K-5 Students At St. Mary's have music class twice a week. My practice of teaching is largely based on the philosophies of Carl Orff and Zoltan Kodaly. In class, students participate in a variety of learning styles: listening to music from around the world, playing instruments, dancing, singing and creating. I also use children's literature, chant and poetry as a foundation for helping students learn to create their own music. We use the Illinois Common Core music standards as well as National Standards for music to set benchmarks for assessment at each grade level. These assessments include pitch matching, steady beat, understanding of notation, listening skills, and many more. REQUIRED CONCERT DATES: Christmas Concert, December 13, 6:30 pm Spring Fine Arts Night, April 23, 6:00 pm
3rd Grade Recorders 3rd grade students will learn to use soprano recorders to help develop their ability to read music and prepare them for band. We use a system of rewards called "Recorder Karate," that allows students to progress at their own pace and earn "belts" for their recorder at each level. Check back here for the music for each belt to be posted soon.