East Lansing Public Schools

Elementary
Music Program

Music in 5th grade

We learn music by: singing, performing, improvising, composing, reading, listening,
evaluating, understanding.
The fifth grade music experience is a culmination and synthesis of knowledge, skills and processes. The
focus will be an in-depth application and exploration of musical concepts.
Rhythm: Benchmarks:
Chant, move to, create, improvise and play a variety of rhythms.
Read, write and perform music in more complex rhythmic notation.
Use appropriate terminology in explaining music notation.
Melody: Benchmarks:
Listen, analyze and describe characteristics of a melody.
Sing and play a melody independently and with others.
Read and perform simple pitch notation.
Improvise and create simple melodies within the context of a tonality.
Create and arrange short songs and instrumental pieces.
Use appropriate terminology in explaining music notation.
Aurally discriminate between major and minor tonalities.
Harmony: Benchmarks:
Perform independent instrumental parts while other students sing or play
contrasting parts.
Construct and perform easy chord progressions.
Sing simple harmonies such as rounds and partner songs as well as more complex
harmonies such as countermelodies, descants, and 2 part-harmony.
Form: Benchmarks:
Sing, perform and create songs and instrumental pieces using authentic musical
forms, including Theme and Variations.
Identify specific musical forms through analytical listening.
Expression: Benchmarks:
Describe the effect that expression has on music.
Perform expressively and create music with appropriate dynamics, phrasing, tempo, timbre, diction and
articulation.
Identify symbols and traditional terms referring to dynamics and articulation.

Timbre: Benchmarks:
Use a variety of traditional and nontraditional sound sources and electronic media
when composing, arranging, and improvising.
Identify the sounds of a variety of instruments, including many orchestra, band and
electronic instruments, and instruments from various cultures.
Use classroom instruments, voices, and other sources to demonstrate a variety of
sounds in music.
Style: Benchmarks:
Perform and create in a variety of styles, cultures, and historical periods.
Listen, move to, and describe a variety of styles, cultures, and historical periods.
Texture: Benchmarks:
Identify the sounds of a variety of instruments and voices within the context of a
multi-layered piece of music.
Create and arrange short songs and instrumental pieces that reflect the students understanding of the
use of layered sound in music.

Miss Anderson
Music teacher at Donley Elementary
Kaitlin.Anderson@elps.us
I am happy to be your childs new music teacher! Let me briefly introduce myself. A
graduate of MSU in music education and psychology, I have been teaching music since
2012. I come to East Lansing after teaching
elementary music in the Troy School District. Before that, I worked as Interim Director of the MSU
Childrens Choir program, where I directed four choirs with students in 1st-8th grade, including
performances with MSU ensembles and professional orchestras. I am a pianist, guitarist, and singer, but
above all, a teacher! Some of my greatest joys are seeing my students thinking, discovering, and developing
new knowledge and skills.
Our class is a fun, nurturing place to learn music. I believe all students can learn music and grow in their
understanding. Music can be enjoyed now and for the rest of their lives.

Be sure to check out the Donley Music Class Website throughout

the year to stay updated on what your students are learning!
DoReMiDonley.weebly.com