21^st CENTURY

Grade 6-8 General Music Content Standards and Objectives

Janet Benincosa, Technology Integration Specialist

Grade 6-8 students continue to build proper singing technique. Student creativity and problem-solving are demonstrated through interpretation, improvisation, and composition of music. Students increase their civic literacy through singing both patriotic songs and the songs of West Virginia. Global awareness is further expanded through performing and listening to music of other cultures. Students explore the role of the musician in society and careers in music. Students relate music to other disciplines through the study of acoustics and the study of history as it relates to the evolution of musical style.

The West Virginia Standards for 21^st Century Learning include the following components: 21^st Century Content Standards and Objectives and 21^st Century Learning Skills and Technology Tools.

All West Virginia teachers are responsible for classroom instruction that integrates learning skills, technology, and objectives.

6-8		General Music
Standard:		Performing
MU.S.GM6-8.1		Students will: · sing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music; and · perform on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
Performance Descriptors MU.PD.GM6-8.1
Distinguished				Above Mastery	Mastery	Partial Mastery	Novice
The student, with self-direction and expression, performs on an instrument, alone and collaboratively with others, a varied repertoire of music. The student displays insightful musicianship, leadership, adaptability and personal responsibility.				The student, with fluency and consistency, performs on an instrument, alone and collaboratively with others, a varied repertoire of music. The student displays skill, leadership, adaptability, personal responsibility, and a high degree of accuracy and knowledge.	The student is generally accurate while performing on an instrument, alone and collaboratively with others, a varied repertoire of music. Minor inaccuracies do not affect the overall result. The student demonstrates adaptability and personal responsibility.	The student, with frequent prompting, is moderately accurate while performing on an instrument, alone and collaboratively with others, a varied repertoire of music. The student performs with errors that detract from the overall result.	The student, with considerable assistance, performs on an instrument, alone and collaboratively with others, a varied repertoire of music. The student performs with significant errors.
	Objectives		Students will
	MU.PD.GM6-8.1.01		sing songs and/or play instruments in unison and two-part harmony.
	MU.PD.GM6-8.1.02		sing and play major/minor melodies.
	MU.PD.GM6-8.1.03		play major/minor chords.
	MU.PD.GM6-8.1.04		perform music in a variety of global styles (e.g. classical, folk, jazz, etc.)
	MU.PD.GM6-8.1.05		perform compositions and/or accompaniments on instruments.

6-8			General Music
Standard:			Exploring
MU.S.GM6-8.2			Students will: · read and notate music; · listen to, analyze, and describe music; and · evaluate music and music performances
Performance Descriptors MU.PD6-8.2
Distinguished				Above Mastery	Mastery	Partial Mastery	Novice
The student, with precision and self-direction, reads, notates, and critically analyzes music. The student insightfully describes and evaluates music and music performances.				The student, with fluency and consistency, reads, notates, and critically analyzes music. The student methodically and thoughtfully describes and evaluates music and music performances.	The student is generally accurate while reading, notating, critically analyzing, describing and evaluating music and music performances. Minor inaccuracies may occur; however, there are no significant gaps in overall knowledge.	The student, with frequent prompting, is moderately accurate while reading and notating, critically analyzing, describing and evaluating music and music performances. Numerous errors detract from the overall result.	The student, with considerable assistance, reads and notates, critically analyzes, describes and evaluates music and music performances. There are significant errors.
	Objectives	Students will
	MU.O.GM6-8.2.01	aurally identify soprano, alto, tenor, and bass voices.
	MU.O.GM6-8.2.02	visually and aurally identify musical instruments (e.g. traditional, folk, electronic, global, etc.).
	MU.O.GM6-8.2.03	aurally distinguish between major and minor tonalities.
	MU.O.GM6-8.2.04	review and refine all previous learned notation and musical forms.
	MU.O.GM6-8.2.05	read rhythmic patterns from 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, and 6/8 meters.
	MU.O.GM6-8.2.06	identify in 6/8 meter.
	MU.O.GM6-8.2.07	identify and notate dotted quarter notes.
	MU.O.GM6-8.2.08	expand previous notation to include dotted rhythms.
	MU.O.GM6-8.2.09	explore grand staff notation.
	MU.O.GM6-8.2.10	read notation for the bass clef and treble clef.
	MU.O.GM6-8.2.11	follow a musical score.
	MU.O.GM6-8.2.12	identify modulation.
	MU.O.GM6-8.2.13	interpret tempo markings and dynamics.
	MU.O.GM6-8.2.14	interpret D.C., D.S., first and second endings.
	MU.O.GM6-8.2.15	evaluate vocal and instrumental performances.

6-8		General Music
Standard:		Create
MU.S.GM6-8.3		Students will: · improvise melodies, variations, and accompaniments; and · compose and arrange music within specified guidelines
Performance Descriptors MU.PD6-8.3
Distinguished			Above Mastery	Mastery	Partial Mastery	Novice
The student improvises, composes, and arranges sophisticated and innovative melodies, variations, and accompaniments. The student displays insight and musicianship, and models creativity.			The student improvises, composes, and arranges well-crafted melodies, variations, and accompaniments within specified guidelines. The student displays skill and a high degree of accuracy, and models creativity.	The student improvises, composes, and arranges coherent melodies, variations and accompaniments within specified guidelines. Minor inaccuracies do not affect the overall result. The student demonstrates creativity.	The student, with frequent assistance, improvises, composes, and arranges melodies, variations and accompaniments within specified guidelines. Numerous errors detract from the overall result.	The student, with considerable assistance, improvises, composes, and arranges melodies, variations, and accompaniments within specified guidelines. Significant errors reveal gaps in overall understanding.
	Objectives	Students will
	MU.O.GM6-8.3.01	improvise on percussion instrument e.g. drum circle or percussion ensemble.
	MU.O.GM6-8.3.02	improvise on a melodic instrument e.g. ii V I; blues.
	MU.O.GM6-8.3.03	compose melodies using major/minor tonalities.
	MU.O.GM6-8.3.04	compose a piece in 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 6/8 meter.

6-8		General Music
Standard:		Relating
MU.S.GM6-8.4		Students will understand relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts understand music in relation to history and culture
Performance Descriptors MU.PD.GM6-8.4
Distinguished			Above Mastery	Mastery	Partial Mastery	Novice
The student explains, evaluates and makes inferences about the relationships between music, global cultures, the other arts and disciplines. The student’s observations demonstrate critical thinking and are well-reasoned and insightful.			The student explains and evaluates relationships between music, global cultures, the other arts and disciplines. The student’s observations demonstrate critical thinking and are thorough and substantial.	The student explains relationships between music, global cultures, the other arts and disciplines. The student’s explanations demonstrate critical thinking and are satisfactory and coherent.	The student, with frequent prompting, explains relationships between music, global cultures, the other arts and disciplines. The student’s explanations reveal gaps in overall understanding.	The student explains, with considerable prompting, relationships between music, global cultures, the other arts and disciplines. The student’s explanations reveal significant gaps in overall understanding.
	Objectives	Students will
	MU.O.GM6-8.4.01	develop civic literacy by singing and relating West Virginia songs to West Virginia history and geography.
	MU.O.GM6-8.4.02	explore and characterize music from various global cultures.
	MU.O.GM6-8.4.03	examine the science of acoustics.
	MU.O.GM6-8.4.04	use information and communication technology to examine the financial, economic, business and entrepreneurial aspects of musical careers.
	MU.O.GM6-8.4.05	discuss the evolution of musical styles, including their relationship to historical events.
	MU.O.GM6-8.4.06	discuss and demonstrate social responsibility through appropriate audience behavior in a given setting.