Music Mission Statement

To provide a nurturing environment where students gain musical knowledge thru academic and experiential learning and where they are given the opportunity to apply this learning by becoming actively engaged in the process of creating music.

Music Philosophy

Music is a subject with its own unique skill and knowledge, a respected repertoire of quality literature and an advanced system of notation and literacy. In the study of music, students create meaning and expression through the use of listening, improvisational and composing skills.

Music can contribute in unique and important ways to the cognitive development of every student. Music is essentially an auditory art and when experienced in this manner, can help to develop the auditory processing and listening comprehension centers of the brain. In this way, experience with music can effect and help to improve other skills required for academic achievement.

The acquisition of musical skills contributes in important ways to the quality of each student’s life. It is a creative process that requires work and self- discipline. Knowledge is gained thru effort. Music is a process by which students are actively engaged in creating knowledge. As the culminating task, a quality performance show the student has internalized musical concepts and formulated knowledge thru a creative process of deductive reasoning. A quality performance is a type of accountability for the student.

Broad experience with a variety of music is necessary if students are to make informed musical judgments. This breadth of background enables them to begin to understand the connections and relationships between music and other disciplines. By understanding the cultural and historical forces that shape social attitudes and behaviors, students are better prepared to live and work in communities that are increasingly multicultural.

The role that music will play in students’ lives depends in large measure on the level of skills they achieve in creating, performing and listening to music. Because music is an integral part of human history, the ability to listen with understanding is essential if students are to gain a broad cultural and historical perspective. The adult life of every student is enriched by the skills, knowledge and habits acquired in the study of music.

Our guiding principles include:

• Students need to actively experience music in order to understand its value in their lives.
• Music performances are valuable as authentic experiences, which are illustrated by the Understanding by Design principles, found in our District.
• Standards and guidelines set by the Vermont Grade Expectations for Vermont’s Framework of Standards and Learning Opportunities and the National Music Standards.

Review our K-12 Continuum for Music and K-12 Continuum for Instrumental Music (PDF file).