Middle School Music: Performance, Culture, and Theory
Welcome to Middle School Music! Our program is designed to give students a hands-on musical experience that balances technical instrument skills with a broader cultural understanding of music history. Whether picking up an instrument for the first time or building on previous knowledge, students will gain the confidence to perform and the vocabulary to analyze the music they hear every day.
Instrumental Performance
We believe in learning by doing. Students engage in focused instrumental study, learning to perform both individually and in small groups.
- 5th Grade (Ukulele): Students are introduced to the ukulele, focusing on comfortable handling and basic playability.
- 7th Grade (Guitar): Students advance to the guitar, tackling more complex fretboard navigation and technique.
Core Technical Skills: Regardless of the instrument, students master essential skills, including:
- Technique: Proper handling and understanding of how the instrument works.
- Execution: Chord progressions, simple melodies, and strumming patterns.
- Literacy: Reading tablature, standard notation, and chord charts.
Music History & Cultural Connections
Our curriculum extends beyond the instrument to explore how music shapes and reflects the world.
- 5th Grade – Music Around the World: Students explore global traditions, examining instruments, dance, and culture from various nations. A key project involves researching a specific country to compare and contrast its musical heritage with our own.
- 7th Grade – Roots of Popular Music: We dive into the evolution of American music, tracing the history of Country, Rock, Pop, and Hip Hop. Students discuss how these genres are interconnected, how they have evolved, and their significant impact on modern culture.
Music Theory Fundamentals
To support their performance and analysis, students build a strong foundation in music theory. We cover the essential language of music, including:
- Standard Notation (Treble and Bass Clefs)
- Tablature
- Pitch and Rhythm
- Dynamics and Tempo