Exploring sound and voice
Students start the year by listening closely to music and making sound with their voices, bodies, and simple instruments. Parents may hear new songs hummed at home and questions about loud, soft, fast, and slow.
What does a student learn in
This is the year music becomes something students make, not just hear. Students sing simple songs, tap steady beats, and try out instruments with their classmates. They start noticing the difference between loud and soft, fast and slow, and can say what a song reminds them of. By spring, they can sing a short song from memory and keep a steady beat while a teacher plays along.
- Singing
- Steady beat
- Loud and soft
- Playing instruments
- Listening to music
Year at a glance
How the year usually goes. Every school and district set their own curriculum, so treat this as a guide, not official pacing.
- 1
- 2
Making up music
Students invent their own short songs, rhythms, and sound patterns. They try out ideas, pick the ones they like, and clean them up so someone else can hear what they made.
- 3
Sharing songs with others
Students practice songs and short pieces and perform them for classmates. They learn how to get ready to play, how to start and stop together, and how to show feeling through a song.
- 4
Listening and responding
Students listen to music from different places and times and talk about what they hear. They share what a song reminds them of and say what they liked or would change, using simple reasons.
Mastery Learning Standards
The required skills a student should display by the end of Kindergarten.
Connecting
Connecting
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Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art
Students connect what they already know and feel to the music they make and hear. A song about rain means more when students think about rainy days they remember.
-
Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural
Songs and musical ideas come from somewhere. Students begin to notice how music connects to the people, places, and times that created it.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art | Students connect what they already know and feel to the music they make and hear. A song about rain means more when students think about rainy days they remember. | MU:Cn10.k |
| Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural | Songs and musical ideas come from somewhere. Students begin to notice how music connects to the people, places, and times that created it. | MU:Cn11.k |
Creating
Creating
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Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work
Students make up short songs, rhythms, or musical ideas on their own. This is the start of learning to create original music.
-
Organize and develop artistic ideas and work
Students pick their favorite sounds or short musical ideas and arrange them into a simple song or pattern.
-
Refine and complete artistic work
Students revisit a song or rhythm they made and decide what to keep or change before sharing it with others.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work | Students make up short songs, rhythms, or musical ideas on their own. This is the start of learning to create original music. | MU:Cr1.k |
| Organize and develop artistic ideas and work | Students pick their favorite sounds or short musical ideas and arrange them into a simple song or pattern. | MU:Cr2.k |
| Refine and complete artistic work | Students revisit a song or rhythm they made and decide what to keep or change before sharing it with others. | MU:Cr3.k |
Performing/Presenting/Producing
Performing/Presenting/Producing
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Analyze, interpret, and select artistic work for presentation
Students choose a song or piece of music to perform and start to explain why they picked it.
-
Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation
Students practice a song or rhythm until it sounds the way they want it to. They learn that performing takes preparation, not just one try.
-
Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work
Students perform a song or rhythm for others and show how the music makes them feel through their movements, expressions, and sounds.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Analyze, interpret, and select artistic work for presentation | Students choose a song or piece of music to perform and start to explain why they picked it. | MU:Pr4.k |
| Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation | Students practice a song or rhythm until it sounds the way they want it to. They learn that performing takes preparation, not just one try. | MU:Pr5.k |
| Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work | Students perform a song or rhythm for others and show how the music makes them feel through their movements, expressions, and sounds. | MU:Pr6.k |
Responding
Responding
-
Perceive and analyze artistic work
Students listen to a short piece of music and share what they notice, like how it sounds fast or slow, loud or quiet.
-
Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work
Students listen to a short piece of music and say what feeling or story it gives them. There is no single right answer.
-
Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work
Students listen to a short piece of music and say what they like about it and why. They start building the habit of having a reason for their opinion.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Perceive and analyze artistic work | Students listen to a short piece of music and share what they notice, like how it sounds fast or slow, loud or quiet. | MU:Re7.k |
| Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work | Students listen to a short piece of music and say what feeling or story it gives them. There is no single right answer. | MU:Re8.k |
| Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work | Students listen to a short piece of music and say what they like about it and why. They start building the habit of having a reason for their opinion. | MU:Re9.k |
Common Questions
What does music class look like this year?
Students sing simple songs, clap and tap steady beats, and play small instruments like shakers and drums. They also listen to short pieces of music and talk about what they hear. Most of the learning happens through play, movement, and singing together.
How can I help my child enjoy music at home?
Sing along to favorite songs in the car, clap the beat while music plays, or march around the room to a steady rhythm. Five minutes of singing or moving to music counts. Students this age learn music best by doing it, not by watching it.
My child is shy about singing. Is that a problem?
Not at all. Many students hum, whisper, or just listen for months before they sing out loud. Keep singing around the house without pressure, and confidence usually grows on its own.
Does my child need to read music or learn notes?
No. At this age, students focus on hearing high and low sounds, fast and slow beats, and loud and soft music. Formal note reading comes later. What matters now is listening closely and joining in.
How should I sequence the year?
Start with steady beat, singing voice, and basic listening routines in the fall. Build into simple rhythm patterns, high and low pitch, and small group performing by winter. Save creating and refining short pieces for spring, once routines are solid.
Which skills usually need the most reteaching?
Keeping a steady beat while singing trips up most students, since they have to do two things at once. Matching pitch also takes repeated practice across the year. Short, frequent practice works better than long sessions.
What does mastery look like by the end of the year?
Students can sing a short familiar song, keep a steady beat on an instrument, and tell whether music is fast or slow, loud or soft. They can also share what a song makes them think of and offer a simple opinion about it.
How do I know my child is ready for first grade music?
Listen for steady beat when they clap along to a song, and watch for singing that roughly follows the tune. They should also be willing to perform a short song for family and say one thing they liked about a piece of music.