The Sisters' Connection

The Sister’s involvement within the Music program is to focus their teaching of students using music and songs to instruct in Catholic Faith and foreign languages. A major goal of NDA is to provide music opportunities in every area of the school, including Mass and
special events, to present our students’ talents.

Kindergarten

Beat competency; pitch matching; rhythm patterns (quarter and half notes); use the singing voice to echo short melodic patterns; sing age-appropriate songs from memory; identify and describe basic elements in music (high/low, fast/slow, loud/soft).

First Grade

Begin to read staff notes; read rhythm (quarter and half notes, quarter rests); match pitch; begin to use singing breath; identify simple music forms (phrase, AB, echo); identify common instruments; sing age-appropriate songs from memory; improvise simple rhythm; music cultural heritage.

Second Grade

Read, write, and perform simple rhythmic patterns using eighth, quarter, half notes, and rests; identify ascending/descending melody, even/uneven rhythm, musical forms (verse/refrain, AB, ABA); identify wind, string, brass and percussion instruments; sing with accuracy and from memory, music of different cultures, composers.

Third Grade

Read, write, and perform rhythmic patterns using eighth, quarter, half, dotted, whole notes, and rests; identify visually and aurally the four families of orchestral instruments; sing with accuracy age appropriate songs from memory; recognize music of different
cultures and composers.

Fourth Grade

Read, write, and perform melodies, and rhythmic notation; use basic music terminology; classify variety of instruments from diverse cultures; recognize different music forms; music and composers of different time periods.

Fifth Grade

Read, write, and perform simple melodic notations in treble and bass clef; recognize music of different genres and cultures; recognize different musical forms, instruments, composers; apply rhythm skills into accompaniments of simple songs; sing in two-part harmony; participate in musical performance.

Sixth Grade

Read, write, and perform intervals, rhythmic and melodic notations, using standard symbols for pitch, meter, rhythm, dynamics, and tempo in duple and triple meters; understand theme and variations in music of different cultures and composers; sing with technical accuracy, good posture, tone quality, and expression and apply it in a musical performance; identify various musical styles and genres; musical improvisation.

Seventh Grade

Be fluent in reading, writing, and performing musical (treble and bass clef) and rhythmic (duple, triple, and mixed meters) notations; sight-read melodies; analyze and compare musical styles, genres, forms of different cultures, and composers; apply vocal and musical skills in a performance.

Eighth Grade

Be fluent in all note and rhythmic reading, writing, and performing; analyze and compare
musical elements representing various genres, styles, and forms of different cultures and
composers; sight-read melodies; apply vocal and musical skills in creating and arranging a musical performance.