At Nixon we have a deep commitment to the arts.
Our vision for our music program is:
Through culturally affirming and diverse musical experiences, students will develop an appreciation for music, and will have the skills needed to be independent adult musicians and to progress to music-specific middle and high school programs.
To accomplish this vision, we have developed a clearly articulated K-6 music experience. This experience pairs purposeful classroom instruction with deliberately selected extra-curricular opportunities.
All students at Nixon receive music and arts instruction in grades K-6. Our music class is based on the Orff and Kodaly instruction methods. We seek to be culturally affirming, and thus utilize a music curriculum that is based on a mix of Latin American traditional folk-songs, and traditional North American folk-songs.
All extra-curricular experiences are offered free of cost to families.
See Below for the an overview of classroom instructional goals, and extra-curricular opportunities by grade level.
Our vision for our music program is:
Through culturally affirming and diverse musical experiences, students will develop an appreciation for music, and will have the skills needed to be independent adult musicians and to progress to music-specific middle and high school programs.
To accomplish this vision, we have developed a clearly articulated K-6 music experience. This experience pairs purposeful classroom instruction with deliberately selected extra-curricular opportunities.
All students at Nixon receive music and arts instruction in grades K-6. Our music class is based on the Orff and Kodaly instruction methods. We seek to be culturally affirming, and thus utilize a music curriculum that is based on a mix of Latin American traditional folk-songs, and traditional North American folk-songs.
All extra-curricular experiences are offered free of cost to families.
See Below for the an overview of classroom instructional goals, and extra-curricular opportunities by grade level.
Grade |
Instructional Goals |
Extracurricular Offerings |
Kindergarten |
Movement Naming Steady Beat Music Comparatives Singing improvisation |
Ballet |
First |
Singing improvisation Intro to Rhythmic and Melodic Notation Beginning Circle and Partner Dances Beginning Hand Clapping Games |
Ballet |
Second |
Rhythmic and Melodic Notation Singing in Parts Singing and Instrument Improvisation Drumming Techniques Beginning Hand Clapping Games Movement Improvisation |
Latin American Dance Hip- Hop Dance |
Third |
Part work on instruments: xylophones, drums Class Arrangement Projects Singing and Instrument Compositions Intermediate Hand clapping Games Intermediate Group Dances Evaluating Music Created by the Class |
Latin American Dance Hip-Hop Dance Capoeira |
Fourth |
Recorder: Notation Reading With an Instrument Class Arrangement Projects Advanced Group and Partner Dance Evaluating Music Created by the Class |
Capoeira Beginning Choir Steel Pan Drama |
Fifth |
Difference Between Major and Minor Advanced Singing, Advanced Instrument Playing (including recorder) Beginning Ukulele Composition Advanced Hand Clapping games, Advanced Folk Dances |
Advanced Choir Steel Pan Drama Band |
Sixth |
Advanced Singing Advanced Instrument Playing Singing/Playing in modes Advanced Ukulele Student Based Interest Projects, Composition Student-Created Movement and Dance |
Advanced Choir Steel Pan Drama Band |