Mamaroneck SchoolsMusic
The Music Department believes that the role of music instruction in the schools is to provide opportunities for children to discover their innate musical abilities in a fun and collaborative classroom environment. Music-making is a human behavior across all cultures, and all students deserve the chance to find their place in the culture of music in the school community and beyond. In addition to building musicianship, studying music allows for full use of the brain and facilitates learning on many levels. Musical skills and behaviors learned in school will serve students for life.
Learn more about the benefits of music education at the National Association for Music Education website.
All elementary students in the Mamaroneck School District participate in general music classes once every 6 days. Students are actively engaged in developing musical skills and understanding music through singing, moving, creating and playing on a variety of classroom instruments. It is in these general music classes that a child’s musicality is nurtured and the process of becoming a lifelong lover of music begins.
Beginning in the 3rd grade, all elementary school students may elect to begin string instrument instruction.
Beginning in 4th grade, all elementary students may elect to begin band instruction.
Elementary students participate in choral music for one year that spans from January of fourth grade to December of fifth grade.
The music curriculum is based on the nine National Standards for Music Education, which are:
- Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
- Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
- Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments.
- Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines.
- Reading and notating music.
- Listening to, analyzing, and describing music.
- Evaluating music and music performances.
- Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts.
- Understanding music in relation to history and culture.