Singapore Primary 4 Music Syllabus

The Singapore Primary 4 Music Syllabus is part of the broader 2023 Music Syllabus for Primary and Lower Secondary levels implemented by the Ministry of Education (MOE). It aims to cultivate a lifelong enjoyment and involvement in music by equipping students with the skills, knowledge, and appreciation for music in diverse cultures.

Curriculum Concept

The curriculum revolves around three interconnected Musical Processes: Listening, Creating, and Performing. These processes are intertwined with Discourse (musical elements, concepts, and knowledge) and Context (the relationship between music, time, place, and community). This holistic approach allows students to experience music in diverse ways, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation.

Core Understandings

Three Core Understandings guide the learning process:

• Music expresses our experiences and values.
• Music connects individuals and communities.
• Music is shaped by historical, social, and cultural contexts.

These understandings provide a framework for exploring music's role in personal expression, cultural identity, and societal values.

Learning Outcomes

Primary 4 students are expected to achieve specific learning outcomes across the three Musical Processes:

• LO1: Listen and Respond to Music: Students develop active listening skills to understand how music conveys ideas, experiences, and emotions across cultures and genres. They learn to describe sounds produced by voices and instruments and analyze how musical elements are used for different purposes.
• LO2: Create Music: Students explore and create musical ideas using voice, body percussion, and instruments. They learn to create rhythmic and melodic patterns, soundscapes, and use notation to record their ideas. They may also use digital tools for music creation.
• LO3: Perform Music: Students develop performance skills through singing and playing instruments, both individually and collaboratively.
• LO3A Sing: Students learn to sing with accuracy, expression, and appropriate techniques. They sing a variety of songs, including canons, and learn to read simple scores in solfege.
• LO3B Play Instruments: Students learn to play pitched and non-pitched instruments with accuracy and expression. They play simple melodies and accompaniments and learn to perform using notation. They are expected to play two pitched instruments (one melodic and one chordal) to a basic proficiency.

Making Connections

Students explore music from various cultures, including Singapore's diverse musical heritage. They experience and perform the National Anthem, community songs, and folksongs from different ethnic groups. They also explore music from global cultures, including Southeast Asia and the Western Classical Tradition. The use of Core and Dynamic Repertoire, featuring local composers and performers, further enriches their understanding of Singaporean music. Authentic learning opportunities beyond the classroom, such as workshops and performances, extend their learning experience.

Musical Elements and Concepts

Students develop their understanding of musical elements and concepts through practical application in Listening, Creating, and Performing:

• Tempo, Rhythm, and Beats: Students learn about beat, rhythm, tempo, meters, note values, rhythmic ostinato, and rhythmic patterns in different time signatures.
• Pitch: Students learn to differentiate high and low pitches, melodic intervals, solfege, and melodic ostinato.
• Expression: Students explore dynamics, articulation, and phrasing to convey musical expression.
• Form: Students learn about musical forms such as repetition, phrase, call and response, binary (AB), ternary (ABA), and verse-chorus.
• Timbre/Tone Colours: Students learn to identify and describe the timbres of different voices and instruments.
• Tonality and Harmony: Students are introduced to bourdon patterns and the concepts of melody and chord.
• Texture: Students explore textures such as unison and melody with accompaniment.
• Notation: Students learn to use graphic notation, stick notation, and staff notation.

Pedagogy

The syllabus emphasizes experiential learning, creative and critical thinking, and student agency. Teachers are encouraged to use a variety of pedagogical approaches, including Dalcroze, Orff, Kodaly, World Music Pedagogy, and technology-based lessons, to create engaging and meaningful learning experiences.

Assessment

Assessment is an integral part of learning, focusing on both Assessment for Learning (AfL) and Assessment of Learning (AoL). A variety of assessment methods, including authentic assessment activities, are used to monitor student progress and inform teaching practices. Qualitative descriptors are used to communicate learning progress.