Waukee General Music Department
Waukee Elementary Music students will explore music through diverse and collaborative experiences to foster growth of their own understanding and to express their creative ideas. Students will connect their musical experiences with their peer, school, local, and global communities.
The Waukee Community School District Music Program provides educational opportunities that allow students to demonstrate mastery of musical skills. Productivity, accountability, creativity, collaboration, self-expression, self-discipline and pride in excellence are necessary.
Music education is a discipline and a structured field of study with its own body of knowledge, skills, and way of thinking. It is historically significant and reflects the multicultural heritage of mankind. Music exalts the human spirit through its aesthetic values and enhances the quality of life. It involves a coexistence of behaviors that promote higher order thinking skills and life-long learning.
General Music Course Standards, Benchmarks, Objectives (SBO) and Curriculum Review Process
In 2019, the Waukee Community School District General Music team began work unpacking the National Coalition of Core Arts Standards. 2020 served as a complete pause due to the pandemic; work was completed by members of the General Music Department in the 2021-22 school year.
The National Coalition of Core Arts Standards were revised in 2014, the first revision to national arts standards in 20 years. The NCCA is an umbrella organization that created standards for Visual Art, Music, Dance, and Theatre. The Waukee General Music Department is specifically adopting the revised “General Music” strand edited and adopted by the State of Iowa in 2017. These standards divide the musical experience into four components: Creating, Performing, Responding, and Connecting. Elementary students will engage in music exploration that will promote lifelong appreciation and engagement with music.
Additionally, 5th Grade students may elect to further their musical studies by participating in 5th Grade Choir and/or 5th Grade Band; curriculum for these 5th Grade music courses has been developed in alignment with our secondary Vocal Music and Band departments.
Waukee K-5 General Music Standards, Benchmarks, and Objectives
Music Repertoire Statement
Literature for each of our ensembles is carefully chosen. It is the belief of the WCSD Music Department that students are to be exposed to a wide variety of literature. The instructor determines music selection based upon availability, quality, educational value, and suitability for healthy vocal/instrumental development. It is not the intent of this department to persuade student views with opposing beliefs or ideas that a musical selection’s text or subject matter may present. Rather, we desire to familiarize students with a quality repertoire that will give them a better historical and global perspective as well as to make them conversant with musical aesthetics. It is our goal to give students a broad perspective of numerous composers and musical styles.
General Music Courses
All Waukee students in Grades K-5 participate in General Music twice in a six-day cycle.
Grade Level Overviews and Progress Report Statements
Students in 5th grade may also elect to join Band and/or Choir in addition to their General Music experience. Band and Choir continue as elective offerings throughout 6th through 12th grades.
