Switzerland Primary School Music Curriculum (5th/6th Grade)

The Swiss primary school music curriculum for 5th/6th grade is guided by the Lehrplan 21 framework. While specific details for each grade level are not readily available in English, the overall goals and competencies for music education can be outlined. The Lehrplan 21 for music emphasizes the following areas:

• Singing and Ensemble: Students develop their vocal skills, learn a diverse repertoire of songs from various cultures and time periods, and participate in choral singing. They learn to use their voice expressively and differentiate their voice within a group setting.
• Acoustic Orientation: Students develop their listening skills, learn to differentiate and describe musical elements, and understand the emotional and physical effects of music.
• Encounter with Music in History and Present: Students explore music from different eras, genres, styles, and cultural contexts, developing an open and appreciative attitude towards diverse musical expressions.
• Sensorimotor Training: Students develop body awareness and coordination through movement and dance activities related to music. They learn to orient themselves in space and within a group while responding to music.
• Making Music in Ensembles: Students learn to play instruments, use body percussion, and integrate their musical skills within an ensemble setting.
• Instrumental Expression: Students explore various instruments, sound sources, and electronic media, experimenting with improvisation and playing from templates.
• Exploring and Presenting Musical Themes: Students explore themes and impressions from their lives and express them musically, both individually and in groups.
• Creating with Existing Music: Students develop different forms of expression and presentation based on existing musical works.
• Musical Performance Skills: Students learn to present their musical abilities in performance settings.
• Rhythm, Melody, Harmony: Students learn to recognize, name, and apply rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic elements.
• Notation: Students learn to read and write traditional music notation and explore graphic forms of musical representation.

It is important to note that the implementation of the Lehrplan 21 may vary between cantons, and individual schools may have their own specific approaches to music education within this framework. The Kreschendo 5/6 textbook, aligned with Lehrplan 21, provides a more detailed competency matrix that may offer further insight into the specific learning objectives for 5th/6th grade music.