While most public schools are cutting their music programs and laying off their music teachers, RCS continues to lead the way in using music and art to educate each student in a well-rounded and practical way.
Welcome to music with Mr. Dressler!
Delta Elementary Charter School is a strong advocate of music and arts in the elementary grades. Music not only enhances the ability for artistic expression in a child’s life, but strengthens the communication between the two hemispheres of the brain and is the only subject that lights up all parts of the brain simultaneously meaning that students who participate in and practice music regularly see a heightened ability to synthesize and analyze information as well an increase in learning and retaining new information. This short youtube video explains the benefits perfectly.
DECS offers a variety of musical offerings including but not limited to general music, recorders, and bands of varying ability levels. General music is offered to K-5th grade and each grade will be instructed (in a fun and engaging way) in the 7 elements of music throughout the school year:
All 3rd grade students, in addition to their general music class, will be learning to play the Recorder. The Recorder is a great instrument for the beginning level musician and will help students learn the Treble Clef note names as well as become familiar with reading rhythms, melodic form, and explore dynamics through the Recorder Karate series.
All 4th and 5th grade students participate in band at DECS and we work to make sure every student has the opportunity, regardless of circumstances. So whether your student has played their instrument for years or is just beginning, our goal is to help every student succeed in music. The instruments largely offered for beginning band students include flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, trombone, and euphonium.
Students with one or more years of instrument-playing experience may have the opportunity to switch instruments at the beginning of the year. 6th grade students have an opportunity to participate in band or they may choose an advanced music or art course offering.
The band method book we will be using for beginning students this year is called Measures of Success. Mr. Dressler has spent many hours evaluating the different band method books and has chosen this one because of its pacing, methodology, variety of musical styles and genres, and the inclusion of theory and music history.
Let’s have a great year of making music together!