WELCOME TO MUSIC CLASS!
Mrs. Cathy Hudson

GENERAL MUSIC CLASS:
    All students in grades 2 through 5 have music for one hour once a week, and an additional 30 minutes one day, on alternate weeks.  Kindergarten and 1st grade also receive a music class for 30 minutes on alternate weeks (no grade is given in K or 1 for this experience.)   Basic Musicianship skills are emphasized to develop singing, playing percussion and keyboard instruments, reading and writing music notation, listening, composing and analysis.  Florida Sunshine State Standards and the Dade County Competency Based Curriculum are followed.  A wide repertoire of literature is used for vocal and instrumental performance, as well as listening to recordings that include master composer works, folk music of the world and contemporary literature. Video media is also used to expand the musical experience beyond the classroom, to relate the study of music to our lives today and its historical development. This includes the study of composers, musicians, musical instruments and forms used in musical entertainment. Reading, writing and math activities are also a part of music class to reinforce FCAT achievement goals.

GRADING:
     All students are graded on class participation, written tests, written class activities and performance.  All students are expected to have a duo-tang type folder with approximately 30 sheets of wide rule notebook paper for class written assignments and personal copies of music.  These folders are kept in the music room and go home at the end of the year.  Parents are welcome to look at their child's folder before or after school.

HOME LEARNING: 
    Students are asked to keep a "Stay Home Music Study Notebook." All written materials, tests and music should be placed into this notebook for home study. Please keep these materials for on going study throughout the year, as well as from one year to the next. Assignments will be written in their agenda books to practice music skills learned in class, vocabulary words and up-coming tests. The amount of time spent practicing is a personal choice by individual need or interest.  Students in grade 3, 4, and 5 will benefit if they have a keyboard (or piano) at home, but this is not required. Our school keyboard is a Casio SA-39 purchased at Toys-R-Us. Students in grade 2 focus on rhythm and can practice on any homemade percussion instrument to hit or shake. A coffee can with beans or pebbles inside with a plastic lid works well. Maracas and Tambourines can be inexpensively purchased at Party City. Be inventive.

        I encourage the students to use the 700 section of our media center to read books on the subject of music;  biographies of composers and musicians are found in the 92 and 920 sections. Students may also be asked to look up music information on the Internet.

        Home learning assignments are for the students' self study and not to be turned in, unless a due date is given for a special project.