Smallwood Drive Elementary

  • Mission Statement
    The Amherst Central Schools Department of Music Education serves as a resource for the development of musical knowledge, musical skills, aesthetic exploration, attitude development, and provides for the personal growth of each individual.  The music curriculum is aligned with the New York State Learning Standards for the Arts as well as the National Music Standards.

    General Music
    The curriculum comprises a balanced and sequential course of singing, playing instruments, listening to music, improvising or composing music, and moving to music.  Also included are learning experiences designed to develop the ability to read music, use the notation and terminology of music, analyze and describe music, make informed evaluations concerning music, and understand music and music practices in relation to history and culture and to other disciplines in the curriculum.  Students learn by actively participating in making music and in understanding the basic principles of music such as Rhythm (Beat , Meter, Duration, Rhythmic Pattern), Melody (Pitch, Melodic Contour, Melodic Patterns, Melodic Phrases, Scales/Tonality), Harmony (Texture, Chords, Linear Harmony), Timbre/Tone Color (Vocal, Instrumental, Classroom Instruments), Expression (Style, dynamics, Tempo), Form, Vocal Skills, Instrumental Skills, Innovation (Composition and Improvisation), Historical and Cultural Context, Critical and Aesthetic Response. The Vocal/General Music Teachers are Julie Furlong and Ada Wolfanger.

    Ensembles

    Smallwood Drive Elementary offers Instrumental Music for students in grades 4 and 5.  The goal of the program is an introduction to playing a musical instrument through individual skill development and group performance.

    Students can be a member of the band or the orchestra. The band instruments offered include flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, french horn, trombone, baritone, tuba and percussion.  The string instruments offered are violin, viola, and cello.

    As part of the program, students attend a weekly 30 minute small group lesson during the school day.  Students also will attend weekly rehearsals for their performing group in order to prepare for concert performances.

    5th grade band and orchestra perform 3 concerts per year, including a performance with the other Amherst schools as part of our District Band and Orchestra Concerts. 4th grade band and orchestra perform a spring concert along with the 4th grade chorus.

    Angela Antersol is the Director of Bands. Derek Chazen is the Director of Orchestras.