Awesome Kids Program
Music, Arts, Cooking, Foreign Languages, STEM and More!
Email: AwesomeKidsProgram@gmail.com
Or give us a call: (443) 516-7537
6315 Freedom Ave, Eldersburg, MD 21784
Meeting the National Standards for Music Education
Value of Music Education
There are many studies that show how music can help students achieve in other academic areas, but music education also has value and merit on its own. Some are the development of aesthetics, the constant self-critique and refinement of performance in order to improve one’s musical self, and a means of expression that goes beyond spoken word.
In a country where school budgets are tight, more and more programs are being cut. Music is not only part of a well-rounded education but helps children build confidence, discipline, and long lasting friendships.
National Standards for Music Education
The JoeyDCares Rock Orchestra strives to fulfill the nine National Standards for Music Education including, but not limited to, the following ways:
Content Standard 1: Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music
While learning new songs or performing with computer software, interested students have the opportunity to sing a varied repertoire. Vocalists gain confidence in singing and therefore themselves.
Content Standard 2: Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music
All students who join perform a varied repertoire of music on band or orchestral instruments to drums, piano keyboard, acoustic guitar, recorders and more. Students perform either as a soloist or group. By soloing, students learn self-confidence, and by performing with an entire group, students learn teamwork and communication skills.
Content Standard 3: Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments
Students learn to stretch their imagination by creating their own music while they learn a variety of instruments. Many students first learn how to play a written piece, then later make up their own music on their own or with friends. This shows critical thinking and problem solving as well as communication skills when discussing their music with a group.
Content Standard 4: Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines
Students who enjoy composing and arranging can create their own music. Those who choose to do this work with other students and/or the director and discuss how their music will work for other students' instruments. This leads to learning specific guidelines for each unique instrument, composing music that fits every need. By composing and arranging with guidelines, students increase literacy awareness when writing lyrics, self-confidence when a piece they write “works” well with other instruments, communication and teamwork skills when relaying the musical message to others, and imagination in writing music.
Content Standard 5: Reading and notating music
Students perform by reading new and exciting music that may be on their level, a fun piece below their level, or a challenging piece above their level. Students notate music when changes need to be made to the piece due to performance ability or an idea not thought of by the composer. All of this enhances student musical notation literacy.
Content Standard 6: Listening to, analyzing, and describing music AND Content Standard 7: Evaluating music and music performances
Students listen to their performed recordings and analyze, describe and critique themselves individually or whole group. Students not only do this after, but also during a performance. There is a constant state of listening and evaluating when performing music. This implements cognitive thinking skills that are used in other school curriculum.
Content Standard 8: Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts AND
Content Standard 9: Understanding music in relation to history and culture
Students watch, sing and perform along with videos that show how music relates to ELA, history, dance, theatre, math, STEM, science and music's relationship to history and culture of the times.
In singing and discussing these songs, students are empathetic to the plight of others and understand world culture and why artists choose to write music about their livelihoods. Community awareness and learning about who we are as a society from the music of our past and present is inevitable.