Introduction to Music

PEIMS Course Title/Number:
Music 3/02520007

Prerequisite Requirements:
Prior course completion.

Course of Instruction/Lesson Description:
Introduction to Music is intended for students ages 8 to 10 who are new to the K12 Music Program. Even if the student has taken private instrumental lessons, this course will develop the ear and the singing voice in a way that will complement other musical experiences.

Major course expectations include the following:

Perception

• Learn to feel the beat of music.
• Identify the direction of melodies.
• Read and write music with four melody notes and four rhythm concepts.
• Aurally identify melodic patterns using so, la, mi, and do.
• Aurally identify simple rhythmic patterns in folk songs and classical works.
• Recognize and categorize orchestral instruments into four groups: strings, percussion, woodwinds, and brass.

Creative Expression/Performance

• Read, write and perform rhythmic patterns.
• Practice proper vocal production and sing with musical expression.

Historical/Cultural Heritage

• Sing and play musical games from folk cultures from around the world and the United States.
• Actively listen to great works from Western classical music and respond to the music.

Response/Evaluation

• Identify concepts in examples of some of the world’s great musical masterpieces.
• Listen with imagination and discernment and use musical terminology when discussing the music.

Instructional Plan:
Music lessons generally include at least three of the following activities:

• Warm-up: Games introduce the lesson and reinforce the concept of beat in music. Songs prepare the student for learning the main objectives of the lesson.
• Skills Development: Includes a vocal or rhythm exercise and reviews melodic or rhythm concepts.
• Music Concepts: The main concept of the lesson is taught through vocal activities, physical motions, and written practice.
• Music Appreciation: Introduces the instruments of the orchestra, the culture in which music was created, and the relationship of music to story.
• Active Listening: Helps students enjoy classical music through creative movement and imaginative play.

Lesson Numbers/Duration:
72 total.

Online Importance:
Most lessons begin with an online activity in which the student sings with the melodic pattern presented online. “Let's Learn Rhythm” uses a CD to provide the students a similar experience, in which students clap and identify rhythm patterns. Once the student has finished this part of the lesson, most of the teaching and learning takes place away from the computer.

Students sometimes return to the computer to view animations or listen to a sound clip that illustrates an abstract concept. Students also use online tools to explore instruments in the orchestra.

Each lesson provides detailed instructions for each online activity. Activity Instructions provide an outline of the lesson as well as information about assessment and supplemental material. Activity Instructions are available to print from the Online Lesson.

Monitoring Student Progress:
Each Music lesson ends with an assessment. The assessment generally includes two or more questions or problems based on the lesson objectives.

Students and parents can access student-specific screens to determine (1) progress in the number of lessons completed, (2) the lesson assessment (percentage mastered), (3) the semester assessment (percentage mastered), and (4) the number of times the student has taken the assessment instruments. Families who enroll their children in the eCP program have the benefit of help and guidance from an experienced teacher. The teacher will contact students daily through email and phone conferences. Consistent progress monitoring by the teacher will be utilized throughout the project period.

Schedule for Monitoring Student Progress:
Each teacher will establish a daily contact schedule for their assigned students at a time of day that is reasonably convenient for both parties. Contacts may be asynchronous/synchronous or one-on-one/groups. The avenues of teacher-initiated contact will be adjusted as determined by the progress a student makes through their learning plan. Parent- and student-initiated contact with teachers can happen at any time. The Acting Director, or their designee, will monitor the communication logs to ensure that parents are being routinely supported and informed regarding the student’s ongoing progress and participation.

In addition, teachers will monitor progress in mastery of objectives and lesson completion on a weekly basis. Continuous progress monitoring by the assigned teacher ensures that parents are informed on a regular basis regarding progress and participation.

Required Instructional Materials:
Materials K12 provides:

• Let’s Sing CD, a collection of sing-along folk songs from diverse cultures
• Let’s Learn Music, a video of creative movement activities
• Let’s Listen CD, a collection of favorite classical music
• Let's Learn Rhythm CD-ROM, an interactive, progressive program that that helps students practice rhythm elements
• Tambourine

Standardized Assessment Instruments:
End-of-Course Exams developed by Texas Tech, University of Texas, or K12 Inc.

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Compliancy:
Side-by-side comparisons of TEKS and the content of each course have been developed and reviewed to ensure that the online curriculum meets or exceeds the TEKS.

Grading/Credit Award Criteria:
A course grade in the content areas will be determined by the score on the End-of-Course Exam from either Texas Tech University or the University of Texas. The course grade in art, music, health, and PE will be determined by the percentage of lessons completed and mastered. A student will be promoted to the next grade level by passing three of the four End-of-Course Exams administered in a proctored environment, and the average of the four End-of-Course Exams must be at least 70%.

Contact Information:
Students will be assigned a teacher upon acceptance into TXVA@SW. The teacher will provide the student and family with telephone and email contact information. The student and/or family may contact a help desk at 1-886-YOUR K12 for additional technical, material, or logistical support. Students will be provided with online assistance 24/7 through the TXVA website.