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Teaching Philosophy
My personal teaching style represents mainly the ideas and beliefs of a utilitarian philosophy. I believe that, through music, children will be able to become a well-rounded student, possessing qualities such as discipline, responsibility, academic strength, and many other traits of a successful student. In practicing aesthetic philosophical approaches, I will enable the student to grow as a musician, focusing mainly on music listening, reading, and performance.
Summary of Instrumental Music Curriculum
In third grade, all students are required to take recorder classes once a week for 40 minutes. The recorder is a pre-band instrument, through which students learn the basic fundamentals of playing an instrument. Musical elements such as meter, rhythm, melody, harmony, form, and texture are introduced. Students also get a sense of playing together as a group and alone.
In fourth grade, students begin learning band instruments. Students are selected to play flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, or percussion. They begin by learning how to assemble and disassemble each respective instrument, in conjunction with instrumental maintenance. Through teaching styles included but not limited to modeling, guided practice, and independent practice, students will learn notation, embouchure, posture, and sound production-just to name a few musical elements.
Curricular Calendar
Third grade students will learn physical aspects of performing, such as proper posture and how to hold their recorder. Their cognitive learning will consist of rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic developments. In addition, kinesthetic and motor skills will be developed further in preparation for fourth grade band.
Fourth grade students will learn similar fundamentals of being an instrumentalist. Students will be able to identify and understand the basic principles of their instrument such as assembly and construction. They will then begin to understand rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic elements of music through practice. Students will also be able to identify form, culture, and instrumentation of music that they are playing or hearing.
Special Events
Third and fourth grade students perform two concerts each year during December and May. These concerts feature vocal and instrumental ensembles and are performed at the school during the morning and evening. The performances are open to the public.
~Mr. Martin
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