Geneva CUSD 304 Content-Area Curriculum Frameworks Grades 6-12 Choral Music Mission Statement The mission of the Geneva C.U.S.D. 304 K-12 music education curriculum is to guide all students toward the development of a lifelong personal relationship with music, by giving every student the opportunity to develop his or her individual skills, talents, and knowledge of music to the fullest potential, through a variety of appropriate listening, performance, creative, evaluative, and learning experiences. The mission of the vocal music program of Geneva C.U.S.D. 304 is to develop in each singer a healthy vocal technique and a breadth of musical knowledge and skills, which will equip each student with the ability to participate in the choral medium throughout their lives. Course Sequence (Grades 6-12) 6 th Grade Choir (entry-level) 7 th Grade Choir (open to all students regardless of experience) 8 th Grade Choir (open to all students regardless of experience) Concert Choir (grades 9-12, non-auditioned) Treble Choir (grades 9-12, auditioned) Varsity Choir (grades 9-12, auditioned) Viking Ensemble (grades 10-12, auditioned)
Course Framework Course Title Grade Level Semesters (1-2-3-4) Prerequisite Course Description Choral Music 7 th Grade Choir 2 semesters None Seventh grade choir is an extension of the and skills that were introduced in Sixth grade choir. Students enrolling in this course will engage in activities designed to: Develop greater proficiency in the use of the singing voice. Continue to understand of proper use of the singing voice as it relates to the youngadolescent. Special attention will be paid to vocal change issues. Continue to develop competencies in music reading; including, but not limited to basic rhythmic principles, basic sightsinging principles, and score analysis as it relates to music at this level. Provide performance opportunities integral to a choral ensemble; primarily, school concert venues. Develop age-appropriate understanding in basic performance etiquette and practice. Continue personal confidence and comfort with the individual singing voice, as it relates to solo performance and ensemble participation District-approved Materials and/or Resources Age-appropriate choral literature representing diverse musical styles and cultural backgrounds Patterns of Sound Music Reading Series, book 2 Easy-Rhythm Sightsinging Series, Masterworks Press October 2012 Page 2 of 10
Unit of Study: major topics 7 th Grade Choir Quarter 1 Concepts: Review of Standard Notation Symbols 2 Part/SSA Sightsinging Solfege review Review use of Major key signatures Review of structural elements of score Vocal development Performance skills Resources that will support Sectionals and smallgroup Opportunities for individual singing practice Written worksheets, tests, etc. to supplement major Grade level appropriate choral literature Illinois Learning Standards, Benchmarks, National Standards Assessment Frameworks, or other standards that will be taught in this unit Learner Outcomes National Standards for Arts Education in Music: Standard #1: Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. Standard #5: Reading and notating music. Standard #6: Listening to, analyzing, and describing music. Standard #7: Evaluating music and music performances. IL Arts Standards: 25 Know the language of the arts. 26 Through creating and performing, understand how works of art are produced. 27 Understand the role of the arts in civilizations, past and present. At the completion of quarter one, students will: o Perform music in two-part and SSA voicings o Apply rhythm to music learned in class o Sightsing at an increased skill level o Use appropriate expressive markings in their fall concert music. October 2012 Page 3 of 10
Assessments Performance Tasks Weekly homework sheets Written tests and quizzes Informal individual singing assessment within small group Vocal Test #1 Fall concert Viking Voices (optional enrichment activity for students) Other Evidence Informal vocal recalls during class Ungraded rhythmic and solfege assignments completed during class Ungraded solo singing experiences to evaluate vocal development and progress. October 2012 Page 4 of 10
Unit of Study: major topics 7 th Grade Choir Quarter 2 Concepts: Review quarter 1 and skills Major scale in skips SSA and SAB Sightsinging Bass clef pitch reading Sixteenth note counting Rhythmic dictation New structural elements of score Vocal development Performance skills Resources that will support Sectionals and/or small group or individual Opportunities for individual singing practice Written worksheets, tests, etc. to supplement major Grade level appropriate choral literature Listening activities Rhythm dictation Illinois Learning Standards, Benchmarks, National Standards Assessment Frameworks, or other standards that will be taught in this unit National Standards for Arts Education in Music: Standard #1: Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. Standard #5: Reading and notating music. Standard #6: Listening to, analyzing, and describing music. Standard #7: Evaluating music and music performances. IL Arts Standards: 25 Know the language of the arts 26 Through creating and performing, understand how works of art are produced. 27 Understand the role of the arts in civilizations, past and present Learner Outcomes At the completion of quarter two, students will: Perform music in SSA and three-part-mixed voicings Count standard sixteenth note patterns Read Bass clef pitches Have completed a vocal test Perform the Major scale in skips October 2012 Page 5 of 10
Assessments Performance Tasks Weekly homework sheets Written tests and quizzes Informal individual singing assessment within small group lessons Patriots Day Vocal Test #2 Other Evidence Informal vocal recalls during class Ungraded rhythmic and solfege assignments completed during class Ungraded solo singing experiences during each small group lesson to evaluate vocal development and progress. October 2012 Page 6 of 10
7 th Grade Choir Unit of Study: major topics Illinois Learning Standards, Benchmarks, National Standards Assessment Frameworks, or other standards that will be taught in this unit Quarter 3 Concepts: Review quarter 1 and 2 and skills SAB Sightsinging Treble and Bass clef pitch reading used interchangeably Increased skill in sixteenth note counting Count rhythms in compound meters Begin singing Three Part Mixed/SAB literature Master use of Major key signatures Rhythmic dictation New structural elements of score Vocal development Performance skills Resources that will support National Standards for Arts Education in Music: Sectionals and/or small group or individual Opportunities for individual singing practice Written worksheets, tests, etc. to supplement major Grade level appropriate choral literature Listening activities Rhythm dictation Standard #1: Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. Standard #5: Reading and notating music. Standard #6: Listening to, analyzing, and describing music. Standard #7: Evaluating music and music performances. IL Arts Standards: 25 Know the language of the arts 26 Through creating and performing, understand how works of art are produced. 27 Understand the role of the arts in civilizations, past and present Learner Outcomes At the completion of quarter three, students will: Perform music in SSA and three-part-mixed or SAB voicings Count standard sixteenth note patterns Read Bass and treble clef pitches interchangeably Have completed a vocal test October 2012 Page 7 of 10
Assessments Performance Tasks Weekly homework sheets Written tests and quizzes Informal individual singing assessment within small group lessons Winter Concert Vocal Test #3 Other Evidence Informal vocal recalls during class Ungraded rhythmic and solfege assignments completed during class Ungraded solo singing experiences during each small group lesson to evaluate vocal development and progress. October 2012 Page 8 of 10
Unit of Study: major topics 7 th Grade Choir Quarter 4 Concepts: Review and skills from quarters 1,2, and 3 SAB Sightsinging Count rhythms in irregular time signatures Count rhythms in shifting/mixed meter Sing Three Part Mixed/SAB literature Master use of Major key signatures Rhythmic dictation New structural elements of score Vocal development Performance skills Chromatic solfege syllables as they apply in sightsinging materials as well as concert music Resources that will support Sectionals and/or small group or individual Opportunities for individual singing practice Written worksheets, tests, etc. to supplement major Grade level appropriate choral literature Listening activities Rhythm dictation Illinois Learning Standards, Benchmarks, National Standards Assessment Frameworks, or other standards that will be taught in this unit National Standards for Arts Education in Music: Standard #1: Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. Standard #5: Reading and notating music. Standard #6: Listening to, analyzing, and describing music. Standard #7: Evaluating music and music performances. IL Arts Standards: 25 Know the language of the arts 26 Through creating and performing, understand how works of art are produced. 27 Understand the role of the arts in civilizations, past and present Learner Outcomes At the completion of quarter four, students will: Perform music in SAB voicings Count rhythms using mixed meter Read major key signatures at a Mastery level Have completed a vocal test on sightsinging Have mastered both treble and bass clef pitch reading October 2012 Page 9 of 10
Assessments Performance Tasks Weekly homework sheets Written tests and quizzes Informal individual singing assessment within small group lessons Spring Concert Vocal Test #4 Other Evidence Informal vocal recalls during class Ungraded rhythmic and solfege assignments completed during class Ungraded solo singing experiences during each small group lesson to evaluate vocal development and progress. October 2012 Page 10 of 10