HOLY NAME SCHOOL MUSIC CURRICULUM BENCHMARKS

The general music program at Holy Name School encompasses all children grades K-8. 
The curriculum includes appropriate grade level lessons and experiences in rhythm, melody, harmony, form, tone quality and expressive quality (sounds, vocal and instrumental), composers, music history, and basic listening and singing repertoire.

Kindergarten: Movement, singing (seasonal songs, nursery rhymes, songs of liturgy and Catholic faith),
singing games, playing rhythm instruments to a steady beat; developing concepts of slow/fast, high/low, loud/soft, happy/sad.

Grade 1: Movement, singing (seasonal songs, patriotic songs, simple American folk songs, songs of liturgy and Catholic faith), singing games, playing rhythm instruments to a steady beat, i.e. strong/weak beat; concepts of same/different, up/down. Tones of sol/mi/la.  Rhythyms: patterns of quarter and eighth notes.  Beginning reading notation.  Percussion section of orchestra.  Basic listening repertoire (Peter and the Wolf, Carnival of Animals, Clock Symphony).

Grade 2: Movement, singing (seasonal songs, patriotic songs, simple American folk songs, songs of liturgy and Catholic faith), playing rhythm and Orff instruments.  Tones of do & re.  Concepts of meter in 2 and patterns of half notes and rests.  Continue and expand reading notation.  String section of orchestra.  Basic listening repertoire (Nutcracker, Hall of Mountain King).

Grade 3: Movement, singing (seasonal songs, patriotic songs, simple American folk songs, songs of liturgy and Catholic faith), playing rhythm and Orff instruments.  Tone of high do.  Concept of meter in 3 and patterns of dotted half note.  Letter names of staff and treble clef.  Wood-wind section of orchestra.  Basic listening repertoire (Magic Flute, Stars & Stripes Forever, Grand Canyon Suite, Sleeping Beauty).

Grade 4: Movement, singing (seasonal songs, patriotic songs, American folk songs, songs from other countries, partner songs, rounds, counter-melodies, songs of liturgy and Catholic faith).  Singing games and dances.  Playing rhythm and Orff instruments .  Tones of fa and ti.  Concepts of meter in 4.  Patterns of whole note and rest, even/uneven.  Brass section of orchestra.  Begin recorder, after Christmas.  Basic listening repertoirs (Appalachian Spring, The Planets, 1812 Overture).

Grade 5: Movement, singing (seasonal songs, patriotic songs, American folk songs, songs from other countries, partner songs, rounds, counter-melodies, songs of liturgy and Catholic faith).  Singing games and dances.   Playing rhythm and Orff instruments.  Concept of meter in 6.  Patterns of dotted quarter note/eighth note.  Major and minor scales.  Focus on symphony orchestra.  Recorder after Christmas.  Basic listening repertoire (Danse Macabre, Billy the Kid, Young Persons' Guide to the Orchestra, Symphonies of Beethoven, Haydn and Mozart).

Grade 6: Singing (seasonal songs, patriotic songs, American folk songs, songs from other countries, partner songs, rounds, counter-melodies, songs of liturgy and Catholic faith).  Movement and dance.  Orff instruments.  Concept of changing meter, note/rest values, meter signature, accidentals.  Dynamic expressions and symbols.  Recorder after Christmas.  Basic listening repertoire (American Salute, Bach/Little Fugue, Symphonies of Beethoven, Haydn, and Mozart).

Grade 7: Singing (seasonal and patriotic songs, folk songs, songs of liturgy and Catholic faith, rounds and canons).  Concepts of syncopation, triplets, irregular meter.  Music History (Early Music, Chant through Baroque Period, American Music/Rock).  Basic listening (Bach, Handel, Pachelbel, The Beatles).

Grade 8: Singing (seasonal and patriotic songs, folk songs, songs of liturgy and Catholic faith). Concepts of 2/2 meter, cut-time. Music History (Classical Period, Romantic Period to 20th Century including opera & ballet forms, American Music/Blues and Jazz).  Basic listening (Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Shubert, Verdi, Bizet, Copland, Ives, Joplin, Gershwin and Bernstein).

There is the opportunity for optional non-graded music performance
in individual classes during scheduled Performance Days.

 Evaluation and Grading are based on attention, conduct, and participation in all grades, and in 7th and 8th grades, on worksheets and tests given on material covered in class.  Above all, the goal is for the children to enjoy music and be comfortable participating in musical activities regardless of talent and ability so that music will be, in some way, a lifetime source of pleasure.