Upper Elementary Music

4TH GRADE:

• Review the fingerings for B, A, and G
• Get introduced to the fingerings for E, low D, and high C
• Focus on reading simple notation on the treble clef staff while playing
• Revisit the importance of good tone quality, posture practice habits
• Play solos and grow confidence with a variety of songs
• Explore beat versus rhythm
• Learn triplet rhythms
• Sing and play classroom instruments to songs with sixteenth note rhythms               
• Recognize and perform melodies based on ascending and descending scales
• Develop ability to aurally identify and perform both major and minor melodies
• Expand ability to perform melodic ostinatos         
• Recognize and sing with high and low voices to patriotic music
• Refine part-singing skills using partner songs and canons
• Revisit rhythms by playing instruments and moving
• Get introduced to play dotted quarter notes and tied notes
• Strengthen understanding of conducting patterns
• Gain understanding of major vs. minor and reading of music notation
• Learn pitches of E and D on the treble clef staff
• Learn new articulation terms and review tempo
• Analyze and perform a song with tempo variations
• Explore the orchestra and concert band instruments
• Gain understanding of guitars and fretted instruments
• Explore the effects that major and minor tonalities have on music through singing and playing instruments
• Explore adding harmony to an existing piece of music and understand the musicianship required to serve in an accompaniment role
• Learn about the Romantic period of classical music and famous composers. Watch “Bizet’s Dream” and lead discussions on the opera “Carmen”
• Compose and create a simple rhythmic accompaniment on rhythm instruments to accompany a melody

• Develop ability to perform music in 6/8 meter      
• Get introduced to eighth and sixteenth note rhythm combinations
• Explore aspects of syncopation by singing and playing instruments to syncopated rhythms
• Perform rhythms that use dotted half notes and dotted quarter notes           
• Develop a greater awareness of choral music (especially sacred choral music)
• Develop a better understanding of how descants are used to add harmony to a piece of music
• Develop a greater awareness and appreciation for music from different parts of the world                
• Gain understanding of sharps and flats in relation to half steps
• Explore the relationship between half and whole steps through major scales
• Expand understanding of major scales through improvising on instruments             
• Review basic music notation fundamentals and introduce D.C. and D.S. al fine
• Utilize accidentals by singing and playing instruments
• Experience dynamics through singing and movement.                         
• Develop music evaluation skills and identify various musical styles through listening
• Develop rhythmic dictation skills in meters of 3 and 4 
• Explore the instruments of the symphony orchestra with an emphasis on the brass section
• Review the string family with a focus on playing techniques
• Explore how strings are used in various musical styles    
• Learn about the Impressionist period of music. Listen and analyze music from Debussy and Ravel. Listen to “Bolero” and discuss the different instruments used and highlighted
• Review the sound and construction of major and minor chords through singing and playing instruments Experience simple chord progressions through the use of popular music
• Compose and create a simple rhythmic accompaniment on rhythm instruments to accompany a melody