advanced
PF = Proficient
PG = Progressing
BG = Beginning
Students earn the following four grades in music for semester grades:
E= Excellent
S= Satisfactory
I= Improving
N= Needs improvement
Please note - PowerSchool automatically converts scores to percentages. Please pay attention to the letter grade, rather than the percentage, as these percentages are not an accurate reflection of your students' performance according to the rubrics developed by the Bellevue Public Schools Curriculum Committee.
Concerts
Performance skills are essential part of understanding the discipline of music. Your child will participate in one concert per year. For the concert schedule, please refer to the Home Page.
Our concerts at Fairview showcase a variety of music and as well as the skills the students are learning. Performing also develops poise and self-confidence when in front of an audience. These skills will be essential for public speaking, interviewing, and performing in other areas. Performances are required for all students. In extenuating circumstances, students may miss a performance. In this event, please send a note to the school to excuse your child from them performance.
The National Standards in Music Education include performing with others. Attendance will be taken at the concert. While the performance is not weighted in the students quarter grade, attendance is entered into PowerSchool as informational.
Prst=Present
Abst=Absent
Excd=Excused Absence (provided through a written note)
Students will earn a "performance skills application" formative grade during the time that they are preparing and presenting the concert. Performances in music allow students to demonstrate their acquisition and application of performance skills. Performances also allow students to demonstrate their ability to use correct rhythm, pitch and dynamics in an ensemble or group setting. Scores indicate the following - Beginning: Students rarely learned new repertoire, acquired new vocal and/or instrumental skills, practiced with the group during class time, demonstrated performance skills, nor did they perform to the best of their ability in all performance situations. Progressing: Students sometimes learned new repertoire, acquired new vocal and/or instrumental skills, practiced with the group during class time, demonstrated performance skills, and some of the time performed to the best of their ability in all performance situations. Proficient: Students mostly learned new repertoire, acquired new vocal and/or instrumental skills, practiced with the group during class time, demonstrated performance skills, and most of the time performed to the best of their ability in all performance situations. Advanced: Students consistently learned new repertoire, acquired new vocal and/or instrumental skills, practiced with the group during class time, demonstrated performance skills, and consistently performed to the best of their ability in all performance situations.
Recorders
A recorder is an end-blown woodwind instrument that is a forerunner to the flute. Recorders, an integral part of the music curriculum, teach rhythm and note reading and involve fine motor skills.
Here at Fairivew, students in fourth, fifth, and sixth grades study the soprano recorder. Students have three options regarding recorders. They may
Purchase a new recorder.
Borrow one from the school.
Use a recorder they already own.
For further explanation of these options, please contact me for a letter which explains them.
Students greatly enjoy the use of recorders, as it an instrument they may take with them and practice at other times. Students are encouraged to practice outside of music class, even though it is not generally required. Each student will be provided a folder and packet of music. Fourth and fifth grade students will be assessed on their recording playing (EO 2: Playing instruments and EO 3: Reading musical notation.)
Conferences
Working together as a parent-student-teacher team is integral to the success of every student. I am always available at Parent-Teacher Conferences which occur in October and again in March. Since conferences only occur twice a year, I am happy to meet with any parent and student outside of these two times. Individual appointments may be arranged at any time by calling me before or after school.