Music Program
Fall 2020 is here and the children of Mar Vista are busy learning American Folk songs and Folk songs from around the world.
Every child gets an opportunity to play xylophones, drums and other percussion instruments. Not only do the children of Mar Vista learn how to read music, learn great singing technique, learn the terminology of music, listen and share what they like in music but they get to create their own music.
We learn dances from around the world and learn how music and culture have differences and common threads throughout our world.
Our 4th and 5th Grade Chorus is preparing for the Mar Vista Community Fall Festival, which will be held at Venice High School. The date is TBD
The Music Curriculum that I teach at Mar Vista is based on the new California Music Standards. It is a balanced and sequential program of singing, playing instruments, listening to music, improvising and composing, and moving to music. Also included are learning experiences designed to
develop the ability to read music, use the notation and terminology of music, analyze and describe music, make informed evaluations concerning music, and understand music and music practices in relation to history and culture and to other disciplines in the curriculum.
I love teaching music and take great joy in seeing students excited about our music classes and the 4th & 5th Grade Chorus at Mar Vista. Our chorus has been invited to sing at many events in the last 13 years and is always praised as one of the best elementary chorus programs in LAUSD.
I am a certified Orff teacher. I have received certification in 3 levels of Orff at Cal State Los Angeles. I have also taken Music for Children and World Music at Cal State Dominguez Hills. I am a K-12 Vocal and Instrumental credentialed teacher. My B.A. is from the University of Nebraska. I have taken many
Music Theory Classes, Conducting Classes, Ear Training, Sight Singing and Performance classes. I have taught music in LAUSD schools for a total of 16 years plus 4 years in private schools. I have directed and sung in many Los Angeles choirs including The Concert Singers and Bel Air Singers. I have also spent 10 years as a professional actress and director in musical theatre.
Your music teacher, Katherine Williamson