- Greenburgh Central School District
- 5th Grade
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The 5th grade theory lessons evolve around musical scales: Major, minor, The Octave and the Relative 6th which 6th, which the minor scale is built on. Applied in a very simplified manner, musical games are used to reinforce what they learn.
Students study various genres of music applying their knowledge of scales, identifying if the composition is Major or minor.
The great composers are again highlighted with great emphasis on Johann Sebastian Bach. We begin with a brief synopsis of Music History starting with the Gregorian Chant, the Middle Ages, through the Renaissance into the Baroque where we find Bach. Though Bach wrote over 3000 compositions, it is the ‘Little Fugue In G minor’ that exemplifies his great contribution to how music is perceived today: Counterpoint, different melodies played at the same time.
As we move into the Romantic period in Music History, the Suite is defined and explored. The ‘Peer Gynt Suite’ composed by Edvard Grieg is discussed and acted out in Skits. To the student’s great surprise they never knew the name of the selections played, nor the Composers name, yet they recognize the music, which has been used in many applications that they are familiar with: Cartoons, Movies to Video Games.
As in 4th grade Solfege is continued: Sight Singing in parts and simple Harmonies is the foundation for what the 5th grade Solfege entails. Assessments are made on the students ability to sight sing simple melodies individually and in groups.
The 5th grade also follows the IB units incorporating song, Dance and the like to enhance what is being taught in the Classroom.
Students begin to learn how to play the keyboard, Piano Lessons, which they will use for projects in 6th grade.