Ames Visual & Performing Arts Elementary

Welcome to instrumental music! Your child is taking on a new adventure by learning to perform on a recorder or wind instrument, such as flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, horn, trombone, baritone horn, or tuba. Some of the benefits for students learning to play a music instrument are learning a repertoire of songs by ear, listening to and performing music with an understanding of tonality and meter, and engaging in higher depth of knowledge (DOK) skills through improvisation. Improvisation in music is similar to conversation in language.
    The primary goal of instrumental music instruction is to develop audiation and to develop an awareness of how music and movement are connected. Audiation is simply thinking in music, similar to thinking in language. A student who audiates music is able to identify and give meaning to music.
    Assignments will focus on how to listen to any type of familiar music and understand its meter. There will be a student-sourced list of recorded music in various meters. Also, instruction may touch upon composition.
    I am available to answer questions regarding what and how your child is learning instrumental music. Feel free to contact me at (314) 241-7165 and leave a message. I will respond within twenty-four hours.

Musically yours,       

Mr. Jeffries

Instrumental Music Class Schedule

5th Grade 9:30 a.m.- 10:20 a.m.

1st Grade or 2nd Grade 10:20 a.m. - 11:10 a.m.

4th Grade 11:10 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Pre-K or Kindergaten 12:00 p.m. - 12:50 p.m.

3rd Grade 2:30 p.m. - 3:20 p.m.

Office Hours: 3:20 p.m. - 3:55 p.m.