PK-8 General Music

Learning in general music classes is most effective when students are actively involved and have quality aural experiences. Performing, working in small groups, active listening, creating, moving to music, and independent projects result in deeper learning than lectures and worksheets. Courses in general music, therefore, should provide developmentally appropriate opportunities for performing (voice, guitar/ukulele, keyboard, percussion, handbells, electronic generated music and other instruments); responding (movement, listening-based classes such as music history and literature); creating (electronic music, improvisation, composition); and making connections to other arts, disciplines, cultures, and personal life. Because performing, responding, and creating are the modes through which musical understandings are achieved, even listening-based classes should include appropriate performing and creating activities. Recommended activities, such as listening, performing, creating, improvising, and responding are efficient hands-on learning modes, attract and hold the students’ interest, and give students a key to lifelong enjoyment of music.

Special consideration needs to be given to developmentally appropriate early childhood music education. As stated in the Wisconsin Music Curriculum guide, “Music education for young children involves a developmentally appropriate program of singing, moving, listening, creating, playing instruments, and responding to visual and verbal representations of sound.

*Standards maps may be reproduced if Wisconsin Music Educators Association is cited as the original source.