Enrichment & Elective Offerings
Elementary Music
Vocal Music: Music is an integral part of our human spirit. It is important to provide opportunities to develop this art in children. At Ribét this development takes place throughout the years by exposing the children to the best in "song literature", listening selections and movement.
The goal is for the children to learn to value music by providing them with a musical experience that is structured and magical at the same time. This approach creates excitement about the music, promotes understanding and builds self-confidence through music making.
Music is a natural curriculum connector. The teaching of music as an expressive art is integral to music education; its easy integration with other subjects enriches the children's overall Ribét experience:
- Social Studies – through folk songs that are history put to music. Song literature and listening selections focus on the social, cultural and historical content of music in America and from other lands.
- Science and Math – through songs that help explain the workings of the world and beyond, music helps the children explore the science of sound and works with basic math skills.
- Language Arts and Reading – through songs that are stories set to music. The process of singing helps students develop the same sequencing, decoding, listening, concentration and recall skills that they use in reading and writing. Singing also helps to modify speech behaviors, reinforce proper pronunciation and enhance verbal fluency and comprehension.
Some of the Music Concepts learned are:
- Rhythm: steady, beat, meter duration, rhythm patterns, syncopation
- Melody: melodic patterns, high and low, direction, steps, leaps, repeated tones, phrases, pitch perception/notation, sequence.
- Harmony: adding harmony parts, partner songs, countermelodies
- Form: repetition/contrast, introduction and coda, rounds and canons
- Tone Color: vocal tone color, instrument tone color
- Expressive Qualities: tempo, dynamics, style, mood
Students tend to make music their own, with songs that help them learn about music and relate what they have learned to their everyday lives. The songs selected are new as well as standard favorites. Well-known folk songs and new songs honoring public persons and special celebrations that will enhance their understanding and appreciation of cultures past and present are included. Songs utilized are age appropriate so that they fit the students' vocal range and have topics and lyrics that fit their interests and intellectual maturity. This ensures that the songs will build music reading, writing and listening skills.
Instrumental Music: Learning to play an instrument opens up a whole new world of friendship and fun. Ribét's Elementary Instrumental Music program prepares students for music performances as well as the opportunity to take Band as an elective in Middle or High School.
Playing together as a group or in Band provides a great foundation for all aspects of life. In addition to music, students learn: self-discipline; group cooperation; problem-solving; goal-setting; self-expression; memory skills; concentration; poise; enhanced physical coordination; and the importance of teamwork-skills, all in great demand in almost every aspect of life. Like all the arts, music has a profound effect on the academic success of students as well and is integrated into the school's class day curriculum.
The Instrumental Music program begins in 2nd and 3rd grade with recorder instruction and continues in 4th and 5th when the students choose to learn the violin or guitar. Students are beginning to read music and will also be involved in basic theory, history and music games. We hope to foster the love of music in many ways and look forward to an active and adventurous time making loud and soft music.
"I want our children to enjoy music. I would like to capture their interests and motivate them through music. I truly believe music acts as a bridge to other learning. It's Magical!!!" Stephenie Monico, Performing Arts Director, Elementary Music Teacher.