Educating the Whole Child:
Mind, Body and Spirit.
Music speaks to our hearts, causes us to feel emotion, and even helps us remember. It helps our students to become better students as it encourages students to focus, listen, concentrate, and remember. Learning music helps students in other subjects, such as math, science, reading, and languages. It enhances social skills and builds confidence. At Saint Francis of Assisi School, we educate the whole being, which includes a wonderful music curriculum. Students learn to not only appreciate music, but to become musicians themselves through writing, improvisation, movement, and performance. View video titled How playing an instrument benefits your brain by Anita Collins.
“I see my life in terms of music”
~Albert Einstein
Lower Elementary (Kindergarten, First and Second Grade)
In the first quarter, students in kindergarten, first, and second grade use music and movement to define music. They learn about the staff, the treble clef, and the percussion family of instruments. Students sing cross curricular songs for the seasons and for thanksgiving.
Upper Elementary (Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grade)
Students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades play the recorder just after Christmas. An important element to any instrument success is practice. Recorders in the classroom cannot be sent home as they need to be available for music classes. Please consider purchasing a recorder for your student to use at home. They are quite inexpensive and a great tool for developing musicianship. If you would like to order a recorder, please complete the order form. The cost of the recorder will be deducted from your FACTS school account.
Students in upper elementary focus on movement, percussion family instruments, improvisation, listening and analyzing music, and reading music in the first quarter. Students are expected to read the notes and music markings necessary for playing the recorder in the second quarter.