The Music Curriculum
The main concepts explored in the music classroom are to move to a steady beat, maintain and repeat rhythm patterns and to match pitches and sing. The focus is on listening, singing and moving. A typical period includes echo clapping, marching to the beat of the drum and singing songs that encompass small ranges and incorporate movement. The Pre-kindergarten class is included in the Opera ala carte assembly, where the students learn about the opera and enjoy a performance by professional singers. They also participate in the all school programs: The Holiday Sing and The Carey School Operetta. For both of these performances they are given the opportunity to sing with the older grades and begin simple experiences with independent part singing.
The music curriculum is spiral as each year builds on the previous years’ elements of music: melody, harmony, rhythm, form and tone color. The subject remains the same and the vehicle is the song. The kindergarten classes meet twice a cycle, marching to a steadier beat and singing songs that encompass a larger interval range. Rhythm instruments and chants reinforce the concepts, while the Mary Helen Richards charts are used to begin reading simple quarter and eighth note patterns. Kindergarteners participate in the opera assembly and are included in the all school field trips to the San Francisco Symphony and Ballet. The programs are studied in advance, with units on the instruments of the orchestra, the music being played, or the story (or non-story) being danced. Instruments are continually added to their song repertoire and they become independent singers by practicing and participating in the Holiday sing and the Operetta.
First grade through fifth have a music experience twice a cycle for forty minutes. The building process continues with rhythm reading and expanded singing and movement experiences. Orff instruments and autoharps are added to the songs used and first graders begin to recognize the various signs and symbols of music. The instruments of the orchestra are reviewed, the current symphony program is studied, and the students prepare for the opera assembly and the ballet field trip. They, too, participate in the Holiday Sing, often having a part that they alone are responsible for. By operetta time they have become rather independent singers and dancers.
Carey School second graders enjoy a music experience twice a cycle during a forty minute class period. The seven and eight year olds enter the music class with a solid foundation of singing and movement and increase their independence during the year by singing rounds and playing one and two chord songs on the autoharp. They can recognize the instruments of the symphony orchestra and are easily prepared for the trip to the San Francisco symphony. They are also a sophisticated audience for the San Francisco ballet and require very little review for the opera assembly that comes to the Carey School Campus. The spiral curriculum continues to help students build skills in all the elements of music and to participate in Holiday Sing, often with a part of their very own. By operetta time, the seasoned performers amaze and entertain the captive audience with songs and dance routines.
Carey School third graders enjoy and experience music twice a cycle during a forty minute class period. Students continue to build their music skills through singing, Orff instruments, the autoharp are used and students are now exposed to the soprano recorder. In preparation for the Holiday Sing, the third graders have an opportunity to strengthen their independent singing skills by participating with the fourth and fifth grades in more difficult part songs. They easily recognize the families of instruments used in the symphony and begin to compare pieces, or parts of the selection, to ones that they have heard in previous years. Students require very little preparation to renew their understanding of the opera and all its components and enjoy the assemblies that come from the San Francisco Opera Guild. They are amazed by the San Francisco Ballet and have become an intelligent audience. By operetta time, the eight year olds are up for any challenge and sing and dance their way into the hearts of all.
Fourth Graders enthusiastically enter the music room for their twice a cycle, forty minute experience, with a foundation in part singing, soprano recorder playing, Orff accompaniments and simple two chord autoharp accompaniments. Students recognize music symbols, need very little review of the instruments of the orchestra, and are much more sophisticated in their listening to the music. Opera terms come easily and they look forward to the opera assembly. Ballet impresses and fascinates, as the field trip to the ballet has become a staple of their arts diet. They are leaders and anchors for both the Holiday sing and the Operetta.
Fifth graders hit the ground running, ready for their last year and all the exciting experiences and challenges afforded to them. They continue to build on their skills in recorder playing, note and symbol reading and independent two-part singing. Their first music challenge is preparing for Opera Ala Carte which some of them will get to participate in. They audition for speaking and non speaking roles. The entire class reviews opera and learns a song that they will sing with the opera guild performers. Holiday sing comes sooner than anyone expects and fifth grades become the solid core of harmony parts added to some of the songs. They continue to refine their performing skills and expand their understanding of the arts as a whole by attending a dress rehearsal of the San Francisco Opera. Additionally, they anticipate the symphony and ballet field trips. Their grand finale is playing a leading role in the Carey School Operetta, an all school revue than concludes their busy year and time at Carey.