General Music
Overview
The General Music Program is an integral part of every student's education up through sixth grade. Students gain skills necessary to understand, appreciate and create music. Using these skills students will become literate consumers of music and will develop a means for self expression. The opportunities provided by the music education program also help students develop self-discipline, self-motivation, positive self-esteem and the ability to function individually, or within the confines of a group.
General music teachers meet all students up through the sixth grade in the most appropriate setting for each student. This may mean attending music with their homeroom class, for which lessons are geared to their level and needs; or it may involve mainstreaming into classes of similar age students. At the kindergarten through fourth grade level students attend music for three twenty-five minute periods per week, while students in fifth and sixth grade attend two twenty-five minute periods per week. Seventh grade students who are not in a performance group take a one trimester general music class. An elective is available for one trimester at the eighth grade level.
Through working as a group to understand and create a beautiful piece of music, children learn cooperation and self-discipline.
Music today is taught with a hands-on approach. Keyboards, Orff xylophones and a variety of rhythm instruments are used in elementary as tools to help students understand the concepts of the way music is constructed. Song literature comes from all areas of the world and involve ideas that allow integration with math, science, social studies and language arts. The skills learned can open the doors for children to express their creativity. Technology, in many forms, is a big part of Junior High general music classes, as a vehicle for learning and self-expression.
Parents have been very supportive of the general music program. The Iowa City Schools Foundation has purchased electric keyboard sets and a world drumming kit which rotate among all the elementary schools. Individual parent teacher organizations have purchased other instruments and materials for their schools and have helped to make field trips possible.
Related Links on ICCSD website:
- General Music Red Handbook Materials -- Click here*
- *NOTE: These links are login and password-protected
- Music Advocacy Letters
Reports
- Informational links forthcoming.
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