MONROE - Elementary students will get a chance to play instruments more, explore and make their own music under a new K-5 music plan approved by the Monroe school board Monday, Nov. 25.
The Monroe school board approved a plan by three elementary music teachers to switch the K-fifth grade music curriculum to an Orff philosophy starting next year.
Northside Elementary music teacher Sarah Hass-Bodell said the Orff Schulwerk music philosophy stems from Carl Orff, a composer and educator from Germany.
Bodell said the Orff philosophy to teaching music includes having students learn music by playing instruments, games, movement and singing.
Bodell said each music lesson has four common components including imitation, allowing students to explore, improvisation through problem solving and developing a composition or performance.
"The students can learn problem solving skills they can take with them to other classes," Bodell said.
The district's finance and curriculum committees both approved a four-year $25,559.40 Orff music implementation plan. The board unanimously approved the plan Monday.
Bodell already has her masters in Orff. Parkside Elementary School music teacher Jill Leuzinger and Abraham Lincoln Accelerated Learning Academy music teacher Megan Hoinacki will undergo four summers of Orff music training starting this summer.
"I welcome any type of change," Leuzinger said. "The change is needed because they (students) are coming back and they are not retaining the information we are teaching them. It's probably because they are not applying it unless they are playing an instrument outside of school."
Next year, Northside will have one more xylophone purchased for music classes. In the second year of the plan, the district will purchase 12 xylophones (six for Parkside and six for Abe Lincoln) and two bass xylophones for Parkside and Abe Lincoln.
The district will purchase 12 xylophones in the third year (six for both Parkside and Abe Lincoln) and two bass xylophones. In the final year of the plan, the district will purchase 24 Remo Tubano drums for about $5,190.40.
Leuzinger said it will allow students to become more familiar with an ensemble and that will transfer to Monroe Middle School. She also likes the opportunity for all district fifth-graders to come together for a concert.
"Their ears will be more trained to listen to others," Leuzinger said.
The Monroe school board approved a plan by three elementary music teachers to switch the K-fifth grade music curriculum to an Orff philosophy starting next year.
Northside Elementary music teacher Sarah Hass-Bodell said the Orff Schulwerk music philosophy stems from Carl Orff, a composer and educator from Germany.
Bodell said the Orff philosophy to teaching music includes having students learn music by playing instruments, games, movement and singing.
Bodell said each music lesson has four common components including imitation, allowing students to explore, improvisation through problem solving and developing a composition or performance.
"The students can learn problem solving skills they can take with them to other classes," Bodell said.
The district's finance and curriculum committees both approved a four-year $25,559.40 Orff music implementation plan. The board unanimously approved the plan Monday.
Bodell already has her masters in Orff. Parkside Elementary School music teacher Jill Leuzinger and Abraham Lincoln Accelerated Learning Academy music teacher Megan Hoinacki will undergo four summers of Orff music training starting this summer.
"I welcome any type of change," Leuzinger said. "The change is needed because they (students) are coming back and they are not retaining the information we are teaching them. It's probably because they are not applying it unless they are playing an instrument outside of school."
Next year, Northside will have one more xylophone purchased for music classes. In the second year of the plan, the district will purchase 12 xylophones (six for Parkside and six for Abe Lincoln) and two bass xylophones for Parkside and Abe Lincoln.
The district will purchase 12 xylophones in the third year (six for both Parkside and Abe Lincoln) and two bass xylophones. In the final year of the plan, the district will purchase 24 Remo Tubano drums for about $5,190.40.
Leuzinger said it will allow students to become more familiar with an ensemble and that will transfer to Monroe Middle School. She also likes the opportunity for all district fifth-graders to come together for a concert.
"Their ears will be more trained to listen to others," Leuzinger said.