Music Dept.

Mrs. Dorothy LaBelle and Mrs. Carol Gould

The George Hersey Robertson Intermediate School Department is committed to maintaining a music program that will provide students the opportunity to exercise their musical talents according to their individual abilities.  Students will create, perform, and respond with understanding to music, regarding the concepts of melody, harmony, rhythm, tempo, dynamics, and tone color.   Students will be guided toward a lifelong love and appreciation for music by exposure to various genres of music, such as program music, jazz, country, folk, opera, and ballet, as well as Classical, Romantic and Modern period styles.

Grade 3:  The students are introduced to beginning music theory, learning the various symbols that are most commonly used in their songs.  They learn to identify notes, rests, the treble staff, line and space names, and to interpret different rhythm patterns using the various note symbols. There are a wide variety of songs, including some in another language. They also learn to identify the four families and names of the instruments.

Grade 4: They sing a variety of styles of songs, including country, and some songs in two parts as an introduction to harmony. They review the symbols of notation begun in grade 3 but in a greater degree.  The recorder is introduced as a pre-band instrument.  The study of recorder reinforces all they learn about notation.  They also have an instrument unit for which the final project is to make a homemade instrument.  There is always a great deal of fun with their creations!  After the instruments are presented, the class breaks up into small “bands” to create a 45 second piece of music, which is presented to the class.

Grade 5:  They not only sing songs and review the music theory symbols, but also study composers throughout the year. They begin with John Philip Sousa, the great American composer who had such a tremendous influence on marching bands. Next they study Saint-Saens and his program music, followed by Tchaikovsky and his “Nutcracker” Ballet.  They take a break from composers with a unit on conducting, for which they learn many songs in various meters so they can practice their conducting skills.  In March there is a unit on Mozart, learning about this great child prodigy who remains as music’s greatest composer ever. During this time they study opera and attend a live opera performance held in Mansfield.  After spring break the remaining unit is the keyboard unit.  A keyboard lab is set up in the music room so that 12-13 students work at the instruments at one time. It is a fun way to end the year!!