Music

Music Grades 3 - Grade 8

February 2026 

Listening
Sit + Be for 80-84 seconds
Listen to recordings of spirituals and prominent African-American performers

Theory Review/New
Staff; bar line; measure; counting 6/8 time with measure numbers; whole, half,
quarter notes; time signatures: 6/8 4/4 3/2 2/4; text & tune; lines & spaces; treble
& bass clef; treble = G clef; G on the treble clef; denominator of time signatures;
treble clef FACE. Solfege singing with Galop

Singing
Black History Month songs for class and Masses on February 11 and 25.
Talk about history of spirituals and three primary levels of meaning: biblical,
historical and spiritual
Lift Every Voice and Sing
Let Us Break Bread Together
Wade in the Water
Go Down Moses
Follow the Drinking Gourd
Joshua Fit the Battle
My Lord, What a Morning
This Little Light of Mine
Other
Galop

Ringing
Grade 3 – Peace
Grade 4 – Peace Prelude
Grade 5 - Shenandoah
Grade 6 – Celtic Farewell
Grade 7 – My Lord, What a Morning
Grade 8 – Joyance, This Joyful Day

Bell Choir – All the Above and more as time allows

You may reach the parent portal here https://parentportal.eschooldata.com/buffalodiocese

Mr. Tim Socha   tsocha@cawb.org

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Mission statement:

Each lesson will normally consist of four parts:

1) Listening – Classes will usually begin by listening to excerpts of classical, cultural
or contemporary music. Examples will include Saint Saens’ Carnival of the
Animals, Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, famous African American performers
during Black History Month, famous women composers during Women’s History
Month, and a sampling of Asian repertoire during Asian History Month, among
other topics.

2) Theory: Using examples from the bell and vocal repertoire used that day,
each class will introduce one to three new musical terms or concepts. Each class
will also include review of prior theory lessons. Emphasis will be on experiential
learning. No textbooks are used. Occasional quizzes reviewing material covered
will be given.

3) Singing: Using primarily examples from upcoming liturgies, we will regularly
sing hymns and talk about any musical concepts that they contain. As the year
progresses we will introduce seasonal music (Halloween, Christmas, MLK) and,
if possible, introduce published choral works in one to three voice parts. Basic
vocal technique and learning to sing with solfege will also be introduced.

4) Ringing: Using tried and true methods in which all students can participate,
we will play numerous published works for 3-octave handbells/handchimes. Each
part is color coded with counting written in to facilitate learning, but as the year
progresses there will be less reliance on these aids. Ringing technique and musical concepts will be regularly reinforced.