PISD Elementary Music Program
From the Plano ISD website:
"Elementary students in the Plano Independent School District attend music classes taught by specialists trained in the Kodály methodology. This approach to music education includes a sequential organization of concepts and skills to be developed through hearing, singing, deriving, writing, reading, and creating music, thereby contributing to the development of the whole child. This method is now used in school districts around the world in the music education of children and adults alike. It has been specifically adapted to meet the needs of the Plano I.S.D. as the basis for the elementary music program.
The goal of the Elementary Music Curriculum is to present a program of sequential musical learning designed to develop an appreciation of the joy of music making; an understanding of culture and fine arts from a variety of periods and peoples; and skill and independence in performing, reading, writing and creating music.This goal will be achieved as the students:
1. Build a repertoire of songs, rhymes, singing games, play parties and dances from a variety of cultures
2. Understand musical concepts
3. Achieve mastery of musical skills
4. Perform, analyze and listen to great art music
5. Create, improvise, and compose original compositions
The Kodály MethodThe primary method used in teaching music concepts and skills by music specialists in the Plano Independent School District is the Kodály Method.Based on the philosophical writings of Hungarian composer and educator, Zoltán Kodály, an approach to music education was developed based on the ideals that:
1. Musical literacy (the ability to read, write and think music) is the right of every human being.
2. Musical learning begins with the child’s natural instrument, the voice.
3. Music must begin with the very young – in kindergarten and the primary grades.
4. It is through the folk music of the mother tongue that the skills and concepts should be taught.
5. Only music of the highest quality – both folk and composed – should be used in the education of children.
* adapted from The Kodály Method – Lois Choksy, pp. 6-8