MUSIC AT MCNAIR

Ft. Bragg Schools

Mission Statement

McNair's staff, family and community mission is to prepare students for a
Changing global society by
Nurturing all students and providing an
Academically challenging
Interdisciplinary curriculum that will enable students to be
Responsible citizens and life-long learners.

Welcome to Music at McNair 2009 - 2010!

Your child is taking part in a variety of activities designed to help him/her develop musical skill and to know and appreciate many different styles of music. Our focus is on four basic types of music activities in all classes, K - 4: singing, listening, movement, and playing simple rhythm instruments.

Our textbook series, Share the Music (published by the McGraw-Hill School Division and selected for our use by a Textbook Selection Committee - a cross section of music specialists from DDESS), which we began using a few years ago, is a child centered program that involves students in all learning styles. Sequenced and thematic activities develop the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains of learners. It is current and addresses issues of today and tomorrow. It is a totally comprehensive scope and sequence for learning. The accompanying recordings, CD roms, videos and supplemental materials are of the highest quality, are age appropriate and are presented in a variety of musical styles. It offers the music specialist flexibility, with many and varied ideas and approaches for presenting music concepts and activities.

The cross curricula ideas and activities presented in the Share the Music series are interesting and easily incorporated into the daily plan. To further enhance the teachability of the series, a Teacher's Manual, CD's and a packet of supplemental and follow-up activities was included in the shipment for each grade level's use in their respective classrooms.

Our curriculum is further enhanced with the use of two strong, current supplemental aids: MusicK8 by Paul and Teresa Jennings and Music Express by John Jacobson. The lessons and activities as well as the songs and listening pieces in these two (2) publications are appealing to the children and the children respond positively to them.

Our singing activities include learning songs from K-8, a supplemental music resource that specializes in children's songs and music activities. Some of our favorites are seasonal and holiday songs, but the songs that present messages of high character (in fun and age appropriate language) are a big hit with the children as well.

Listening to compositions by various composers has held the children's interest. They seem to enjoy learning how "human" these musical geniuses were/are. My primary focus in listening is children's classics with particular emphasis on style and instrumentation.

Movement includes lots of marching and simple dance routines that correlate with many of the songs from around the world, as well as from various states, especially as we learn songs about America. The hand jive to "Waddaly Acha" is a favorite among the children, as is the movement to the song from Gambia, "Kye Kye Kule." Some movement is creative use of imagination.

Your child will learn to accompany songs that we sing using simple rhythm instruments such as drums, bells, and rhythm sticks. Our motto is: We make MUSIC, NOT NOISE with our instruments.

As always, we continue to integrate music with other subject areas and activities that McNair School and the Ft. Bragg System consider to be good learning experiences, and which support the DoDEA standards, the National Music standards as well as the Ft. Bragg and McNair School Improvement Plan (SIP) and Music standards.

During your family time at home, you can reinforce what your child has learned in his/her Music class at school in several ways: listen to music together; attend school and check out records, tapes, videos, and/or CD's from the library; attend community concerts; and above all, ask your child (routinely) about their music class activities. In this way, music can be extended in your home. I often challenge my students to "teach" his/her family what they have learned in the Music class.

I will endeavor to introduce your child to music other than what is current and popular, though, as a reward or incentive, they may (occasionally) be allowed to bring a current, popular "hit" (with certain restrictions) to share with us in Music.

Grading in Music is in keeping with the school's grading system and is based mainly on participation. Extra credit is given for performance and other music assignments that are done over and above general class participation.

These are highlights of some of the activities the children experience in Music. Each new day and class brings with it exciting mystery and surprise as the children are encouraged to express themselves through music. There is never a dull moment.

Please be aware of our National Standards for Elementary School Music. Every child should be able to:
- sing alone and with others a varied repertoire of music.
- perform on instruments, alone and with others a varied repertoire of music.
- improvise melodies, variations, and accompaniments.
- compose and arrange music within specific guidelines.
- read and notate music.
- listen to, analyze, and describe music.
- evaluate music and music performances.
- understand relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts.
- understand music in relation to history and culture.
- understand and create music through technology.

Classroom Expectations in Music:

1. Listen carefully and follow directions.
2. Always use your best singing voice.
3. Always sit or stand straight and tall.
4. Use the instruments correctly.
5. COOPERATE and PARTICIPATE.

Classroom Motto: Treat other people the way you wish to be treated.

Please encourage you child to strive to meet these expectations in the Music classroom.

Thank you for your support of our program. You are invited to visit your child's Music class at any time. (May I also call on you at various times during the year to share your musical talent with your child's class?)

For further information about our Music program, call McNair School at 910-907-0207, X3400.

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page updated 10-14-09