The music program provides students with a well-rounded, engaging experience in which they explore the art of music through singing, reading, playing, listening, moving, and performing. Music is integrated across the curriculum and used as a meaningful tool to promote creativity, self-expression, confidence, and a deeper relationship with God within our Catholic faith-based learning environment.
Our program is aligned with the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) National Standards and the Minnesota State Standards for Music, ensuring a comprehensive and high-quality music education for all students.
Program Experiences and Skills
Across grade levels, students develop skills in:
- Rhythmic, melodic, vocal, and instrumental literacy
- Singing and vocal performance
- Playing classroom instruments
- Listening and responding to a variety of musical styles
- Moving and dancing to music, including group folk dances
- Creating, performing, and responding to music in meaningful ways
Program Outcomes (K–8)
Students build the ability to:
- Perform music individually and in groups
- Read and understand basic musical notation and rhythm
- Participate in group movement and dance activities
- Create, perform, and respond to music in diverse forms and styles
Instructional Resources
Students engage with a variety of musical resources and repertoire, including:
- Folk song anthologies and folk dance collections
- GIA publications such as The Book of… series (Circle Games, Vocal Exploration, and more)
- Hal Leonard music anthologies, including Hot Peas and Barley-O and others
- Music Is Elementary resources such as Purposeful Pathways
- Additional folk song and movement materials curated for classroom use
Standards-Based Curriculum
The St. Joseph Catholic STEM School music curriculum is based on the Minnesota State Arts Standards (2008) and distilled arts standards to ensure students receive a structured, sequential, and developmentally appropriate music education.
Through music, students are encouraged to grow in confidence, creativity, collaboration, and joy while developing lifelong appreciation for the arts in a faith-centered environment.