2022 Draft Visual Arts Standards 

2022 Draft Media Arts Standards 

Students attend music class once per week in elementary. 

All students receive instruction aligned to the Ohio Music Standards.  These standards encompass three main areas: Creating, Performing and Responding.

In the area of Creating students in primary grades work to understand basic music dynamics, explore beat and rhythm, play different types of instruments, use appropriate music vocabulary,  learn about composers, periods of music and music from a variety of cultures.  As students move to upper elementary they continue to develop each of the areas above in a more formal way.  Students transition from exploring music to learning about families of instruments, reading music, and more complex vocabulary and elements.

In the area of Performing students in primary grades learn to demonstrate a steady beat, sing using correct posture and voice, play classroom instruments, and identify basic notes and rests. As students move to upper elementary they begin to perform more complex pieces of music with different meters and rhythms, continue to develop proper posture and breath control, and read music to play recorders in the third and fourth grade.  Students also learn audience etiquette for live performances.  Students apply their learning by performing at events like Veteran’s Day, Grandparent’s Day, and Winter/Spring Concerts.

In the area of Responding students in primary grades explore how different music sounds and how these sounds express feelings.  Students listen to many styles of music and compare and contrast to form personal opinions about music.  As students move to upper elementary they continue to listen to music, but in a more formal way.  They may be asked how a certain element is used to create a feeling in a piece of music.  Students also begin to critique and reflect on their own performances.

In middle school students have the opportunity to further develop their music skills in either Chorus, Band or Orchestra. All three courses are performance based, but students continue to receive instruction aligned to the Ohio Music Standards encompassing the three main areas: Creating, Performing and Responding. Students continue to learn about and perform music from different time periods, cultures and genres. The pieces of music that students perform continue to increase in complexity and difficulty involving changes in style, tempo, key or meter. Students develop their ability to read music, and perform independently and collaboratively with appropriate technique and expression. The ability to reflect and respond to a piece of music or performance is also honed in the middle grades. It becomes very necessary to self critique as students perform with a group.

As in middle school, students in high school have the opportunity to further develop their music skills in Band, Chorus and Orchestra. Students progress through the high school standards moving from the Beginning Level to the Mastery Level as defined by the state.

There are a variety of instrumental groups offered at the high school level.  Currently, both schools offer Concert Band, Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Band, Wind Symphony, and Concert Orchestra.  Colerain also offers Chamber Orchestra.  Each of these classes meet one bell every day.  In addition to these classes students also have the opportunity to participate in Marching Band, Indoor Percussion and Winterguard as extracurricular activities.  Students in these groups work to develop advanced performance skills and techniques.   Students perform music from a variety of genres with increasing complexity.  Students have the opportunity to compete in Marching Band or as solos or ensembles at OMEA Regionals and State.  These groups are also often called upon to provide entertainment at community events.

Students have the opportunity to choose from a variety of vocal music groups in high school.  Both schools currently offer Concert Choir, Women’s Ensemble, Mixed Ensemble and Show Choir.   Each of these classes meet one bell every day.  In addition to being a daily class, Show Choir is also an extracurricular activity.  Students in these groups work to develop advanced performance skills and techniques.   Students perform music from a variety of genres with increasing complexity.  Students have the opportunity to compete with the Show Choir or as solos or ensembles at OMEA Regionals and State.  These groups are also often called upon to provide entertainment at community events.

Students also have the opportunity to take Music Appreciation and Music Theory courses.  Music Appreciation is a one semester course that focuses on the Responding and Reflecting standards.  Music Theory is a year long course for students that want to further develop their knowledge of the Creating and Producing standards. Students at the high school also have the opportunity to take Guitar.