The period represented by grades 4-8 is especially critical in students' musical development. The music they perform or study often becomes an integral part of their personal musical repertoire. Composing and improvising provide students with unique insight into the form and structure of music and at the same time help them to develop their creativity. Broad experience with a variety of music is necessary if students are to make informed musical judgements. Similarly, this breadth of background enables them to begin to understand the connections and relationships between music and other disciplines. By understanding the cultural and historical forces that shape social attitudes and behaviors, students are better prepared to live and work in communities that are increasingly multicultural. The role that music will play in students' lives depends in large measure on the level of skills they achieve in creating, performing, and listening to music.

Every course in music, including performance courses, should provide instruction in creating, performing, listening to, and analyzing music, in addition to focusing on its specific subject matter.

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Content Standard 1:

Sing Alone And With Others, A Varied Repertoire Of Music

1. sing accurately using good breath control alone and in groups
2. sing partner songs of increasing difficulty
3. sing a repertoire of music representing diverse cultures and *genres with expression

Content Standard 2:

Perform On Instruments, Alone And With Others, A Varied Repertoire Of Music

1. play accompaniments on a variety of melodic, rhythmic, and chordal instruments
2. play simple melodies on classroom instruments including *MIDI devices
3. play music representing diverse *genres and cultures with expression

Content Standard 3:

Improvise Melodies, Variations, And Accompaniments

1. improvise a variety of simple accompaniments
2. improvise simple embellishments on familiar melodies
3. improvise, using a variety of nontraditional and electronic sound sources

Content Standard 4:

Compose And Arrange Music Within Specified Guidelines

1. compose a melody within specified guidelines
2. use technology to experiment with sound manipulation

Content Standard 5:

Read And Notate Music

1. read whole, half, dotted half, quarter, and eighth notes and rests in duple and triple meters
2. use standard notation to write whole, half, dotted half, quarter, and eighth notes and rests in duple and triple meters
3. identify basic symbols for dynamics, tempo, articulation, and expression
4. notate music using the current technologies

Content Standard 6:

Listen To, Analyze, And Describe Music

1. identify simple musical forms when presented aurally such as AB, ABA, rondo, theme and variation
2. recognize the uses of the *elements of music in a given aural example

Content Standard 7:

Evaluate Music And Music Performances

1. identify criteria for evaluating performances and compositions
2. explain, using appropriate music terminology, personal preferences for specific musical works and styles

Content Standard 8:

Understand Relationships between Music, The Other Arts, And Disciplines Outside The Arts

1. recognize similarities and differences between music and the other arts (visual arts, drama, dance, media production)

Content Standard 9

Understand Music In Relation To History And Culture

1. identify by style, aural examples of music from various historical periods and cultures
2. identify and describe roles of musicians in various music settings and cultures
3. identify and describe roles of musicians in various music settings and cultures
4. use technology for study and research in music

Content Standard 10:

Understand And Create Music Through Technology

1. use technology to experiment with sound manipulation
2. use technology for study and research in music

Content Standard 1:

Sing Alone And With Others, A Varied Repertoire Of Music

1. sing accurately using good breath control throughout vocal ranges, alone and in groups
2. sing descants
3. sing a repertoire of music representing diverse cultures and *genres with expression with *level 1 difficulty

Content Standard 2:

Perform On Instruments, Alone And With Others, A Varied Repertoire Of Music

1. play two chord accompaniments on a variety of classroom instruments
2. play simple melodies by ear on classroom instruments including *MIDI devices
3. play music representing diverse *genres and cultures with expression

Content Standard 3:

Improvise Melodies, Variations, And Accompaniments

1. improvise simple accompaniments on a pentatonic scale
2. improvise simple melodies on a pentatonic scale
3. improvise, using a variety of nontraditional and electronic sound sources

Content Standard 4:

Compose And Arrange Music Within Specified Guidelines

1. compose a piece for voice or instruments
2. compose, using a variety of nontraditional and electronic sound sources

Content Standard 5:

Read And Notate Music

1. read whole, half, dotted half, quarter, dotted quarter, eighth, sixteenth notes, triplets and rests in 2/4, 3/4, 4/4 meter signatures
2. use standard notation to write whole, half, dotted half, quarter, dotted quarter, eighth, sixteenth notes, triplets and rests in 2/4, 3/4, 4/4 meter signatures

1. identify pitches on the treble staff
2. understand and describe symbols for dynamics, tempo, articulation, and expression
3. notate music using the current technologies

Content Standard 6:

Listen To, Analyze, And Describe Music

1. describe specific musical events in a given aural example such as a motif or an instrumental entrance
2. identify the uses of the *elements of music in a given aural example

Content Standard 7:

Evaluate Music And Music Performances

1. develop criteria for evaluating performances and compositions
2. explain, using appropriate music terminology, personal preferences for specific musical works and styles

Content Standard 8:

Understand Relationships between Music, The Other Arts, And Disciplines Outside The Arts

1. identify similarities and differences between music and the other arts (visual arts, drama, dance, media production)
2. identify similarities and differences between music and disciplines outside the arts

Content Standard 9:

Understand Music In Relation To History And Culture

1. identify by *genre or style, aural examples of music from various historical periods and cultures
2. compare the purpose of music in several cultures of the world
3. identify and describe roles of musicians in various music settings and cultures
4. use technology for study and research in music

Content Standard 10:

Understand And Create Music Through Technology

1. use technology to experiment with sound manipulation
2. use technology for study and research in music

Content Standard 1:

Sing Alone And With Others, A Varied Repertoire Of Music

1. sing accurately using good breath control, with increasing range, proper vocal tone production and technique, alone and in small and large ensembles
2. sing in two parts
3. sing a repertoire of music representing diverse cultures and *genres with expression with *level 2 difficulty

Content Standard 2:

Perform On Instruments, Alone And With Others, A Varied Repertoire Of Music

1. play more complex accompaniments on a variety of classroom instruments
2. play melodies on classroom instruments including *MIDI devices with *technical accuracy with *level 1 difficulty
3. play music representing diverse *genres and cultures with expression

Content Standard 3:

Improvise Melodies, Variations, And Accompaniments

1. improvise simple two-chord and three-chord accompaniments
2. improvise simple melodies on two-chord and three-chord accompaniments
3. improvise, using a variety of nontraditional and electronic sound sources

Content Standard 4:

Compose And Arrange Music Within Specified Guidelines

1. compose a complete melody with accompaniment
2. arrange simple pieces for voices or instruments other than those for which the pieces were written
3. compose, using a variety of nontraditional and electronic sound sources

Content Standard 5:

Read And Notate Music

1. read whole, half, dotted half, quarter, dotted quarter, eighth, sixteenth notes, triplets and rests in 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 6/8 and mixed meter signatures
2. use standard notation to write whole, half, dotted half, quarter, dotted quarter, eighth, sixteenth notes, triplets and rests in 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 6/8 and mixed meter signatures
3. identify and notate pitches on the treble staff
4. define basic symbols for dynamics, tempo, articulation, and expression
5. notate music using the current technologies

Content Standard 6:

Listen To, Analyze, And Describe Music

1. describe specific musical events in a given aural example using appropriate musical terms
2. analyze the uses of the *elements of music and *style in a given aural example using appropriate musical terms

Content Standard 7:

Evaluate Music And Music Performances

1. develop criteria for evaluating the quality and effectiveness of musical performances and compositions
2. explain, using appropriate music terminology, personal preferences for specific musical works and styles

Content Standard 8:

Understand Relationships between Music, The Other Arts, And Disciplines Outside The Arts

1. compare music and the other arts (visual arts, drama, dance, media production) using appropriate terminology
2. compare music and other disciplines outside the arts using appropriate terminology
3. use technology for distance learning and collaboration

Content Standard 9:

Understand Music In Relation To History And Culture

1. describe distinguishing characteristics of representative musical *genres and styles from a variety of cultures
2. compare the functions of music in various cultures of the world and the conditions under which music is usually performed
3. identify and describe roles of musicians in various music settings and cultures
4. use technology for study and research in music

Content Standard 10:

Understand And Create Music Through Technology

1. use technology to create/improvise music
2. use technology for study and research in music
3. use technology for distance learning and collaboration

Content Standard 1:

Sing Alone And With Others, A Varied Repertoire Of Music

1. sing accurately and with good breath control throughout their singing ranges, alone and in small and large ensembles
2. sing with expression and accuracy a culturally diverse repertoire of music in 2 or 3 parts (SAB or SACambiata) up to a *level of difficulty of 2 on a scale of 1 to 6

Content Standard 2:

Perform On Instruments, Alone And With Others, A Varied Repertoire Of Music

1. perform on at least one instrument accurately and independently, alone and in small and large ensembles, with good posture, good playing position, and good breath, bow, or stick control
2. perform with expression and *technical accuracy on at least one string, wind, *MIDI, percussion, or classroom instrument a diverse repertoire of instrumental literature, and if in an instrumental class, perform at a *level of difficulty of 2 on a scale of 1 to 6

Content Standard 3:

Improvise Melodies, Variations, And Accompaniments

1. provide accompaniments to improvised melodies in various styles on keyboard, *MIDI devices or rhythm instruments
2. improvise short unaccompanied melodies and variations

Content Standard 4:

Compose And Arrange Music Within Specified Guidelines

1. compose short pieces within specified guidelines demonstrating how the elements of music are used to achieve unity and variety, dissonance and resolution, and balance
2. use a variety of traditional and nontraditional sound sources and electronic devices when composing and arranging
3. arrange simple pieces for voices or instruments other than those for which the pieces were originally written

Content Standard 5:

Read And Notate Music

1. read whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth and dotted notes and rests in 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 6/8, 3/8 and all a breve meter signatures
2. define and use standard notation symbols and terms for pitch, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, articulation and expression
3. identify (or if in a vocal or instrumental class, read at sight ) simple melodies in the
4. appropriate clef
5. utilize software to reinforce sight-reading and enhance notation skills

Content Standard 6:

Listen To, Analyze, And Describe Music

1. describe specific music events in a given aural example, using appropriate terminology
2. analyze the uses of elements of music in aural examples representing diverse *genres and cultures
3. demonstrate knowledge of the basic principles of meter, rhythm, form, intervals, and style in their analysis of music

Content Standard 7:

Evaluate Music And Music Performances

1. investigate criteria for evaluating the quality and effectiveness of music performances and compositions
2. apply the above criteria in their personal listening and performing
3. evaluate the quality and effectiveness of their own and others' performances, compositions, arrangements, and improvisations by applying specific criteria regarding the *elements of music

Content Standard 8:

Understand Relationships between Music, The Other Arts, And Disciplines Outside The Arts

1. investigate the processes involved in the creation of artistic works among disciplines
2. describe ways in which the principles and subject matter of other disciplines taught in the school are interrelated with those of music

Content Standard 9:

Understand Music In Relation To History And Culture

1. describe distinguishing characteristics of representative music *genres and styles from a variety of cultures
2. classify by *genre, media, historical period, style (and if applicable, composer and title) a varied body of notable musical works and explain the characteristics that cause each work to be considered exemplary

Content Standard 10:

Understand And Create Music Through Technology

1. understand the function of the various pieces of hardware used in a *MIDI sound module
2. (i.e. sound generator, amplifier, mixer, keyboard, etc.)
3. assemble the components of a sound system into a functioning unit
4. understand and utilize the software programs that allow sequencing, notation and recording
5. alter an existing electronic composition in the following ways: transposing pitches and changing timbre, tempo and dynamics

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Content Standard 1:

Sing Alone And With Others, A Varied Repertoire Of Music

1. sing accurately and with good breath control throughout their singing ranges, alone and in small and large ensembles
2. sing with expression and accuracy a culturally diverse repertoire of music in 2 and 3 parts (SAB) up to a *level of difficulty of 3 on a scale of 1 to 6

Content Standard 2:

Perform On Instruments, Alone And With Others, A Varied Repertoire Of Music

1. perform on at least one instrument accurately and independently, alone and in small and large ensembles, with good posture, good playing position, and good breath, bow, or stick control
2. perform with expression and *technical accuracy on at least one string, wind, percussion, *MIDI, or classroom instrument a diverse repertoire of instrumental literature, and if in an instrumental class, perform at a *level of difficulty of 3 on a scale of 1 to 6

Content Standard 3:

Improvise Melodies, Variations, And Accompaniments

1. provide rhythmic accompaniments and harmonic accompaniments of up to three chords on keyboard, *MIDI devices or rhythm instruments
2. improvise short melodies and sequences in several styles over a three-chord progression

Content Standard 4:

Compose And Arrange Music Within Specified Guidelines

1. compose short pieces within specified guidelines demonstrating how the elements of music are used to achieve unity and variety, dissonance and resolution, and balance
2. use a variety of traditional and nontraditional sound sources and electronic devices when composing and arranging
3. arrange simple pieces for voices or instruments other than those for which the pieces were originally written

Content Standard 5:

Read And Notate Music

1. read whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth and dotted notes and rests in 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 6/8, 3/8, 7/8 and alla breve meter signatures
2. define and use standard notation symbols and terms for pitch, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, articulation and expression
3. identify (or if in a vocal or instrumental class, read at sight) more complex melodies in the appropriate clef
4. utilize software to reinforce sight-reading and enhance notation skills
5. read and perform music with changes of key and meter

Content Standard 6:

Listen To, Analyze, And Describe Music

1. describe specific music events in a given aural/written example, using appropriate terminology
2. analyze the uses of elements of music in aural examples representing diverse *genres and cultures
3. demonstrate knowledge of the basic principles of meter, rhythm, form, tonality, intervals, chords, harmonic progressions, and style in their analysis of music

Content Standard 7:

Evaluate Music And Music Performances

1. develop criteria for evaluating the quality and effectiveness of music performances and compositions
2. apply the above criteria in their personal listening and performing
3. evaluate the quality and effectiveness of their own and others' performances, compositions, arrangements, and improvisations by applying specific criteria appropriate regarding the *elements of music, *expression, and *style, and offer constructive suggestions for improvement

Content Standard 8:

Understand Relationships between Music, The Other Arts, And Disciplines Outside The Arts

1. investigate the processes involved in the creation of artistic works among disciplines
2. describe ways in which the principles and subject matter of other disciplines taught in the school are interrelated with those of music
3. compare and contrast the processes involved in the creation of artistic works among disciplines

Content Standard 9:

Understand Music In Relation To History And Culture

1. describe distinguishing characteristics of representative music *genres and styles from a variety of cultures, focusing on host nation music styles
2. classify by *genre, media, historical period, style (and if applicable, composer and title) a varied body of notable musical works and explain the characteristics that cause each work to be considered exemplary
3. compare, among several cultures of the world, functions music serves, roles of musicians, and conditions under which music is typically performed

Content Standard 10:

Understand And Create Music Through Technology

1. understand the function of the various pieces of hardware used in a *MIDI sound module
2. (i.e. sound generator, amplifier, mixer, keyboard, etc.)
3. assemble the components of a sound system into a functioning unit
4. understand and utilize the software programs that allow sequencing, notation and recording
5. create an original composition and experiment in sound manipulation (i.e. sequencing, arranging and music printing)
6. explore alternate music career options that require the use of technology (i.e. recording engineering, music publishing, electronic sound composition)

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