Syllabus for

Teaching Music in the Elementary Grades

3 units

Instructor Maurice A. Olivares, LPT

Phone 0949-376-4832
Email maurice_olivares@yahoo.com

I. COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course deals with the educational foundations of Music as it applies to teaching and learning in the
elementary grades. Various teaching strategies and assessment for each area shall be given emphases in this
course.

II. COURSE GOAL AND OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of the course, the students will be able to demonstrate knowledge/ability/skill in:
 Understanding basic musical elements
 Reading simple musical notations
 Playing percussion and classroom instruments
 Selecting age appropriate musical material for children
 Planning classroom musical activities
 Identifying teaching musical concepts related to the material
 Singing with a class and leading classroom activities
 Integrating music into various areas of the elementary curriculum
 Designing activities using musical instruments
 Providing appropriate music listening materials for listening activities
 Identifying characteristics and using different music methods: Kodaly, Orff and Dalcoze
 Writing sample lesson plans on a variety of musical concepts

III. COURSE CONTENT AND TOPICS

 Rhythm and Pitch
 Other Elements of Music (Harmony, Dynamics, Conducting, Tempo)
 Musical Characteristics of Children
 Singing
 Rote-Teaching Procedures
 Note-Teaching Procedures
 Song Evaluation and Selection
 Movement with Music
 Listening to Music
 Classroom Instruments
 Creativity with Music
 IV. COURSE REQUIREMENTS
1. Regular attendance and successful participation in class activities
2. Classroom Performance
3. Mini- lessons (10-15 minutes) in a peer teaching setting
4. Written Exams (prelim, midterm, final exam)
5. Timely completion of written assignments

V. COURSE TEXTBOOK

Anderson and Lawrence: Teaching Music in the Elementary

Campbell, P.S and Scott Kasner, C. (2002). Music in Childhood. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall.
Campbell, P.S. World Music Pedagogy in Elementary. Prentice-Hall.
Ewell, T.B & Schmidt-Jones, C. Music Fundamentals.

V. EVALUATION

Assignments Points
Peer Teaching 1 Lesson Plan 20
Teaching 30
Peer Teaching 2 Lesson Plan 20
Teaching 30
Assignment #1 Rhythm Activity 20
Assignment #2 Rote-Song Approach 20
Assignment #3 Music Reading 30
Approach
Assignment #4 Creative Project 30
Assignment #5 Songs & Materials 30
Portfolio
Performance
Assessment
Skill Proficiencies Singing, playing 30
Instruments
Music Theory Note reading and 30
rhythmic dictation
Exams
Prelim 20
Midterm 40
Final 40
Total Points 400

Grading Scale:
(90-100%) 358-400 pts
(80-89%) 319-357 pts
(70-79%) 279-318 pts
(60-69%) 238-278 pts