Lobbestael Music

Mrs. Lee is the music teacher assigned to Lobbestael. This web page serves as a window into our music classroom. Please visit us often to find out about all the musical happenings taking place in our building.

Class Instruction

• Full Day Kindergartners receive of total of 75 minutes of music instruction a week.
• Students in Grades 1-5 receive general music instruction once a week for 50 minutes.

Music Curriculum and Assessment

Belief Statements

1. Music has a place in the lives of all children.
2. Students are encouraged to leave the elementary music program with a desire to further their musical education.
3. The elementary music program enables students to develop a lifelong, knowledgeable appreciation of music.
4. The elementary music program extends, enriches and supports the total curriculum and the learning process.

Music Education Report Card

Students receive report card grades for music education twice during the school year, during quarters 2 and 4. Music skills your student will be assessed on at these marking periods are:

• Demonstrates music analysis through listening and evaluating music
• Demonstrates proper instrument techniques through performance and creating music
• Demonstrates age-appropriate vocal skills
• Demonstrates cooperative and appropriate behavior

Grade Levels

1=Advanced Progress (exceeds expectations)
2=Competent Progress (meets expectations)
3=Basic Progress (attempts to meet expectations)
4=Insufficient Progress (does not attempt to meet expectations)

Music Standards for Elementary (K-5)

The four areas where students are assessed on their report card align with the elementary music education standards listed below:

1. Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music
2.  Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
3. Improvising melodies, variation and accompaniments.
4. Composing and arranging music with specified guidelines.
5. Reading and notating music.
6. Listening to, analyzing and describing music.
7. Evaluating music and music performers.
8. Understanding relationships between music, the other arts and disciplines outside the arts.
9. Understanding music in relation to history and culture.

Composer Spotlight

Visit Classics For Kids to read a biography on our composer of the month as well as listen to musical selections broadcast on the weekly radio show. Complete the activity sheet to receive extra credit!

• September - Johann Sebastian Bach
• October - Modest Mussorgsky
• November - Ludwig van Beethoven
• December - Georges Bizet
• January - Franz Schubert
• February - William Grant Still
• March - Johannes Brahms
• April - Dmitri Kabalevsky

Get Lobbestael Singing

The Music Educators National Conference (MENC) has launched a campaign entitled "Get America Singing...Again!". It has two objectives, to create a common song repertoire list that all Americans should know and can sing and to promote community singing. Each month the students will be learning a song from this list to support this musical campaign. You are encouraged to sing these songs at home as a fun family activity!

• September: The Star Spangled Banner
• October: She'll Be Comin' Round The Mountain
• November: This Land Is Your Land
• December: Dona Nobis Pacem
• January: Frere Jacques
• February: Amazing Grace
• March: Danny Boy
• April: Do-Re-Mi
• May: America

Recorder Information

All students in the Fourth and Fifth Grades are required to learn the soprano recorder.  We recommend using the Angel Recorders by Peripole and we use the Hands on Recorder Book published by Sweet Pipes. All students will have the ability to purchase these materials from the music department at selected times of the year. However, these materials are also available at most music stores.

Stop That Squeaking!

Here are some tips to help your child.

1. Check to make sure all holes are being completely covered by the soft pads of the fingers. This is the most common problem.
2.  Be sure they are not puffing their cheeks.
3. Look in the required book for directions on how to hold the recorder.
4. Every sound should start with a gentle "do" or "tu" produced by the tongue hitting the back of the teeth. This is called tonguing.
5. Reinforce good playing habits by setting aside 15 minutes a day for quality practice and discourage your child from improper playing and/or squeaking.