Music Appreciation
Course Outline
Board Approved: August 11, 1998
I. Course Information
A. Course Title: Music Appreciation
B. Course Code Number: SA662/667
C. Course Length: 10 Weeks (Quarter)
D. Grade Level: 6
E. Units of Credit: 1
F. Prerequisites: None
G. Type of Course: Elective
II. Course Description
The creative arts, which include music, are a vital part of a comprehensive program of general
education. General music at the sixth grade level of the middle school is an area where students
expand their interest in music and lay foundation for understanding music as an important factor of
a well rounded education. This course includes the four components of the California State Board
of Education Visual and Performing Arts Framework, aesthetic perception, creative expression,
music heritage, and aesthetic valuing.
III. Course Content Defined in Goals, Objectives and Performance Indicators
1. Aesthetic Perception
The student will develop sensitivity to the expressive qualities of music, increase aural
awareness, develop musical responsiveness, involvement, and discrimination, and will
become aware of the nature and structure of music.
1.1 Music, a Language and an Art
The student will develop concepts concerning music as an expression
1.1.1 Why Do We Have Music?
The student will be stimulated to think of music as a means of
expression, to develop the idea that music serves many important
purposes in the lives of all, and to broaden the understanding and
knowledge in respect to music.
1.1.2 Nature of Sound
The student must understand what is sound, the characteristics of sound
and how sound is transmitted.
1.1.3
1.1.4
Sound Production
The student will define sound from various sources, including the
different types of instruments.
Elements of Music
The student must understand the relationship among these elements,
pitch, rhythm, harmony, form, texture, tempo, dynamics, and timbre.
2. Creative Expression
Involvement in musical expression requires that the participants develop technical skills.
2.1 Auditory Skills
The student will demonstrate the development of listening skills.
2.1.1 Musical Instruments
The student will gain knowledge in becoming acquainted with the tonal
qualities of the various instruments of the band and orchestra.
2.1.2 Style Recognition
The student will listen for and identify the style of various selections of
music literature.
2.1.3 Elements and Function
The student will listen for and identify the use of the elements in music
through recordings.
2.2 Translative Skills or Skills of Reading and Music Writing
The student will have an understanding of basic music theory, vocabulary, and meter.
2.3 Performance Skills
The student will participate in singing, playing of instruments, body movement, and
conducting.
2.3.1 Singing
The student will have the knowledge that the human voice is an
instrument, and will have the opportunity to use his/her voice in song.
2.3.2 Instruments
The student will be given the opportunity to explore and participate in
playing on simple wind and percussion instruments.
2.3.3 Body Movement
The student will have the chance to participate in exploring the elements
of music through movement.
2.3.4 Conducting
The student will experience music by knowing what a conductor does
when standing in front of musicians.
3. Music Heritage
The student will develop an awareness and understanding of the styles, idioms, performance
media, and purposes of music that are part of our multicultural heritage.
3.1 Music History
The student will discuss the history of music, its social and physical influences and its
evolution to music as it is heard today.
3.1.1 Periods of Music History
The student will discuss music from the early Baroque to contemporary
music and analyze the musical elements in each type of music literature.
3.1.2 Social and Physical Influences
The student will discuss the social factors that influenced music, as well
as site the environmental and technological capabilities through time.
3.1.3 Evolution
The student will discuss the evolution of music as it relates to the
elements of music.
3.2 Music of the World
The student will recognize and analyze music as it is heard throughout the world.
3.2.1 Regions and Music
The student will recognize various types of music that characterize
different regions around the world.
3.2.2 Analysis
The student will analyze each region’s music for its elements of music
and the social/physical influences.
3.3 Styles of Music
The student will have an understanding of the various styles of music.
3.3.1 Style Recognition
The student will recognize the different periods of music literature
through the use of music elements.
3.4 Purpose of Music
The student will recognize and discuss the importance of all forms of music as they
are found in cultures throughout the world.
3.4.1 Music as a Part of Living
The student will cite examples of how music affects his/her everyday life.
3.4.2 Effects on Human Behavior
The student will recognize and cite examples of how music is used to
elicit emotion.
3.4.3 Entertainment
The student will recognize music as a universal language used
throughout the world and experience its entertainment value.
4. Aesthetic Valuing
The student will receive a sound basis of musical experiences which the student can use in
making intelligent judgments of music value.
4.1 Background of Music
The student will discuss the importance of music in time and place and explore its
effectiveness.
4.1.1 Music in Time
The student will become aware of how music fits the time of its
development and what displacement in the time might accomplish.
4.1.2 Music in Place
The student will discuss how music fits into each culture and what
displacement into other cultures might accomplish.
4.2 Function of Music
The student will rationalize and defend appropriate choices of music according to
function.
4.2.1 Appropriate Function
The student will discuss the validity of music as it is used in various
situations. A comparison of styles and elements will be used.
4.2.2 Inappropriate Function
The student will discuss music that may be out of place and describe
why it may not belong. A comparison of style and elements will be used.
4.3 Judgment of Music
The student will demonstrate an appreciation for music as an expressive art form.
4.3.1 Personal Preferences
The student will rationalize and defend the style, elements and cultural
background of the music preferred and discuss its effectiveness.
4.3.2 Other Preferences
The student will rationalize and defend the style, elements and cultural
background of other forms of music, regardless of personal preference
and discuss its effectiveness.