Lesson Plans

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​Music class is a high-energy, interactive experience where students engage with music in multiple ways—listening, singing, moving, playing instruments, and creating. Each lesson begins with a daily agenda, providing a roadmap for the day's activities so students can anticipate what’s ahead. Lessons are designed to keep learning dynamic, balancing whole group instruction, small group collaboration, partner work, and technology integration.

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Movement is woven into every lesson, whether it’s transitioning between activities, using gestures to reinforce lyrics, or engaging in folk dances. Music is something we experience with our whole bodies—movement makes rhythm and melody tangible, helping students develop deeper musical understanding and refine their skills through active participation.

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Instrumental exploration grows with each grade level. Pre-K and Kindergarten begin with small percussion, exploring timbre and rhythmic fundamentals through instruments like bells, shakers, and hand drums. First and second graders transition to barred instruments, learning simple borduns and ensemble playing. Third grade introduces standard notation and recorders, focusing on musical literacy and improvisation. Fourth grade expands upon recorder skills and meets the ukulele, developing chord progressions for accompaniment. Bucket drumming has also been a part of upper elementary lessons, adding another layer of rhythmic understanding and ensemble coordination.