MILLARD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Elementary Music Indicators Guide

New skills and concepts are added while continuing to build on those from preceding years.

Pre-K
Rhythm/Beat
Explore sounds and
Patterns
Explore pulse
Melody/Pitch/Harmony
Speak/Chant
Sing simple songs
Musical Form
Explore simple patterns
(AB, ABAC) (Example:
Triangle sounds for A
and woodblock for B)
Accompaniment
Explore instrument
sounds
Expressive Qualities
Use movement to show
musical concepts
(fast/slow, loud/quiet
etc.)
Describe sounds
Identify sound sources
Improvisation/Composition
Make-up simple songs
Musicianship/Literacy
Use symbols to
represent musical
sounds (icons)
Music in daily life

Kindergarten
Rhythm/Beat
Beat Awareness
Short/Long Sounds
Fast/Slow
Melody/Pitch
Vocal Exploration
4 Voice Types
High/Low Sounds
Speech
Expressive Singing
Pitch Matching
Sol & Mi
Global Folksong
Repertoire
Musical Form
AB/Call & Response
Accompaniment
Simple Accompaniment
while speaking or singing
Expressive Qualities
Loud/Quiet
Movement
Improvisation/Composition
Explore a variety of sound
sources
Musicianship & Literacy
Respond to cues of a
conductor
Iconic symbols
Describe sounds
Explore arts-based and
cross-curricular activities

1st Grade
Rhythm/Beat
Steady Beat
Ta/ti-ti/rest
Experiencing Duple/Triple
Meter
Ostinato
Melody/Pitch/Harmony
Sol/Mi/La
Accompaniment
Unison Singing
Speech with Ostinato
Singing with Ostinato
Musical Form
ABA
Accompaniment
Chord Bordun/Drone
Level Bordun/Drone
Expressive Qualities
Forte (f)/Piano (p)
Discover/describe musical
sounds
Improvisation/Composition
Explore rhythmic and
melodic variations on
familiar material
Musicianship & Literacy
Develop Ensemble skills
Begin reading and writing
notation, 2-line staff
Music vocabulary
Informal self-assessment

2nd Grade
Rhythm/Beat
Half Note/Half Rest
2/4 Meter
Melody/Pitch//Harmony
Do/Re/Mi/Sol/La
Singing with Ostinati
2-Part Speech/Partner Song
2-Part Rounds/Canon
Musical Form
Verse & Refrain
Elemental Forms (ab, aba,
abc, aaba, aaab, abba, abab
abac)
Accompaniment
Broken Bordun/Drone
Expressive Qualities
Crescendo/Decrescendo
Describe musical qualities
from various historical
periods and cultures
Improvisation/Composition
Improvise response to a
musical cue
Explore and create simple
accompaniments
Create rhythmic and
melodic variations on
familiar material
Compose short melodies
Musicianship/Literacy
3-line staff
Practice reading and writing
standard musical notation
Self-assessment using a
rubric
Evaluate arts-based and
cross-curricular activities
Instrument families

3rd Grade
Rhythm/Beat
Whole Notes/ Whole Rest
Dotted Half Notes
3/4 Meter
4/4 Meter
Melody/Pitch/ Harmony
Low La/Low Sol
High Do
5 Line Staff
Multiple Ostinati
Musical Form
Rondo
Accompaniment
Arpeggiated Bordun/Drone
Expressive Qualities
Fortissimo (ff)
Pianissimo (pp)
Staccato
Improvisation/Composition
Improvise response to a
musical cue
Explore and create simple
accompaniments
Create rhythmic and
melodic variations on
familiar material
Compose short melodies
Musicianship & Literacy
Proper diction and posture
Specific instrument
identification

4th Grade
Rhythm/Beat
Sixteenth Notes
Single Eighth Note/Rest
Syncopation

5th Grade
Rhythm/Beat
Dotted Quarter & Eighth
Note
6/8 Meter

Melody/Pitch/Harmony
Fa (Hexatonic)
Ti
Note names
3 Part Canon/Round
3 Part Speech
2 Part Singing

Melody/Pitch/Harmony
Diatonic-Major/Minor
Experience Modes

Musical Form
Theme & Variation
Identify Musical Forms
Accompaniment
Chord (Tonic)
Expressive Qualities
Mezzo Forte (mf)
Mezzo Piano (mp)
Phrasing
Improvisation/Composition
Question and Answer
Compose with
guidelines
Musicianship/Literacy
Interpret music
vocabulary
Multicultural
Instruments/Sounds

Musical Form
Identify Musical Forms
Accompaniment
Moving Bordun/Drone
Chords Tonic (I)
Dominant (V)
Expressive Qualities
Describe Aesthetic
Characteristics in Music
Articulation
Legato
Accent
Improvisation/Composition
Improvise with guidelines
Compose with guidelines
(could utilize electronic or
computer resources)
Musicianship/Literacy
Reading traditional
notation (could include
octavos)