Program Curriculum

Here at Hamilton Fine & Performing Arts School, we offer a range of topics and instruments for students from Pre-K to 8th grade. Regardless of the subject, all students will have the opportunity to:

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Create
Compose their own music, enabling them to express their unique identities.

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Collaborate
Play and engage in music alongside their peers, fostering teamwork and creativity.

 

Innovate
Utilize music technology and integrate music with other subjects, enhancing their learning experience across disciplines.

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PRE-K

Topics of Study: 

• Steady beat 

• Beat vs. Rhythm

• Loud and Soft (musical dynamics)

• Fast and Slow (tempo)

• Solfege (Sol, Mi)

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Instruments of Study: 

• Voice

• Handheld percussion (claves, hand drum, shaker) 

• Boomwhackers

• Orff Instruments (xylophones, metalophones) 

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KINDERGARTEN

Topics of Study: 

• Review and reinforcement of Pre-K topics

• High and Low (musical pitches)

• Up and Down (musical contour)

• Rhythms (quarter notes, quarter rests)

• Solfege (Sol, Mi, La)

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Instruments of Study: 

• Voice

• Handheld percussion (claves, hand drum, shaker, djembe, tambourine, sand blocks) 

• Boomwhackers

• Orff Instruments (xylophones, metalophones)

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1ST GRADE

Topics of Study: 

• Review and reinforcement of Kindergarten topics

• Strong and Weak Beats

• Ostinato

• Melody 

• Rhythms (quarter notes, quarter rests, eighth notes)

• Solfege (Sol, Mi, La, Do)

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Instruments of Study: 

• Voice

• Handheld percussion (claves, hand drum, shaker, djembe, tambourine, sand blocks) 

• Boomwhackers

• Orff Instruments (xylophones, metalophones)

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2ND GRADE

Topics of Study: 

• Review and reinforcement of First Grade topics

• Musical Meter (2, 3, 4)

• Pentatonic Scale

• Introduction to instrument families 

• Introduction to music genres

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Instruments of Study: 

• Voice

• Handheld percussion (claves, hand drum, shaker, djembe, tambourine, sand blocks) 

• Boomwhackers

• Orff Instruments (xylophones, metalophones) 

• Keyboard

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3RD GRADE

Topics of Study: ​

• Review and reinforcement of Second Grade topics

• Musical Alphabet

• Lines and Spaces (note-naming)

• Roots of Western Music (Music of Africa, African American Spirituals)

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Instruments of Study: 

• Voice

• Handheld percussion (claves, hand drum, shaker, djembe, tambourine, sand blocks) 

• Boomwhackers

• Orff Instruments (xylophones, metalophones) 

• Keyboard

• Ukulele

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4TH GRADE

Topics of Study: 

• Review and reinforcement of Third Grade topics

• Major & Minor Chords

• Rhythm expansion (whole notes/rests, half notes/rests)

• Roots of Western Music (Music of Africa, African American Spirituals, Blues)

• Digital composition (using DAWs)

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Instruments of Study: 

• Voice

• Handheld percussion (claves, hand drum, shaker, djembe, tambourine, sand blocks) 

• Boomwhackers

• Orff Instruments (xylophones, metalophones) 

• Ukulele

• Guitar

• Drumset

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5TH GRADE

Topics of Study: 

• Review and reinforcement of Fourth Grade topics

• Syncopation

• Rhythm expansion (sixteenth notes/rests)

• Roots of Western Music (Music of Africa, African American Spirituals, Blues, Rock and Roll)

• Genres of the world

• Digital composition (using DAWs)

• Modern Band ensemble practice and performance

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Instruments of Study: 

• Review and reinforcement of Fourth Grade topics

• Syncopation

• Rhythm expansion (sixteenth notes/rests)

• Roots of Western Music (Music of Africa, African American Spirituals, Blues, Rock and Roll)

• Genres of the world

• Digital composition (using DAWs)

• Modern Band ensemble practice and performance

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MIDDLE SCHOOL: MODERN BAND- SEMESTER 1

Instrument Options:

• Vocals

• Keyboard

• Electric Guitar

• Bass Guitar 

• Drumset

• Auxiliary percussion 

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Students will…

• Collaborate to perform music from a variety of genres as an ensemble. 

• Learn an instrument in the modern band. 

• Grow their capacity on an instrument on which they already have facility.

• Receive performance opportunities throughout the semester for teachers, peers, and the community.

 

Repertoire is… 

• Chosen collaboratively by Mrs. Beasley and Modern Band members. 

• Performed as written or modified to allow for student choice, creativity, and access to text. 

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MIDDLE SCHOOL: CHOIR- SEMESTER 1

Students will…

• Engage in vocal warm ups and learn how to properly care for the voice when singing. 

• Collaborate to perform music from a variety of genres as an ensemble. 

• Sing soprano and alto parts of music.

• Explore harmonization, both as written and improvised. 

• Receive performance opportunities throughout the semester for teachers, peers, and the community.

 

Repertoire is… 

• Chosen by Mrs. Beasley as well as by choir student request.

• Chosen for educational purposes both from a musical literature perspective as well as a music history perspective.

• Representative of diverse cultures.

• Performed as written or modified to allow for student choice, creativity, and access to text. 

 

Click here to learn about SY24-25 Choir Repertoire as chosen so far! 

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Upcoming Events: ​​​

Jan 30th - Modern Band Music Will Benefit Performance

Feb- Kindergarten Chicago Symphony Orchestra Field Trip

Mar- 1st & 2nd grade Chicago Symphony Orchestra Field Trip

May- 3rd & 5th Grade Chicago Symphony Orchestra Field Trip

May 12-16th- Middle School Musical​​​​​​

Jun 6th- Kindergarten Celebration​

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