Fine Arts Curriculum
- Visual Arts Grades 6-8
- Band Grades 6-8
- Orchestra Grades 6-8
- Choir Grades 6-8
- Art Survey Grade 9
- Career Arts Grades 10-11
- Drawing, Painting & Ceramics Grades 10-11
- Advanced Art Grades 11-12
- Beginning Group Piano Grades 9-12
- Jazz Band Grades 9-12
- Choir Grades 9-12
- String Orchestra Grades 9-12
- Chamber Orchestra Grades 9-12
Visual Art Media, Techniques, and Processes
Students understand and apply visual art media, techniques, and processes.
- A Student should be able to create and perform in the arts such as modeling clay, plaster, ink, acrylic, tempera, watercolor, sculpture, computer software, printmaking, mixed media and/ or posters.
Structure and Function
Students understand how works of art are structured and how art has a variety of functions.
- A student should be able to understand and apply a variety of artistic skills.
Themes, Symbols, and Imagery in Visual Art
Students know a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas.
- A student should be able to understand how to apply subjects, themes, and symbols in visual art to communicate ideas.
Visual Art, History, and Culture
Students understand the visual arts in relation to history and culture.
- A student should be able to understand the historical and contemporary role of the arts in different eras and cultures in Alaska, the nation, and the world.
Merits of Works of Art
Students reflect upon and assess the characteristics of their work and the works of others.
- A student should be able to critique the student’s art and the art of others
Connections
Students make connections between the visual arts and other disciplines.
- A student should be able to recognize beauty and meaning through the arts in the student’s life, community, and other disciplines.
Band: Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced
Sing
Students sing alone and with others a varied repertoire of music.
- Sing with expression and technical accuracy.
Instrumental Performance
Students perform on instruments, alone and with others a varied repertoire of music.
- Perform on an instrument, alone and in small and large groups.
- Perform with expression on a wind of percussion instrument.
- Perform music representing diverse genres and cultures.
- Perform by ear simple melodies on a melodic instrument and simple accompaniments on a harmonic instrument.
Improvise
Students improvise melodies, variations, and accompaniments.
- Improvise melodic embellishments and simple rhythmic and melodic variations on a given pentatonic melody or melodies in major keys.
- Improvises short melodies, unaccompanied and over given rhythmic accompaniments.
Compose
Students compose and arrange music with specified guidelines.
- Compose short pieces containing the appropriate elements of music.
- Use a variety of sound sources when composing and arranging.
Read Music
Students read and notate music.
- Read complex rhythms in simple and compound meter.
- Sight-‐read simple melodies in treble and bass clefs.
- Know standard notation symbols.
Listening
Students listen to, analyze, and describe music.
- Understand appropriate terminology to describe specific music events.
- Know the uses of the elements of music in the analysis of compositions representing diverse genres and cultures.
Evaluating
Students evaluate music and music performances.
- Know how to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of music and music performances.
- Know how to apply specific criteria when offering constructive suggestions for improving the performance of self and others.
Music and Other Disciplines
Students understand the relationship between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts.
- Know how relationships expressed through music can be expressed differently through other art disciplines.
- Know how principles and concepts of other disciplines are related to those of music.
Music, History, and Culture
Students understand music in relation to history and culture.
- Know characteristics of music genres and styles from a variety of music cultures.
- Know exemplary musical works from a variety of genres and styles.
- Know the functions of music, the roles of musicians, and the conditions of performance in several cultures of the world.
Essential Music Criteria
Students understand various specific criteria essential to optimum performance.
- Understand care and maintenance procedures specific to their instrument.
- Understand and model the criteria and procedures (i.e. “concert etiquette”) involved in the performance of public concerts.
- Understands the importance and demonstrates the ability of tuning their instrument.
Orchestra: Beginning
Sing
Students sing alone and with others a varied repertoire of music.
- Sing accurately and with good breath control throughout their singing ranges, alone and in small and large groups.
Instrumental Performance
Students perform on instruments, alone and with others a varied repertoire of music.
- Perform on an instrument, alone and in small and large groups.
- Perform with expression and technical accuracy on a stringed instrument
- Perform music representing diverse genres and cultures.
Improvise
Students improvise melodies, variations, and accompaniments.
- Improvise simple harmonic accompaniments.
- Improvise melodic embellishments and simple rhythmic and melodic variations
- Improvise short melodies, unaccompanied and over given rhythmic accompaniments
Compose
Students compose and arrange music with specified guidelines.
- Compose short pieces containing the appropriate elements of music.
- Arrange simple pieces for voices or instruments other than those for which the pieces were written.
Read Music
Students read and notate music.
- Read complex rhythms in simple and compound meters.
- Sight-read simple melodies in treble and bass clefs.
- Know standard notation symbols.
Listening
Students listen to, analyze, and describe music.
- Understand appropriate terminology to describe specific music events.
- Know the uses of the elements of music in the analysis of compositions representing diverse genres and cultures.
Evaluating
Students evaluate music and music performances.
- Know how to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of music and music performances.
- Know the uses of the elements of music in the analysis of compositions representing diverse genres and cultures.
Music and Other Disciplines
Students understand the relationship between music, the other arts, and disciplines.
- Know how relationships expressed through music can be expressed differently through other art disciplines.
- Know how principles and concepts of other disciplines are related to those of music.
Music, History, and Culture
Students understand music in relation to history and culture.
- Know characteristics of music genres and styles from a variety of music cultures.
- Know exemplary musical works from a variety of genres and styles.
- Know the functions of music, the roles of musicians, and the conditions of performance in several cultures of the world.
- Demonstrate proper audience behavior
Essential Music Criteria
Understands how to take care of and tune instrument.
- Demonstrates proper care of the instrument and bow.
- Tunes instrument with guidance
Orchestra: Intermediate
Sing
Students sing alone and with others a varied repertoire of music.
- Sing accurately and with good breath control throughout their singing ranges, alone and in small and large groups.
Instrumental Performance
Students perform on instruments, alone and with others a varied repertoire of music.
- Perform on an instrument, alone and in small and large groups.
- Perform with expression and technical accuracy on a stringed instrument
- Perform music representing diverse genres and cultures.
Improvise
Students improvise melodies, variations, and accompaniments.
- Improvise simple harmonic accompaniments.
- Improvise melodic embellishments and simple rhythmic and melodic variations on given pentatonic melodies and melodies in major keys.
- Improvise short melodies, unaccompanied and over given rhythmic accompaniments.
Compose
Students compose and arrange music with specified guidelines.
- Compose short pieces containing the appropriate elements of music.
- Arrange simple pieces for voices or instruments other than those for which the pieces were written.
Read Music
Students read and notate music.
- Read complex rhythms in simple and compound meters.
- Sight-read simple melodies in treble and bass clefs.
- Know standard notation symbols.
Listening
Students listen to, analyze, and describe music.
- Understand appropriate terminology to describe specific music events.
- Know the uses of the elements of music in the analysis of compositions representing diverse genres and cultures.
Evaluating
Students evaluate music and music performances.
- Know how to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of music and music performances.
- Know how to apply specific criteria when offering constructive suggestions for improving the performance of self and others.
Music and Other Disciplines
Students understand the relationship between music, the other arts, and disciplines.
- Know how relationships expressed through music can be expressed differently through other art disciplines.
- Know how principles and concepts of other disciplines are related to those of music.
Music, History, and Culture
Students understand music in relation to history and culture.
- Know characteristics of music genres and styles from a variety of music cultures.
- Know exemplary musical works from a variety of genres and styles.
- Know the functions of music, the roles of musicians, and the conditions of performance in several cultures of the world.
- Demonstrate proper audience behavior
Essential Music Criteria
Understands how to take care of and tune instrument.
- Demonstrates proper care of the instrument and bow.
- Tunes instrument with guidance
Orchestra: Advanced
Sing
Students sing alone and with others a varied repertoire of music.
- Sing accurately and with good breath control throughout their singing ranges, alone and in small and large groups.
Instrumental Performance
Students perform on instruments, alone and with others a varied repertoire of music.
- Perform on an instrument, alone and in small and large groups.
- Perform with expression and technical accuracy on a stringed instrument
- Perform music representing diverse genres and cultures.
Improvise
Students improvise melodies, variations, and accompaniments.
- Improvise simple harmonic accompaniments.
- Improvise melodic embellishments and simple rhythmic and melodic variations on given pentatonic melodies and melodies in major keys.
- Improvise short melodies, unaccompanied and over given rhythmic accompaniments.
Compose
Students compose and arrange music with specified guidelines.
- Compose short pieces containing the appropriate elements of music.
- Arrange simple pieces for voices or instruments other than those for which the pieces were written.
Read Music
Students read and notate music.
- Read complex rhythms in simple and compound meters.
- Sight-read simple melodies in treble and bass clefs.
- Know standard notation symbols.
Listening
Students listen to, analyze, and describe music.
- Understand appropriate terminology to describe specific music events.
- Know the uses of the elements of music in the analysis of compositions representing diverse genres and cultures.
Evaluating
Students evaluate music and music performances.
- Know how to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of music and music performances.
- Know how to apply specific criteria when offering constructive suggestions for improving the performance of self and others.
Music and Other Disciplines
Students understand the relationship between music, the other arts, and disciplines.
- Know how relationships expressed through music can be expressed differently through other art disciplines.
- Know how principles and concepts of other disciplines are related to those of music.
Music, History, and Culture
Students understand music in relation to history and culture.
- Know characteristics of music genres and styles from a variety of music cultures.
- Know exemplary musical works from a variety of genres and styles.
- Know the functions of music, the roles of musicians, and the conditions of performance in several cultures of the world.
- Demonstrate proper audience behavior
Essential Music Criteria
Understands how to take care of and tune instrument.
- Demonstrates proper care of the instrument and bow.
- Tunes instrument with guidance
Kodiak Middle School choirs are taught in two levels: 6th grade and 7th/8th grade combined. The curriculum is implemented via age and voice-range appropriate choral literature of increasing difficulty, from beginning choral repertoire in 6th grade to intermediate and more advance middle school-level music, adjusted to the progress of each group as they progress in vocal technique and music theory. Appropriate literature is selected at the beginning of each quarter based on the current level of achievement for each choral ensemble.
Grades 6-8
Sing alone and with others a varied repertoire of music
- Sing accurately and with good breath control throughout their singing ranges, alone and in small and large groups.
- Sing with expression and technical accuracy a repertoire of vocal literature.
- Sing music representing diverse genres and cultures.
- Sing music written in unison or two parts.
Improvise
- Improvise short melodies, harmonies, or rhythms unaccompanied and over given rhythmic or harmonic accompaniments.
Compose and arrange music with specified guidelines
- Compose short pieces containing the appropriate elements of music.
Read and notate music
- Read and notate simple rhythms in simple meter.
- Read and notate standard symbols for pitch, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, articulation, and expression.
- Sight-sing simple diatonic melodies in both the treble and bass clefs.
Understand music in relation to history and culture
- Discuss the relationship between music and other arts.
- Describe how principles and subject matter of other academic disciplines relate to the principles and subject matter of music.
Listen to, analyze, and describe music
- Demonstrate understanding of appropriate terminology to describe music.
- Analyze the uses of the elements of music in aural examples.
Evaluate music and music performances
- Evaluate the quality and effectiveness of music and music performance of self and others.
- Apply specific criteria when offering constructive suggestions for improving the performance of self and others.
Visual Art Media, Techniques, and Processes
Students understand and apply visual art media, techniques, and processes.
- A Student should be able to create and perform in the arts.
Structure and Function
Students understand how works of art are structured and how art has a variety of functions.
- A student should be able to understand and apply a variety of artistic skills.
- A student should be able to demonstrate the creativity and imagination necessary for innovative thinking and problem-solving.
Themes, Symbols, and Imagery in Visual Art
Students know a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas.
- A student should be able to understand how to apply subjects, themes, and visual art to communicate ideas.
Visual Art, History, and Culture
Students understand the visual arts in relation to history and culture.
- A student should be able to understand the historical and contemporary role of the arts in different eras and cultures in Alaska, the nation, and the world.
Merits of Works of Art
Students reflect upon and assess the characteristics of their work and the works of others.
- A student should be able to critique the student’s art and the art of others
Connections
Students make connections between the visual arts and other disciplines.
- A student should be able to recognize beauty and meaning through the arts in the student’s life, community, and other disciplines.
Visual Art Media, Techniques, and Processes
Students understand and apply visual art media, techniques, and processes.
- A Student should be able to create and performin the arts.
- A student should be able to recognize beauty and meaning through the arts in the student’s life; students should be able to investigate careers related to the search for beauty and meaning, which is aesthetics.
Structure and Function
Students understand how successful works of art are structured and how to personally use a variety of materials. Student should be able to understand and apply a variety of artistic skills.
- A student should be able to demonstrate the creativity and imagination necessary for innovative thinking and problem-solving.
Themes, Symbols, and Imagery in Visual Art
Students know a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas.
- A student should be able to understand how to apply subjects, themes, and visual art to communicate ideas.
- Students should be able to recognize that people connect many aspects of life through the arts.
Visual Art, History, and Culture
Students understand the visual arts in relation to history and culture.
- A student should be able to understand the historical and contemporary role of the arts in different eras and cultures in Alaska, the nation, and the world.
Merits of Works of Art
Students reflect upon and assess the characteristics of their work and the works of others.
- A student should be able to critique the student’s art and the art of others
Connections
Students make connections between the visual arts and other disciplines.
- A student should be able to recognize beauty and meaning through the arts in the student’s life, community, and other disciplines.
Visual Art Media, Techniques, and Processes
Students understand and apply visual art media, techniques, and processes.
- A Student should be able to create and perform in the arts.
Structure and Function
Students understand how successful works of art are structured and how to personally use a variety of materials.
- Student should be able to understand and apply a variety of artistic skills.
- A student should be able to demonstrate the creativity and imagination necessary for innovative thinking and problem-solving.
Themes, Symbols, and Imagery in Visual Art
Students know a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas.
- A student should be able to understand how to apply subjects, themes, and visual art to communicate ideas.
Visual Art, History, and Culture
Students understand the visual arts in relation to history and culture.
- A student should be able to understand the historical and contemporary role of the arts in different eras and cultures in Alaska, the nation, and the world.
Merits of Works of Art
Students reflect upon and assess the characteristics of their work and the works of others.
- A student should be able to critique the student’s art and the art of others.
Connections
Students make connections between the visual arts and other disciplines.
- A student should be able to recognize beauty and meaning through the arts in the student’s life, community, and other disciplines.
Visual Art Media, Techniques, and Processes
Students understand and apply visual art media, techniques, and processes.
- A Student should be able to create and perform in the arts.
Structure and Function
Students understand how successful works of art are structured and how to personally use a variety of materials.
- Student should be able to understand and apply a variety of artistic skills.
- A student should be able to demonstrate the creativity and imagination necessary for innovative thinking and problem-solving.
Themes, Symbols, and Imagery in Visual Art
Students know a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas.
- A student should be able to understand how to apply subjects, themes, and visual art to communicate ideas.
Visual Art, History, and Culture
Students understand the visual arts in relation to history and culture.
- A student should be able to understand the historical and contemporary role of the arts in different eras and cultures in Alaska, the nation, and the world.
Merits of Works of Art
Students reflect upon and assess the characteristics of their work and the works of others.
- A student should be able to critique the student’s art and the art of others.
Connections
Students make connections between the visual arts and other disciplines.
- A student should be able to recognize beauty and meaning through the arts in the student’s life, community, and other disciplines.
Beginning Group Piano
Play alone and with others a varied repertoire of music
- Play with good technique and correct posture
- Play with expression and technical accuracy.
- Demonstrate listening skills.
Read and notate music
- Read and notate complex rhythms in simple meter.
- Read and notate standard symbols for pitch, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, articulation, and expression.
Understand music in relation to history and culture
- Describe distinguishing characteristics of music genres and styles.
Understand relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts
- Discuss the relationship between music and other arts.
- Describe how principles and subject matter of other academic disciplines are related to those of music.
Listen to, analyze, and describe music
- Demonstrate understanding of appropriate terminology to describe music.
- Analyze the uses of the elements of music in aural examples.
Evaluate music and music performances
- Evaluate the quality and effectiveness of music and music performance of self and others.
- Apply specific criteria when offering constructive suggestions for improving the performance of self and others.
Jazz Band
Sing
Students sing alone and with others a varied repertoire of music.
- Sing with expression and technical accuracy.
Instrumental Performance
Students perform on instruments, alone and with others a varied repertoire of music.
- Perform with expression and technical accuracy.
Improvise
Students improvise melodies, variations, and accompaniments.
- Improvise rhythmic and melodic variations.
Compose
Students compose and arrange music with specified guidelines.
- Compose short pieces containing the appropriate elements of music.
Read Music
Students read and notate music.
- Read complex rhythms in simple and compound meter.
Listening
Students listen to, analyze, and describe music.
- Know the uses of the elements of music in the analysis of compositions representing diverse genres and cultures.
- Understand the technical vocabulary of music.
Evaluating
Students evaluate music and music performances.
- Know how to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of music and music performances.
- Know how to apply specific criteria when offering constructive suggestions for improving the performance of self and others.
Music and Other Disciplines
Students understand the relationship between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts.
- Know how artistic elements and processes are used in similar and distinctive ways in various arts.
- Understand the ways in which the principles and concepts of various disciplines outside the arts are related to those of music.
Music, History, and Culture
Students understand music in relation to history and culture.
- Know representative examples of music from a variety of cultures and historic periods.
Essential Music Criteria
Students understand various specific criteria essential to optimum performance.
- Understand care and maintenance procedures specific to their instrument.
- Understand the criteria and procedures (i.e. “concert etiquette” involved in the performance of public concerts.
Choir
Sing
Students sing alone and with others a varied repertoire of music.
- Sing accurately and with good breath control throughout their singing ranges, alone and in small and large groups.
Improvise
- Improvise short melodies, harmonies, or rhythms unaccompanied and over given rhythmic or harmonic accompaniments.
Compose and arrange music with specified guidelines
Students compose and arrange music with specified guidelines.
- Compose short pieces containing the appropriate elements of music.
Read and notate music
- Read and notate complex rhythms in simple or compound meter.
- Read and notate standard symbols for pitch, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, articulation, and expression.
- Sight-read diatonic melodies in both the treble and bass clefs in unison and two or more parts.
Understand music in relation to history and culture
- Describe distinguishing characteristics of music genres and styles.
Understand relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts
- Discuss the relationship between music and other arts.
- Describe how principles and subject matter of other academic disciplines are related to those of music.
Listen to, analyze, and describe music
- Demonstrate understanding of appropriate terminology to describe music.
Evaluate music and music performances
- Evaluate the quality and effectiveness of music and music performance of self and others.
- Apply specific criteria when offering constructive suggestions for improving the performance of self and others.
String Orchestra
Sing
Students sing alone and with others a varied repertoire of music.
- Sing accurately and with good breath control throughout their singing ranges, alone and in small and large groups.
Students perform on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music
- Perform with expression and technical accuracy
- Perform in an ensemble
- Perform in small ensembles with one student on a part.
Students improvise melodies, variations, and accompaniments
- Improvises stylistically appropriate harmonizing parts.
- Improvise rhythmic and melodic variations
- Improvise original melodies over given chord progressions
Students compose and arrange music with specified guidelines
- Compose music in several distinct styles.
Students read and notate music
- Know how to read a small ensemble score of up to four staves
Students listen to, analyze, and describe music
- Know the uses of the elements of music in the analysis of compositions representing diverse genres and cultures
- Understand technical vocabulary of music
Students Evaluate music and music performances
- Develop specific criteria for making informed, critical evaluations of the quality and effectiveness of performances, compositions, arrangements, and improvisations.
- Evaluate a given musical work in terms of its aesthetic qualities
Understand relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts.
- Know how artistic elements and processes are used in similar and distinctive ways in the various arts.
- Understand the ways in which the principles and concepts of various disciplines outside the arts are related to those of music.
Students understand music in relation to history and culture
- Know the representative examples of music from a variety of cultures and historical periods.
- Know sources of American music, the evolution of these genres and musicians associated with them.
- Know the various roles that musicians perform and represent individuals who have functioned in each role.
Understands how to take care of and tune instrument
- Demonstrates proper care of the instrument and bow.
- Tunes instrument independently
Chamber Orchestra
Students sing alone and with others a varied repertoire of music.
- Sing accurately and with good breath control throughout their singing ranges, alone and in small and large groups.
Students perform on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music
- Perform with expression and technical accuracy
- Perform in an ensemble
- Perform in small ensembles with one student on a part.
Students improvise melodies, variations, and accompaniments
- Improvises stylistically appropriate harmonizing parts.
- Improvise rhythmic and melodic variations
- Improvise original melodies over given chord progressions
Students compose and arrange music with specified guidelines
- Compose music in several distinct styles.
- Arrange pieces for voices or instruments other than those for which the pieces were written in ways that preserve or enhance the expressive effect of the music
Students read and notate music
- Know how to read an orchestral
Students listen to, analyze, and describe music
- Know the uses of the elements of music in the analysis of compositions representing diverse genres and cultures
- Understand technical vocabulary of music
Students Evaluate music and music performances
- Develop specific criteria for making informed, critical evaluations of the quality and effectiveness of performances, compositions, arrangements, and improvisations.
- Evaluate a given musical work in terms of its aesthetic qualities
Understand relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts.
- Know how artistic elements and processes are used in similar and distinctive ways in the various arts.
- Understand the ways in which the principles and concepts of various disciplines outside the arts are related to those of music.
Students understand music in relation to history and culture
- Know the representative examples of music from a variety of cultures and historical periods.
- Know sources of American music, the evolution of these genres and musicians associated with them.
- Know the various roles that musicians perform and represent individuals who have functioned in each role.
Understands how to take care of and tune instrument
- Demonstrates proper care of the instrument and bow.
- Tunes instrument independently