Please note: All students must have a recorder.

The Importance of Recorder

This year the students will be learning the recorder. The recorder is a great way to prepare the students for seventh grade music in junior high. Seventh grade requires a year of fine arts (visual, music, or drama). Lehi Junior High offers an unusually large selection of music classes. You can visit their website and look at the 7th grade registration to see Lehi Junior High's music requirements and offerings.  In junior high, students can choose from choir, band, or orchestra. Recorder helps prepare students for all three choices. The wind control involved in playing the recorder helps with the wind control required for choir and for wind instruments. The left hand coordination required by the recorder assists in the left hand fingering required by string instruments and woodwinds. And, of course, the ensemble work, rhythm, and music reading will assist with choir, band, and orchestra.

Forms

Click here to view the Upper Grades Disclosure Document.

Click here to view the Recorder Form.

The Trimester System

The school year is divided into three trimesters. The students will receive their report cards at the end of each trimester. During the trimester, the students will attend four weeks each of all three specialties:  computers, P.E., and music. The order in which they will attend the specialties will depend upon which rotation they are in. Please consult with your child's core teacher to determine the rotation schedule. 

Music follows the Utah State Core Curriculum for music. Therefore, the elements of music are introduced and practiced. The following is the general curriculum for each of the trimesters.

Trimester One (4 weeks)               

Music Appreciation and Music Theory Units

Identify famous classical music.

Breathing and vocal exercises.

Identify head and chest voice.

Note reading (in preparation for recorder).

Trimester Two (4 weeks)

Instrumental Unit

Recorder beginning with the "B" note.

Practice charts will be required for this trimester. Students must turn in weekly practice charts. Each practice chart requires a total of 20 minutes (that would be 5 minutes a day for four days). Please note that music rotations often do not start at the beginning of the week. In fact, there is never music on Mondays. Music has a 4 day week. Therefore, the days that the practice chart are due may very. For example, if music starts on Tuesday, the first chart will be due on Friday (4 music days and the end of the first music week). If music starts on Wednesday, the chart will be due on Tuesday (4 music days, but also a weekend and a Monday -- the weekend and the Monday are bonus). I realize this can be confusing, but unfortunately the specialty schedule is a bit confusing. Students will be informed and reminded of when practice charts are due. Students will also be docked points for late practice charts or incomplete practice charts (i.e. only 15 minutes of practice or forgetting to perform for an adult).

Trimester Three (4 weeks)

Vocal Unit

Rounds, beginning harmony, and syncopation singing.

Time signatures: Learn to conduct in 4/4 time.