Have you been teaching the same lessons in your elementary music curriculum for five, 10, even 15 years? Are you transitioning to a new grade or overseeing a school music curriculum? It might be time to refresh your approach with a new general music curriculum. But where do you start? Is there a program that will meet your specific needs? We’re glad you asked! Here is a round-up of some of our favorite curricular resources.
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Gameplan
What is it? Gameplan is a comprehensive, full-year K-5 elementary music curriculum that brings music making to life for children! Gameplan draws on the principles of Orff Schulwerk and the Kodály approach, providing a well-rounded musical education for your students. With a rich repertoire of folk literature, nursery rhymes, and traditional singing games, students will be exposed to a diverse range of musical styles and genres.
Who is it for? Gameplan is especially great for beginning teachers. With step-by-step instructions for all activities and helpful tips, Gameplan is organized to open the book and teach. More experienced teachers will appreciate the optional extension activities and find it easy to add in your tried-and-true favorite lessons to the existing curriculum.
Musicplay Online
What is it? Musicplay Online offers customizable, engaging lessons, games, and activities suitable for both elementary music curriculum and broader school music curriculum needs. You can choose from pre-built lesson modules or build your own lessons using our materials and yours, providing a personalized approach to music education. Musicplay Online includes free student access and an ever-expanding library of content, ensuring that you always have access to new and exciting materials.
Who is it for? Whether you’re teaching in person or online, have been in the classroom for months or years, Musicplay Online is an up to date and accessible curricular resource for any General Music teacher. Musicplay is not just online!
First Steps in Music for Preschool and Beyond
What is it? First Steps in Music for Preschool and Beyond is a general music curriculum designed specifically for young learners, from preschool through first or second grade. With eight different activities in each lesson, this curriculum provides complete lesson plans for a three-year program that will prepare your students to become tuneful, beautiful, and artful. Through games, call and response, echo songs, fingerplays, movement exploration, and more.
Who is it for? First Steps is great for preschool teachers, music specialists, and general music teachers. If planning lessons for these young learners feels intimidating, you will love the formulaic layout of these lessons with built-in repetition and scaffolding.
Conversational Solfege
What is it? Conversational Solfege is an innovative and captivating way to teach general music to first-through-eighth-grade students. Kodály teachers will connect with this dynamic approach that emphasizes ear-before-eye and a focus on great literature, enabling students to become independent musical thinkers while fostering a love of music.
Who is it for? Conversational Solfege follows the Kodály approach to teaching, so new and experienced Kodály teachers alike may be interested in this curriculum set. First Steps users will find a natural transition to Conversational Solfege for their older learners as they are created by the same author.
Purposeful Pathways
What is it? Looking for a unique and flexible music curriculum that allows you to choose activities that work in any situation, regardless of grade level? Purposeful Pathways is organized based on the sequential acquisition of musical skills rather than grade level, allowing for maximum flexibility and adaptability. While Purposeful Pathways is not an all-inclusive curriculum, this extensive collection provides a primary resource and supplement with a wide variety of activities including folk dance, listening activities, seasonal material, and more.
Who is it for? Been teaching for a few years and ready to mix things up? Purposeful Pathways is a great way to add extension activities and refresh your existing lesson plans. Choose the activities that work best for your students and create a customized music curriculum that meets their unique needs and abilities.
Kodály Today and Kodály in the Classroom
What is it? Kodály Today and its grade-level series Kodály in the Classroom is a teacher-friendly music curriculum that introduces elementary students to the fundamentals of pitch and rhythm through singing and games. This series is designed to create vertical alignment between grade levels, and each grade level includes a chapter on building the framework for your general music classroom.
Who is it for? While previous training in Kodály methodology will be helpful in using this curriculum, the lessons are easy to follow and do not require formal training, making it an accessible resource for music instructors of all levels.
First, We Sing!
What is it? The First, We Sing! Kodály-Inspired Teaching for the Music Classroom books are an indispensable guide for K-5 music teachers. It offers curriculum mapping, yearly plans, and daily lesson plans, as well as suggestions for choosing and using quality repertoire and building a personal song collection. Each book in the collection provides clear and detailed sequences of activities that teachers can follow, along with fresh ideas to supplement their existing materials.
Who is it for? The First, We Sing collection is a valuable resource for both new and experienced teachers, providing practical guidance and ideas for implementing the Kodály approach in a kid approved way.
More Resources
Looking for a new recorder method? Introducing ukulele next year and not sure where to start? Have a set of tubanos and not sure where to start? Check out these other resources as you plan your next school year!