Chicago Center for Music Education
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 Classroom Music - Performance Model

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Today’s students need to engage in activities that bring them together, unite them, provide opportunities for understanding different backgrounds and perspectives, and give them a way to celebrate each other’s diversity. ChiME's Classroom Music program aims to provide just that through its weekly classes. 

ChiME’s Classroom Music program is delivered in weekly sessions to pre-K through 8th grade classrooms  in groups from 5 to 30 participants throughout the school year. ChiME teaching artists engage, excite, and encourage active music making for every student. Students engage on a variety of percussion instruments while learning repertoire from a variety of diverse genres. Their cumulative work as a team is presented via school performances, usually two per school per year. The content, instrumentation, and outcomes of the Classroom Music program vary slightly for different grade levels, with direct alignment between all levels as student’s progress in their musical studies.  
Preschool through 1st grade
​Students use hand-held, un-pitched percussion instruments to master beat and rhythmic skills. Melodic awareness is developed through listening games and singing. Student uses instruments provided by ChiME to experience and learn all the concepts. Repertoire includes age-appropriate, high-energy, and culturally diverse songs from a variety of genres.
Students will learn to perform the following on small percussion instruments:
  • A steady beat and tempo
  • Accurate rhythms
  • Accurate dynamics
Students will gain the following knowledge:
  • Role of music (via repertoire) in culture
  • Basic musical terminology in areas of beat, rhythm, melody, and expressive tools (musical words and their meaning)
Students will also:
  • develop listening skills
  • learn to follow the conductor and play as an ensemble
  • develop turn-taking skills
  • gain tools and confidence for self-expression and communication
  • develop a sense of being part of a community
  • perform with effective stage presence
  • develop an understanding of the value of diversity 
2nd Grade
Second grade students transition from simple hand-held percussion instruments to a world of more complex instrumentation in preparation for the ensemble-based curriculum offered for grades 3-6. Students use small mallet percussion instruments to master beat, rhythm, melodic, and expressive skills as well as learn the basics of musical notation. Simple drums and some hand-held percussion are also used to provide a taste of a broader ensemble instrumentation and the first experience of different roles within an ensemble. Repertoire includes age-appropriate, high-energy, and culturally diverse songs from a variety of genres. 
Students will learn to perform the following on small mallet and percussion instruments:
  • A steady beat and tempo
  • Accurate rhythms
  • Accurate pitches
  • Accurate dynamics
  • Proper instrumental technique
Students will gain the following knowledge:
  • Role of music (via repertoire) in culture
  • Basic musical terminology in areas of beat, rhythm, melody, and expressive tools (musical words and their meaning)
  • Keyboard geography
  • Basics of rhythmic and melodic music notation (note values and treble clef notes)
Students will also:
  • develop listening skills
  • learn to follow the conductor and play as an ensemble
  • develop turn-taking skills
  • gain tools and confidence for self-expression and communication
  • develop a sense of being part of a community
  • perform with effective stage presence
  • exercise attention to detail
  • exercise personal credibility
  • exercise problem solving
  • exercise planning for priorities
  • develop an understanding of the value of diversity 
3rd through 6th Grade
​Curriculum for grades 3-6 focuses on students working as an instrumental ensemble. The foundation of the curriculum is built upon an energetic rhythms and beats using a variety of drums with a plethora of hand-held percussion instruments and drum set, coupled with a number of keyboards of varying sizes and shapes to produce the melodic and harmonic messages. Each student uses their own instrument provided by ChiME to learn the material. Repertoire consists of carefully chosen arrangements of high-energy songs crafted specifically for the instrumentation available through Classroom Music program. Each class session resembles an ensemble rehearsal, and students are able to practice the music at home with tracks. 
Students will learn to perform the following on their instrument:
  • A steady beat and tempo
  • Accurate rhythms
  • Accurate pitches
  • Accurate dynamics
  • Proper instrumental technique
Students will gain the following knowledge:
  • Role of music (via repertoire) in culture
  • Basic musical terminology in areas of beat, rhythm, melody, and expressive tools (musical words and their meaning)
  • Keyboard geography
  • Basics of rhythmic and melodic music notation (note values and treble clef notes)
Students will also:
  • develop listening skills
  • learn to follow the conductor and play as an ensemble
  • develop turn-taking skills
  • gain tools and confidence for self-expression and communication
  • develop a sense of being part of a community
  • perform with effective stage presence
  • exercise attention to detail
  • exercise attention to communication
  • exercise personal credibility
  • exercise perspective taking
  • exercise problem solving
  • exercise planning for priorities
  • develop an understanding of the value of diversity 
For more information on ChiME's Classroom Music programs, please contact Gosia Bagley at gbagley@chimemusic.org or leave us a message at 312-738-2646.

Chicago Center for Music Education | 1148 West Chicago Avenue | Chicago, IL 60642 | 312.738.2646   
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  • About Us
    • About ChiME
    • Staff
    • Faculty
    • Board of Directors
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Contact
  • Events
  • Programs
    • Early Childhood >
      • Early Childhood Music
      • Meet the Instruments
    • Classroom Music - Performance Model
    • Classroom Music - Therapeutic Model
    • ChiME Time Drumline
    • Buddy Band
    • Music Therapy
    • Music Therapy Instrument Lessons
    • Instrumental Music >
      • Private Lessons
  • Donate
    • Our Supporters
  • Resources
    • Forms
    • REGISTER NOW
    • Calendar
    • Gift Certificates
    • Video Gallery
    • PM classroom