Music Class Descriptions
ELEMENTARY MUSIC:
Kindergarten -- 5th Grade
Description: All students in Kindergarten through 5th grade will be taught general music. Throughout the school year, students will have the opportunity to learn music through the use of keyboards, Orff instruments, tubano drums, ukuleles, boom-whackers, P-Buzz instruments and more! Our concerts will be Kindergarten/1st grade combined, 2nd/3rd combined and 4th/5th combined. You can find out more details about their concerts under the "Student Info" tab or the "Calendar" tab above.
5th grade students will have the opportunity second semester to try band instruments to make an educated decision about which ensemble they would like to participate in before summer begins.
MIDDLE SCHOOL OPTIONS:
Please check with the main office to learn about deadlines to switch in or out of these classes. To help you decide, please watch this slideshow: Click here to watch the Band Prezi!!
Symphonic Band
(offered as a yearlong course)
This ensemble is made up of advanced 7th/8th grade students who have already been in a formal band setting on their given instrument and have auditioned or been hand-selected to be a part of the group. Students will have several performances and will also be taught music history, theory, appreciation, and real world application.
Concert Band
(offered as a yearlong course)
This ensemble is made up of beginning 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students who are still new to the formal band setting on their given instrument. There is no need to audition to be a part of this group and students who are brand new to being in band will fit in perfectly here! Students will have 1-2 performances, while also being taught music history, theory, appreciation, and real world application.
Jazz Band
(offered before school on Tuesdays/Thursdays)
Jazz Band is an audition-based, performance ensemble for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade advanced musicians. Jazz students are expected to participate in 2 weekend jazz camps, the TSD Jazz Festival, the UNC Jazz Festival field trip, and maintain a practice routine on both jazz and regular ensemble music. The Jazz Band ensemble focuses on expanding both the understanding and ability to play different styles and genres of music, as well as explore written and improvised solos.
Kindergarten -- 5th Grade
Description: All students in Kindergarten through 5th grade will be taught general music. Throughout the school year, students will have the opportunity to learn music through the use of keyboards, Orff instruments, tubano drums, ukuleles, boom-whackers, P-Buzz instruments and more! Our concerts will be Kindergarten/1st grade combined, 2nd/3rd combined and 4th/5th combined. You can find out more details about their concerts under the "Student Info" tab or the "Calendar" tab above.
5th grade students will have the opportunity second semester to try band instruments to make an educated decision about which ensemble they would like to participate in before summer begins.
MIDDLE SCHOOL OPTIONS:
Please check with the main office to learn about deadlines to switch in or out of these classes. To help you decide, please watch this slideshow: Click here to watch the Band Prezi!!
Symphonic Band
(offered as a yearlong course)
This ensemble is made up of advanced 7th/8th grade students who have already been in a formal band setting on their given instrument and have auditioned or been hand-selected to be a part of the group. Students will have several performances and will also be taught music history, theory, appreciation, and real world application.
Concert Band
(offered as a yearlong course)
This ensemble is made up of beginning 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students who are still new to the formal band setting on their given instrument. There is no need to audition to be a part of this group and students who are brand new to being in band will fit in perfectly here! Students will have 1-2 performances, while also being taught music history, theory, appreciation, and real world application.
Jazz Band
(offered before school on Tuesdays/Thursdays)
Jazz Band is an audition-based, performance ensemble for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade advanced musicians. Jazz students are expected to participate in 2 weekend jazz camps, the TSD Jazz Festival, the UNC Jazz Festival field trip, and maintain a practice routine on both jazz and regular ensemble music. The Jazz Band ensemble focuses on expanding both the understanding and ability to play different styles and genres of music, as well as explore written and improvised solos.
|
|
About Mrs. LemonsShawna teaches music to all grade levels at High Plains K8 School since the opening of the school. She built the HPS music program, and has continued its growth and achievements since 2016. She graduated from Colorado State University in 2013 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education, and this is her sixth year teaching. Shawna and her husband Chad are both musicians/music educators, and they enjoy making and listening to music with their friends and family. Mrs. Lemons aims to show students how to make real world connections with their schooling experience, and she achieves that through her strong relationships with students.
Go Bison! |
About Ms. Alex Salek
Our Spring Student TeacherAlex is an Undergraduate Music Education Student at Colorado State University. Her instrument of focus is the Clarinet and Bass Clarinet, however, she loves to practice and build skills on any instrument she can! Music has always been a large part of her life, she began piano lessons at only six years old, and has been playing music ever since! Alex grew up in Cincinnati, OH and moved to Colorado Springs, CO with her family, and has now been a Colorado Resident since 2008. During her time at CSU Alex has worked with many different music programs across the state, including groups at both the elementary and secondary levels. She loves performing with others and creating memorable moments through music. When not teaching or playing music Alex enjoys hiking, watching movies, visiting with friends and family, and playing with her cat Hamilton. She cannot wait to get to learn and make music with the students at High Plains K-8!
|
|
A Little About High Plains...
|
Bison RESPECT:
Responsible Empathetic Safe Persevering Empowered Curious Trustworthy |
Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics
Real world, relevant, and responsive.
Schools that use a STEAM framework to develop instruction are intentionally designing units and lessons to integrate concepts from science, math, history, and the arts. Students learn the skills and knowledge in these content areas to support their reading, writing, and communication skills but then take that knowledge to an application level in an effort to help them understand why they are learning what they are learning. Technology and the engineering design process are taught to and used by students to apply their content learning in real world, relevant, and meaningful ways through a problem based learning approach. Students create and design new products or experiences to solve relevant, real-world problems. Through this problem based approach students develop their critical thinking skills, local and global awareness, and communication and collaborative skills. A STEAM framework and problem based learning approach sparks students’ creativity and helps them develop character traits such as perseverance, responsibility, and citizenship that will serve them well throughout their life.
Real world, relevant, and responsive.
Schools that use a STEAM framework to develop instruction are intentionally designing units and lessons to integrate concepts from science, math, history, and the arts. Students learn the skills and knowledge in these content areas to support their reading, writing, and communication skills but then take that knowledge to an application level in an effort to help them understand why they are learning what they are learning. Technology and the engineering design process are taught to and used by students to apply their content learning in real world, relevant, and meaningful ways through a problem based learning approach. Students create and design new products or experiences to solve relevant, real-world problems. Through this problem based approach students develop their critical thinking skills, local and global awareness, and communication and collaborative skills. A STEAM framework and problem based learning approach sparks students’ creativity and helps them develop character traits such as perseverance, responsibility, and citizenship that will serve them well throughout their life.