Course Overview:
The study of music in 5th Grade integrates singing into the student’s musical experience. The 5th Grade course enhances sight singing skills by adding in new examples with different key signatures and compound time signatures. Musical form is taught through activities that allow students to express themselves and talk freely about the music and films they prefer, while also providing the critical vocabulary needed to describe this music in a more polished manner. Cultural representation is a key factor in 5th Grade Music, with African-American, Native- American, American Sign Language, and European immigrant representation. Students will finish the 5th Grade Music course with a greater understanding and appreciation for the music of the different cultures around them.
Required Materials:
- Find examples of theme and variation in music
- Create a video of yourself performing "All the Pretty Little Horses"
- Three or four family members or friends sing in a round. Record the group's singing
- Find a partner. One will sign "Johnny Comes Marching Home Again" while other sings "Heigh-Ho Nobody's Home"
- Using the interactive video provided, learn how to sign "The Star Spangled Banner"
- Watch a powwow video using powwows.com and report
- Compare and contract two different performances of "Hard Times Come Again No More"
- Record yourself in concert attire sight-reading "Hard Times Come Again No More"
Syllabus:
Module 1 - Let Us Sing!
Objectives:
- Learn and identify the parts of a choir.
- Know the difference between treble clef and bass clef.
- Know the difference between soprano, alto, tenor, and bass.
- Read notes written on ledger lines.
- Understand the basic concept of what harmony is.
- Learn the functions of sharps and flats in music.
- Read written music.
- Know the pattern for ascending major scales.
Lessons:
- Choral Parts
- Sharps and Flats
Module 2 - Musical Keys and Form
Objectives:
- Learn the major keys in music.
- Be able to read and perform written music.
- Understand the function of the natural sign.
- Understand what a musical form is.
- Understand and identify ABA, rondo, and theme and variation musical forms.
- Understand and be able to identify different types of variations.
Lessons:
- Key Signatures
- Theme and Variation
Module 3 - The Forms of Music
Objectives:
- Learn to read and play music with syncopation.
- Learn how to use, read, and play the rhythm dot.
- Learn to read time signatures.
- Understand the difference between simple and compound meter.
- Understand the difference between simple and compound meter.
- Recognize accelerando and ritardando.
- Learn the features of a cappella.
- Understand the different possibilities for members of an a cappella group.
Lessons:
- Meter, Syncopation, and Speed
- A Cappella
Module 4 - War and Music
Objectives:
- Understand how war influences music.
- Learn different songs written during wartime.
- Perform a partner song.
- Understand the use and importance of sign language.
- Know the history behind “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
- Know the lyrics to “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
- Be able to recognize the melody of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Lessons:
- Music and History: Wartime Songs
- American Sign Language: The National Anthem
Module 5 - Native American Music
Objectives:
- Learn about Native-American history.
- Learn some of the different kinds of Native-American music.
- Understand why intertribal music exists.
- Learn more about Native-American culture.
- Practice proper etiquette when attending an event for a different culture.
- Understand reasons behind personal preference for music works and styles.
Lessons:
- Native-American Music
- The Powwow
Module 6 - African American Music
Objectives:
- Learn more about the music history of African Americans.
- Learn how slavery has changed music.
- Learn which instruments were brought to America by African Americans.
- Learn the difference between jazz, blues, and rag.
- Learn the history of African-American jazz.
- Learn about older recording techniques.
Lessons:
- African-American Music
- Jazz, Blues, and Rag
Module 7 - European Music
Objectives:
- Learn more about the music history of European immigrants.
- Understand how European immigrants have influenced music.
- Learn features of the music of European immigrants.
- Learn how to compare and contrast musical performances.
- Learn critical listening skills.
- Understand the reasoning behind personal preference in music.
Lessons:
- Music of European Immigrants
- Active Listening
Module 8 - Attending A Performance
Objectives:
- Learn how professional singers practice and take care of their voices.
- Learn about different styles of singing.
- Learn more about how the voice works.
- Learn the proper attire for performing.
- Learn rules of behavior for a musical performance.
- Understand the different requirements for different levels of formality.
Lessons:
- Vocal Performance
- Performance Etiquette
