Every music course in the Newtown Public Schools has a Board of Education approved curriculum that is based on national and state standards for music education. The philosophy of the Music Department comes directly from the NAfME (National Association for Music Education) National Standards:
"The study of music contributes in important ways to the quality of every student's life. Every musical work is a product of its time and place, although some works transcend their original settings and continue to appeal to humans through their timeless and universal attraction. Through singing, playing instruments, composing, and active listening, students can express themselves creatively, while a knowledge of notation and performance traditions enables them to learn new music independently throughout their lives. Skills in analysis, evaluation, and synthesis are important because they enable students to recognize and pursue excellence in their music experiences and to understand and enrich their environment. Because music is an integral part of human history, the ability to listen with understanding is essential if students are to gain a broad cultural and historical perspective. The adult life of every student is enriched by the skills, knowledge, and habits acquired in the study of music."
Newtown High School Orchestra students are transitioning to a higher level of performance and over the course of four years, will advance to college and professional level music. To achieve this goal, all students will study and learn more advanced keys, complex meters and rhythmic patterns, a variety of articulation and bow strokes, expand their shifting skills, perfect their pitch accuracy, and perform a variety of repertoire that represents a myriad of cultures, styles, composers, and time periods. Students gain more ownership in their learning and have input into music selection. Students are required to listen, analyze, and evaluate their performance, as well as that of others, to aid in the development of their own sense of musicality.
More detailed information can be found in our curriculum. The link to the Gr. 5-12 Orchestra curriculum is:
http://www.newtown.k12.ct.us/Portals/Newtown/District/docs/Curriculum%20Documents/Music%20Grd%209-12/orchcurradopted5.18.08.pdf
"The study of music contributes in important ways to the quality of every student's life. Every musical work is a product of its time and place, although some works transcend their original settings and continue to appeal to humans through their timeless and universal attraction. Through singing, playing instruments, composing, and active listening, students can express themselves creatively, while a knowledge of notation and performance traditions enables them to learn new music independently throughout their lives. Skills in analysis, evaluation, and synthesis are important because they enable students to recognize and pursue excellence in their music experiences and to understand and enrich their environment. Because music is an integral part of human history, the ability to listen with understanding is essential if students are to gain a broad cultural and historical perspective. The adult life of every student is enriched by the skills, knowledge, and habits acquired in the study of music."
Newtown High School Orchestra students are transitioning to a higher level of performance and over the course of four years, will advance to college and professional level music. To achieve this goal, all students will study and learn more advanced keys, complex meters and rhythmic patterns, a variety of articulation and bow strokes, expand their shifting skills, perfect their pitch accuracy, and perform a variety of repertoire that represents a myriad of cultures, styles, composers, and time periods. Students gain more ownership in their learning and have input into music selection. Students are required to listen, analyze, and evaluate their performance, as well as that of others, to aid in the development of their own sense of musicality.
More detailed information can be found in our curriculum. The link to the Gr. 5-12 Orchestra curriculum is:
http://www.newtown.k12.ct.us/Portals/Newtown/District/docs/Curriculum%20Documents/Music%20Grd%209-12/orchcurradopted5.18.08.pdf