Catholic Christ Centered Education Since 1856
“The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.” - Johann Sebastian Bach
What kinds of things do we learn in music class?
Grade 2We practice sight-singing. This means we must read rhythm, solfa pitches, and words all at the same time for a song we've never heard before.
Grade 1We play instruments.
Grade 1We listen and respond to music with movement.
KindergartenWe can identify the instruments we hear by miming how they are played.
Grade 3We practice upbeats and downbeats and can hear if beats are in sets of 3 or in sets of 4. The Maori stick game from new Zeland is a great way to practice this.
Grade 4We play and sing music from the United States and from all over the world.
KindergartenWe can pat the beat in many places, including on our classmates!
Grade 4We can sing in cannon and move in cannon.
Grade 5We learn to conduct.
Grade 5We don't just study composers, we compose our own music and perform it for our classmates on our recorders.
Philosophy of Music Education
At St. Croix Catholic School, we believe that music is essential to educating the whole child: mind, body, and spirit. Performing, creating, and responding to music facilitate the understanding of aesthetics, expression, and creativity. Music encourages understanding of the historical and cultural heritage of our community and the global community. Knowledge of the fundamentals of music leads to a fuller participation in liturgy and worship. Because music is a basic expression of human culture, every student should have access to a comprehensive music education.
