General Music
Young students at The People’s Music School begin their musical journeys with General Music, a program that teaches the foundations of music designed for elementary students in first grae.
Our cumulative General Music curriculum is divided into three levels, each which build on the elements of theory, individual performance, ensemble performance, improvisation, and composition.
Students demonstrate their learnings and knowledge through voice, glockenspiel, recorder, or rhythm sticks.
GENERAL MUSIC LEVELS AT A GLANCE
LEVEL 1
All Level 1 students will be able to sing/play one-part diatonic melodies with modeling.
- Improvisation skills: imitation, 3-note melody creation
- Singing/Vocal: distinguish high/low voice types, perform pieces in single meters
- Rhythmic Literacy: maintain steady beat at varied tempos with assistance; perform read, and write quarter, whole, and half notes
- Pitch Literacy: label lines/spaces in treble clef, recognize same vs. different
LEVEL 2
All Level 2 students will be able to sing/play one-part diatonic melodies both independently and with modeling.
- Improvisation skills: rhythmic generation, imitation, 3-note melody creation
- Singing/Vocal: chest singing, perform 2-4 measure call and response, perform major scale
- Rhythmic Literacy: maintain steady beat at varied tempos (limited assistance); understand function of time signature, sight read (as appropriate)
- Pitch Literacy: label lines/spaces in bass clef, create 2-4 measure melodic composition
LEVEL 3
All Level 3 students will be able to sing/play one-part diatonic melodies both independently and with modeling.
- Improvisation skills: rhythmic generation, imitation, pentatonic and blues melody creation
- Singing/Vocal: head and chest voice singing, name four different choral voices, perform with changing meters
- Rhythmic Literacy: maintain steady beat at varied tempos (independently); sixteenth note syllables, dotted quarter note syllables
- Pitch Literacy: label lines/spaces in grand staff, recall of fingerings/notes, perform one-octave major scale
RESOURCE GUIDE
The People’s Music School has devleoped a comprehensive General Music Resource Guide and Music Glossary, both of which are used to assist teaching artists with lesson planning and implementing the curriculum. Resources represent a wide array of genres, cultures, knowledge bases, and learning styles.
REGISTER FOR THE PEOPLE'S MUSIC SCHOOL
Interested in taking lessons at The People’s Music School? Click here to fill out an interest form. Registration occurs each spring and summer.
The People’s Music School offers high quality, tuition-free music education to school aged children in Chicago who would otherwise not be able to afford it. Based on a student’s age, we offer classes in general music, instrumental studies, music theory, and a variety of ensembles.
ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION
The People’s Music School (TPMS), a 501(c) (3), is Chicago’s oldest and largest 100% tuition-free music school. We envision a society where all children have access to the unique social, emotional, and intellectual benefits achieved through musical excellence.
We believe music is transformative and empowers the lives of youth, families and communities.
Dr. Rita Simó, a Juilliard-trained classical pianist, was inspired by the free music education she received as a child in the Dominican Republic. Her dream became a reality in 1976, when she opened the doors of The People’s Music School in a vacant storefront in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago.
Today, TPMS has expanded to serve over 800 students from 55 ZIP codes across the Chicago metropolitan area.
IMPACT
high school graduation
college attendance rate
year-over-year student retention