Welcome to the elementary school music program!

The Guilderland Central School District begins music education in the first grade. The goal of the music program is to enrich the life of every child by fostering the ability to enjoy music through understanding. The elementary music program strives to:

• Develop tonal and vocal skills.

• Promote rhythmic skills through movement and dance.

• Nurture musical creativity through structured activities and games.

At the elementary level, each class receives two twenty-five minute periods of instruction per week. The emphasis in music class is on the development of each child’s tonal, rhythmic and movement skills through a sound before sight approach. Similar to the way children acquire language skills, music is taught as an aural art. Students build a solid foundation of aural and performing skills through singing, rhythmic movement, and tonal and rhythm pattern instruction before being introduced to notation and music theory.

The voice is a natural instrument for all children and emphasis is placed on the development of vocal executive skills through the singing of a variety of songs from many cultures. Movement activities support dexterity, rhythm skill development, and beat coordination. Creativity and improvisation are encouraged at every level of music instruction. All students have opportunities to perform on classroom instruments including xylophones and rhythm instruments.

For more information on grade-specific curriculum, please click on the appropriate link: Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5.

*******Congratulations*******
To the thirteen Guilderland students were selected to participate in the New York American Choral Directors Association Elementary Honor Choir this summer.

Students sang under the direction of noted composer and conductor Dr. Lori-Anne Dolloff, an associate professor at the University of Toronto. Mrs. Starr Norman, a vocal teacher at Farnsworth Middle School accompanied this event. The concert was held on Tuesday, August 12, 2008.

The 5^th and 6^th grade students selected for this honor include: Rachel Arnold, Leonard Bopp, Casey Conrad Chase, Ruby Collins, Kiera Jaye DeCotes, Andrew Dame, Zibby Eckhardt, Therese Giordano, Cassie Jones, Quinn McCutcheon, Joey Sipzner, Nicole Ciera Viola, and Michael Zhu.

Student Composer Night

Student composers of any age are invited to perform at the Student Composer Night held at FMS rm. 513 on January 28th at 7:00 p.m.

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