Introduction

The music program in DoDEA aims to promote music literacy and to provide students with a well-rounded musical experience. Elementary students will participate in general music courses. Students in middle school may be able to participate in band, chorus, string orchestra, as well as music appreciation, and piano and guitar classes. High school course offerings are expanded beyond middle school offering and include music theory, AP music theory, computer music, show choir, and jazz ensembles.

Using the DoDEA College and Career Ready Standards for Arts and adopted standards from the National Core Arts Standards, music students will be able to create, perform, respond, and connect to music across many disciplines at all levels.

Activities

Music students in DoDEA may participate in several co-curricular activities that occur outside the classroom including after school ensembles and musical theater. Music students in the Pacific region may elect to participate in the Far East Honors Music Festival, Jazz and Modern Music Festival, and submit work to be published in the Sun Journal, a published collection of literary works, musical compositions, photography, and visual artwork. Music students in the European region may participate in the Honors Music Festival, Jazz Music Festival, and Creative Connections, a six-day visual and performing arts symposium. Music students in the American region may participate in local honor ensembles and music festivals.

Summary of Standards

Standards, goals, and learning outcomes in DoDEA music programs are aligned with the DoDEA College and Career Ready Standards for Arts which were adopted from the National Core Art Standards (NCAS). Both CCRSA and NCAS are organized by discipline (music, theatre, visual arts) and centered around four artistic processes—creating, performing, responding, and connecting. Each artistic processes contains two to three anchor standards. Performance standards are specific to each discipline and are arranged in grade-by-grade articulations of student achievement Grades K–8 and three proficiency levels in Grades 9–12 (proficient, accomplished, and advanced). Therefore, performance standards translate anchor standards into specific and measurable learning goals.

The four artistic processes, their definitions, and the anchor standards for each artistic process are as follows:

Creating

Definition: Conceiving and developing new artistic ideas and work.


Anchor Standard #1. Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.

Anchor Standard #2. Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.

Anchor Standard #3. Refine and complete artistic work.

 

Performing

Definition: Realizing artistic ideas and work through interpretation and presentation.


Anchor Standard #4. Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation.

Anchor Standard #5. Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation.

Anchor Standard #6. Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work.

 

Responding

Definition: Understanding and evaluating how the arts convey meaning.


Anchor Standard #7. Perceive and analyze artistic work.

Anchor Standard #8. Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.

Anchor Standard #9. Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work.

 

Connecting

Definition: Relating artistic ideas and work with personal meaning and external context.


Anchor Standard #10. Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art.

Anchor Standard #11. Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding.

Standards and Content

Advanced Placement (AP music theory) have course content that is set by the College Board, that includes the preparation for the test or portfolio.


National Core Arts Standards- Music

  • State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education (SEADAE) on behalf of NCCAS - Music Standards 

Music Composition and Theory Strand

Music Traditional and Emerging Ensembles

Music Harmonizing Instruments

AP Music Theory

  • College Board AP Music Theory will help you learn to recognize, understand, and describe the basic materials and processes of music. You’ll listen to, read, write, and perform a wide variety of music.

Courses

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