Mrs. Emma Jenkins (McIntyre, Highcliff)
Ms. Lisa Marcellus (Highcliff, West View)
Ms. Maura Rushlander (Ross, West View)
Students in the North Hills School District receive music instruction once per six-day rotation for a 40 minute period, taught by a certified music specialist. Assessment is ongoing, and progress is reported at the end of each semester according to the following criteria:
- Singing
- Playing Instruments
- Reading & Notating Music
- Knowledge of Content
Students in grades K-5 follow the Game Plan music curriculum to deliver instruction.
Students will:
- demonstrate an understanding of beat maintenance through movement, playing of classroom instruments and responding to age appropriate musical selections
- participate in group and individual singing activities to enhance the development of their singing voice.
- develop the concept of beat or pulse.
Students will:
- demonstrate an understanding of beat maintenance and rhythm through movement, playing of classroom instruments and responding to age appropriate musical selections.
- participate in group and individual singing activities to enhance the development of their singing voice.
- differentiate between the concept of beat and rhythm.
Second Grade
Students will:
- explore rhythmic and melodic notation and basic music symbols.
- practice matching pitch with their voices through individual and group activities.
- identify simple song structure.
- explore the concepts of beat and rhythm through movement, listening and playing of instruments.
- instruments as well as in singing, listening and dancing/body movement.
Students in second grade also participate in the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's Schooltime Concert series by attending a performance at Heinz Hall designed to introduce them to the instruments of the orchestra.
Third Grade
Students will:
- read and play rhythmic notation and label pitches on the staff.
- begin to recognize and use the concept of harmony through listening, singing and instrumental accompaniment.
- recognize and label instruments of the orchestra.
- explore music from other cultures.
Fourth Grade
Students will:
- recognize and identify basic meter signatures through written and oral activities.
- perform in small vocal and instrumental classroom ensembles to demonstrate rhythm, melody and harmony
- recognize and sing a major scale
- identify simple musical forms and symbols representing tempo, dynamics and techniques.
At this level, students may participate in Orchestra (Beginning Strings) and Instrumental Music (Beginning Band 4).
Fourth grade students also attend a performance of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra as a part of the orchestra's Education and Outreach Schooltime Concert series. Visit www.pittsburghsymphony.org for more information.
Fifth Grade
Students will:
- create a rhythmic composition.
- identify, show and follow melodic direction incorporating ideas of pitch, melody and staff.
- differentiate between major and minor tonalities.
- listen to, sing and identify various harmonic forms.
At this level, students may participate in Orchestra (Intermediate Strings) and Instrumental Music (Intermediate Band 5).