Music Curriculum
Curriculum Standards Music K-8
At The Madeleine Choir School we strive to provide a structured music education program that provides students with a foundation in music theory, music history and musicianship. We provide a meaningful performance experience through singing sacred choral music in a liturgical context. We offer an instrumental program supporting the formation of a well-rounded musician. Most over we strive to develop in every student a liking for listening to music, an interest in studying music history and music theory, and a joy for making music.
Kindergarten
Music Theory Write and recognize by sight and ear half-, quarter-, and eighth note
Echo simple melody patterns using solfege syllables and hand signs
Music History Study composers and their compositions
Learn about individual instruments in the orchestra
Musicianship Sing unaccompanied, accompanied and unison songs (focus on folksongs and traditional children songs)
Play rhythm instruments responsibly
Move responsibly to music
Grade 1
Music Theory Write and recognize by sight and ear whole, half-, quarter-, and eighth note
Know that music is written on five lines and that notes tell pitch and rhythm
Echo and sight-sing simple melody patterns using solfege syllables and hand signs
Music History Study composers and their compositions (e.g. Saint-Saëns' Carnival of the Animals)
Learn about individual instrument families in the orchestra
Musicianship Sing unaccompanied, accompanied and unison songs (focus on one-part and rounds)
Play rhythm instruments at a steady beat (solo and accompanying)
Move responsibly to music
Grade 2
Music Theory Write and recognize by sight and ear all note values and rests
Write and recognize notes in treble clef
Echo and sight-sing melody patterns using solfege syllables and hand signs
Music History Study composers and their compositions (e.g. Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra; The Nutcracker; Hansel and Gretel)
Learn about each individual instrument and their respective families
Recognize instrument families by ear
Musicianship Sing unaccompanied, accompanied, unison and simple two-part songs (focus on folksongs, hymns and spirituals)
Develop a healthy vocal technique
Play violin responsibly (group violin class)
Move responsibly to music
Grade 3
Music Theory Write and recognize by sight and ear all note values and rests
Write and recognize notes in treble clef and bass clef
Understand the use of time signature
Echo and sight-sing complex melody patterns using solfege syllables and hand signs
Music History Study composers and their compositions (e.g. Peter and the Wolf)
Introduction to time periods of classical music
Study roots of American music (spirituals, Native American, Jazz)
Learn about each individual instrument and their respective families
Recognize families and individual instruments by ear
Musicianship Sing unaccompanied, accompanied, unison and simple two-part songs
Sing as a leader and soloist
Develop a healthy vocal technique
Play violin responsibly (group violin class)
Move responsibly to music
Grade 4
Music Theory Write and recognize by sight and ear all note values and rests
Write and recognize notes in treble clef and bass clef
Understand the use of time signature
Recognize intervals by sight and ear
Understand the use of accidentals
Recognize and use major keys (C, G, D, F)
Complete melodic -, rhythmic -, intervallic dictation
Read and write in Gregorian Chant notation
Echo and sight-sing complex melody patterns using solfege syllables and hand signs
Music History Study composers and their compositions
Study time periods of classical music
Listen to compositions and place music into appropriate time period
Study opera
Review instrument families and individual instruments
Musicianship Sing unaccompanied, accompanied, unison and simple two-part songs
Sing as a leader and soloist
Develop a healthy vocal technique
Introduction to vocal anatomy
Introduction to conducting
Understand and demonstrate outstanding rehearsal and performance behavior
Grade 5
Music Theory Write and recognize by sight and ear all note values and rests, including 32nd notes
Understand the use of simple and compound time signature
Transpose by octave (clef transfer)
Recognize intervals by sight and ear, including augmented and diminished intervals
Understand the Circle of Fifths (up to 3#s and 3bs)
Recognize and use minor keys (a, e, d - natural, harmonic, melodic)
Complete melodic -, rhythmic -, intervallic dictation
Understand the use of tuplets
Understand the use of double-#s and double-bs
Introduction to Music Analysis
Music History Listen to compositions and place music intro appropriate time period
Introduction to Chamber music and Program music
Music and National identity
Musicianship Participation in the choir program on various levels of ability
Sing as a committed chorister - show leadership
Focus on sight-singing
Develop a healthy vocal technique
Understand vocal anatomy
Understand conducting gestures
Understand and demonstrate outstanding rehearsal and performance behavior
Sing and study repertoire unique to the choral tradition of the Roman Catholic Church
Participate in national and international performance tours to musical centers of historic importance
Grade 6
Music Theory Review the use of simple and compound time signature
Transpose by octave (clef transfer)
Review of major, minor, augmented and diminished intervals
Understand the Circle of Fifths (up to 5#s and 5bs)
Review all minor keys
Understand the chromatic scale
Introduction to Alto Clef
Complete melodic -, rhythmic -, intervallic dictation
Introduction to the technical names of the scale degrees
Recognize and write triads on I, IV, V (major and minor)
Recognize phrase structure by sight and ear (e.g. ABA forms)
Complete simple harmonic analysis
Music History Listen to compositions and place music into appropriate time period
Introduction to Lied (Art Song) and Symphony
Study 20th century composers and compose in their style
Explore the history and development of Jazz
Musicianship Participation in the choir program on various levels of ability
Sing as a committed chorister -show leadership
Focus on sight-singing
Develop a healthy vocal technique
Understand vocal anatomy
Understand conducting gestures
Understand and demonstrate outstanding rehearsal and performance behavior
Sing and study repertoire unique to the choral tradition of the Roman Catholic Church
Participate in national and international performance tours to musical centers of historic importance
Grade 7 and Grade 8
Music History and Theory (taught on a four semester rotation)
Ancient, Medieval and Renaissance Music
Intro to the Medieval Period: Music, Art, Architecture
Plainsong: Neumes, Modes, Ordinary/Proper/Hours
The Gothic: The School of Notre Dame and the beginnings of polyphony
Intro to the Renaissance: Music, Art, Architecture
Forms in the Renaissance Period: Motet, Madrigal and Masses
Lassus and Palestrina
Music of the Baroque Era
Intro to the Baroque: Music, Art, Architecture; transition from the Renaissance
Monteverdi and the birth of Opera; Vivaldi and the Concerto
J. S. Bach I: Counterpoint, the Doctrine of Affections
Handel: the Suites and the Oratorio
The Classical Period of Music
Intro to the Classical Period; Transition from the Baroque
Parallels in Art and Architecture
Mozart; Haydn
Opera in the Classical Period; Gluck, Mozart
Forms in the Classical Period: The Symphony, Sonata, Concerto, Serenade
Music and Romaniticism
Romanticism Revisited: Literature, Art and Music
Program versus Absolute Music
Schubert and Schumann; Beethoven; Mendelssohn
Opera in the Romantic Period; Verdi and Wagner
Chamber Music, Song and Piano Sonata
Forms in the Romantic Period: The Symphony, Concert Overture and Concerto
Brahms and Mahler
Twentieth Century Music
The Twentieth Century: Music, Art, Architecture; New Elements of Style
Intro to Impressionism
Debussy and Ravel
Stravinsky and Bartok
Twentieth Century Composition
Poulenc and Britten
Musicianship Participation in the choir program on various levels of ability
Sing as a committed chorister - show leadership
Focus on sight-singing
Develop a healthy vocal technique
Understand vocal anatomy
Understand conducting gestures
Understand and demonstrate outstanding rehearsal and performance behavior
Sing and study repertoire unique to the choral tradition of the Roman Catholic Church
Participate in national and international performance tours to musical centers of historic importance
