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Round Valley Arts Curriculum

I. ARTISTIC PERCEPTION

1.      Refine and advance performance skills--Multiple part singing

2.      Refine theory skills

·        Rhythm--sight-read and perform whole, half, quarter, eighth, and sixteenth notes.

·        Accidentals

·        Music terminology--anything contained in the music.

3.      Introduce at auditory level

·        Minor scales

·        Chord progressions (I-IV-V-I)

·        Complex rhythms

·        Key changes

II. CREATIVE EXPRESSION

1.      Singing

·        Students move from reliance on teacher/piano (rote) to reliance on printed music to learn songs.

·        Refine techniques in vocal production, focusing on:

a)      resonance

b)      projection

c)      tone placement

d)      diction

·        Sing a cappella and accompanied pieces.

2.      Performing

·        Public performances should be sought out.

·        It is preferable to have group critiqued by outside professionals (i.e., festivals, clinicians, etc.)

·        Opportunities to sing under other directors should be available to students (i.e., honor groups, mass choir).

III. HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CONTEXT

1.      Students sing a wide variety of music in various languages.

2.      Students perform for public functions.

IV. AESTHETIC VALUING

1.      Students refine their ability to explain musical experiences, verbally or in writing.

2.      Listen to other choirs, especially live performances.

3.      Refine critical listening skills and adapt own singing to achieve proper vocal blend in group sound.

V. CONNECTIONS, RELATIONS, APPLICATIONS

Students understand relationships between the arts and with disciplines outside of the arts by:

1.      having access to practice and composition computer hardware with appropriate supporting software and instructions,

2.      being introduced to the physics and mathematics inherent in the production of musical tones,

3.      creating melody and words that will enhance studies of history and literature,

4.      experiencing music through the use of technology, including CDROM, video, CD, etc.