General music class will provide your child with broad musical encounters and will develop their natural skill and enhance their musical abilities through meaningful educational experiences. Our general music instruction is activity-based. Students will listen, sing, play, move, create, read and write music throughout the year. Closely connected to the teaching methods of Zoltan Kodaly and Carl Orff, our learning will be experienced through play, repetition, and scaffolding opportunities. A four-step learning process is used:

1. Preliminary play or experience
2. Exploration or expansion
3. Creation or improvisation
4. Literacy and writing

This process provides the students with multi-dimensional learning. It empowers children in their innate musicality and creativity by first “having fun,” then serves their natural ability to learn through meaningful enhancements to the activities presented. The goals are to enable each child to be musically literate, and for each child to gain ownership of their musical abilities. Participation by the students in general music class is absolutely necessary! Through active participation, the students not only learn but also inspire others to create and to learn. For each to reach their fullest potential, we have four rules which are simply stated and consistently held: 1) Enter music class quietly & ready to learn; 2) Respect the bodies & voices of others; 3) Respect the instruments and classroom; 4) Participate fully.

Here are some things to look forward to this school year:

Show Off Days – November 3rd and 8th

3rd, 4th, and 5th graders are welcome to “show off” their musical talents to their classmates! From playing harmonica to singing a duet with a friend to playing the piano, each child is encouraged to share their gifts and gain a peformance opportunity during their regular music lesson. Children will also learn what it is to be a good audience member and give encouraging feedback to their peers.

Christmas Concert – Wednesday, December 14th @ 6:30P.M.

Children in grades K-5 will participate in the BPJXXIII Christmas Concert. Each grade will perform a set of Christmas favorites, as well as introduce some new songs! Music starts at 6:30P.M. in the gymnasium with goodies in the courtyard afterwards. All students in K-5 are required to attend this event, and 6-8 grade families are invited to join in the celebration!

Spring Concert – Wednesday, May 9th @6:30P.M.

Join us for the final musical event of the year! Students in grades K-5 will perform in the spring concert, showing off some of their favorite songs from music class! Music starts at 6:30P.M. in the gymnasium with goodies in the courtyard afterwards. All students in K-5 are required to attend this event, and 6-8 grade families are invited to join in the fun!