Goal
This curriculum teaches basic musical concepts so that student can better enjoy music.
Key musical concepts include:
- melody
- harmony
- rhythm
- tempo
- dynamics
- form
Lessons involve participation and discussion on the part of the student (clapping, singing, playing, score analysis) to teach music skills through nursery rhymes, folk songs and simple classical pieces.
Additionally, as the lessons progress the student will become familiar with the language of music through the use and discussion of musical terms like pitch, rhythm, contour. Learning the language of music can help students better understand and enjoy listening to music.
Overview
Musical concepts are cycled through multiple times in “Cycles” to build knowledge gradually. Each Cycle (I, II, III) could be completed in one academic year, but can also be begun at any time. Cycles consist of Units that focus on specific musical concepts – melody, harmony, form.
Musicianship Cycle I: Melody, Harmony
Musicianship Cycle II: Melody, Harmony, Form
Musicianship Cycle III: Melody, Harmony, Form
As curricula are designed to be taught concurrently, the Musicianship and Music Appreciation curricula will use common terms and try to stay at similar levels of technical expertise and application.
Lesson Structure
Each lessons has a number of components:
- Listen
- Sing
- Clap
- Play (for beginning units)
- Discuss
See Instructor’s Guide for how to conduct a lesson.
Though early lessons include piano playing, these do not replace instruction in piano or any other instrument; rather they focus on understanding the theory and structure of real music through vocal and piano performance.
Music at home 