Elementary School Music Curriculum

The Saratoga Union School District provides a limited music program during the school day using the services of a music specialist.  The music specialist engages the students in weekly high-quality and varied experiences in singing, playing instruments (pitched and unpitched percussion and recorders), music appreciation, drama, performance, multicultural, season and folk music, reading and notating music, and composition.  Kodaly, Orff, and traditional methods are used.  Students are introduced to and practice using the language of music in their disucssions of composers and musical performances.  Students in grades K-3 receive 30 minutes of musical activities per week.  Students in grades 4-5 receive instruction 45 minutes weekly.  In addition, students in grades 4-5 in the district elementary choir meets weekly after school.  The Saratoga Education Foundation (SEF) furnishes this program.

Saratoga Music Boosters (SMB) funds support two elementary school instrumental programs: string orchestra and beginning band.  Students who have class in the morning before school are taken to their respective schools by bus before regular class begins.  All groups perform annually at Fall & Spring district concerts as well as at SMB’s Pancake Breakfast in May.

Staff:
-  Aryn Krijnen (Strings)
-  Rosita Amador (Band, Woodwinds)
-  Becky Dugan (Band, Brass)
 
Programs Offered:
Elementary School String Orchestras
Elementary Band

Elementary School String Orchestras (Grades 4 & 5): Students may start on one of four string orchestra instruments: violin, viola, cello, and string bass.  Depending on a student’s experience in playing a string instrument, he or she may be placed in one of two levels of string groups to most appropriately match his or her musical growth:
- SUSD Beginning Strings
• Instructor: Aryn Krijnen
• Meets: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 4:00 – 5:15 PM
• Where: Redwood Flex Building
- SUSD Allegro (Intermediate) Strings
• Instructor: Aryn Krijnen
• Meets: Tuesdays & Thursdays 5:30 – 6:45 PM• Where: Redwood Flex Building
 
Elementary School Band (Grade 5) Students may play in the SUSD Beginning Band program.  Students may choose to start on a woodwind (flute, clarinet, oboe, saxophone) or brass (trumpet, french horn, trombone, baritone) instrument.
- SUSD Beginning Band
• Woodwind Instructor: Rosita Amador
• Brass Instructor: Becky Dugan
• Meets: Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays, 7:10 – 8:00 AM
• Where: Argonaut Cafeteria
 
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