Music/Band
Music
Design39Campus is fortunate to be the only school in the district offering a comprehensive music curriculum to early elementary school students. Due to the fact that we are a TK-8, the district provides a full time music educator dedicated to our campus.
PUSD's excellent music program starts in 5th grade with instrumental music. At D39C, all TK-5 students have weekly instruction in the music room.
We follow the Orff Approach to music education. The Orff approach is a method of teaching children about music that engages their mind and body through a mixture of singing, dancing, acting and the use of percussion instruments.
A key characteristic of this approach is that lessons are presented with an element of play, which helps the children learn at their own level of understanding. In 3rd grade, students learn to play the recorder. Fourth and Fifth graders add the ukulele and a unit on world drumming.
Band
Beginning Band is open to all students in 5th grade and above. In addition to regular class, students will have bi-weekly meetings with coaches that specialize in their instrument who are professional instrumentalists in the greater San Diego area.
Available instruments include: Flute, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Trumpet, Baritone, and Trombone.
Musicians will learn how to assemble and care for their particular instrument. Additionally, students will learn fundamental concepts both unique to their instrument as well as relevant to the entire ensemble. Such concepts include embouchure, fingerings, rhythm, dynamics, intonation, harmony, etc. Students will come together towards the end of the workshop to perform as a full ensemble.
Students are required to practice regularly. All bands require a commitment for the entire school year. Performances include daytime and evening concerts.
Intermediate and Advanced Bands are open to 7th and 8th grade students through audition and teacher placement. In addition to regular class, students will have bi-weekly meetings with coaches that specialize in their instrument who are professional instrumentalists in the greater San Diego area.
Available Instruments include: Flute, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Trumpet, Baritone, and Trombone.
Students who have significant experience on other instruments (Oboe, Tenor Saxophone, Tuba, etc.) may be admitted into the ensemble via teacher discretion.
Selections of repertoire will span all musical eras (Baroque, Classical, Early and Late Romantic, and 20th/21st Century). Students will learn to perform various compositions and will discuss and employ common performance practices for the various works they study. Additional repertoire selections from popular culture, both television and movies, as well as pop music transcriptions will be a part of the musician’s overall study.
Musicians will refine fundamental concepts both unique to their instrument as well as relevant to the entire ensemble. Such concepts include embouchure, fingerings, rhythm, dynamics, intonation, harmony, etc. Additionally students will continue to hone technical/musical proficiency through further study of form, phrasing, articulation, blend, expression and explore extended techniques unique to each instruments.
Students are required to practice regularly. All bands require a commitment for the entire school year. Performances include daytime and evening concerts.