Southside Elementary School
Fine and Performing Arts
We develop student's senses of rhythm and Musical time through "Rhythm Games". They are designed to teach each student basic elements of musical notation and music reading. Every student has an opportunity to create a rhythmic motif and hear it being performed by other students via body percussion.
We study music through movement. Every lesson is filled with games and activities designed to engage students in a fun way, while allowing them to discover different aspects of Music: high, low, fast, slow, loud and soft. For example, The Bear game is where students are expressing their auditory perceptions through body movements.
We showcase our talents through singing. This original Music genre helps to promote student's understanding of many cross-curricular concepts: counting, direction, alphabet letters, etc.
We discover a variety of musical instruments. Every lesson is concluded with an introduction of a musical instrument, showcasing of the parts and some listening samples.
All of the above rubrics are used to develop and furthermore advance child's auditory processing and listening skills that are very necessary for their success beyond the Music classroom.
We further develop student’s singing techniques while covering a wide repertoire of American folk songs, Patriotic music, and other genres. Proper vocal training is the key to a successful start of any musician. Every student must be familiar with correct body posture and soft palate use. These techniques will ensure their success, while singing solo or in a group.
We create visual and kinesthetic projects to express Music through multiple Art forms. A renaissance model of a perfect person was a “well-rounded individual”, perfect in every way. We use cross-curricular activities and references to ensure that our students are successful not just in a limited area of studies, but rather understand relationship of Music with other studies.
We read and write music. Auditory perception is a very important concept for any person. The way our brain processes what we hear reflects on how we function, respond, and live our daily lives. Our students are exceeding in that area. They can write any simple (and sometime complex) rhythm using standard musical notation just by hearing it. Students are able to analyze music as it is being played, break it down, notate it, correct it, and apply it. Performing rhythms on musical instruments is the next natural step, once a student understands how to read and write music.
We learn about numerous musical instruments and styles of music. This broadens up student’s musical horizons, teaches them about roles and functions of different musical instruments, and prepares them for a successful beginning in a band or orchestra program.
We showcase our work to our teachers, administrators, parent-volunteers, and other students. Complete projects that are well practiced are being performed at the end of the class, sometimes in front of the cozy audience.
We travel the world without ever leaving our classroom. Students are learning about traditional music from different places around the globe. Exotic rhythms and foreign songs add extra spice to our musical experiences. Certainly, social studies play an important part during these types of activities.
We experience music first-hand while attending Symphony concerts. Sarasota county schools have been attending live Symphony concerts that are brought to us by the Sarasota Orchestra. Words cannot express the depth of our gratitude for providing our students with such amazing opportunities to experience live music in-person. Community involvement in success of our students is one of the keys to assuring their bright future. In addition, we are very grateful for the involvement of other Arts organizations. Sarasota Opera and Youth Opera members do a fantastic session with our students to promote their programs and support the highest form of performing arts – the Opera. Having our students experience world-level music performed on a “big stage” educates them and inspires them.
We write lyrics for certain types of music. We arrange music pieces. We perform our own works while using our voices and a wide variety of musical instruments: xylophones, guitars, drums, and other. We always welcome other musicians to join the band (Mr. Dragon, as it turned out, is a very good Blues singer. And Mr. Humphrey is great on guitar). Being a performer puts any given student onto the next level. They begin to understand music from within. Naturally, good performers also make good listeners, self-disciplined, well mannered, highly motivated individuals.
