Re: HELP with music curriculum

[Carol Delton <carold...>]

Chazan613 wrote:
> 
> The conservative synagogue here in Milwaukee would like some input on
> designing a Jewish music curriculum for grades 4 through 8.  Anybody have any
> ideas?
> 
> Is there a resource, workbook, etc. for setting up a Jewish music curriculum?
> 
MANGINOT is a good start, and there is a companion book of sample lesson
plans, aimed at pre-K through 6.  "Guidelines for Music Education."  

To really be effective, though, I think the music curriculum needs to
complement what else is going on in the school, for example:
What tefillot are students learning in each grade?
What is the repertoire they need to know to participate in services --
youth and adult?
What are the core holiday songs that this community wants to sing
together?  

I have the pleasure of working with Cantor Steve Richards who edited
Manginot, but that is only part of the basis of our current music
curriculum.  There is a tape and a songbook with the basic music of the
curriculum that is distributed to all the families when they join the
synagogue.  Also, the curriculum runs from K through 7.

The particular repertoire we work with in this setting would probably
not be exactly what you need, but I think the way of putting it together
is very sound.  Best of all, while there are certainly a lot of songs
the kids love that the adults wouldn't want to bother with over the
year----over all there is not a "split" in this community between music
for kids and music for adults. 

Enjoy!
Carol