They watch and sing along with the students in Florida. There is a winner for each grade level. They listen to many standard jazz pieces and learn about the history and the composers of each selection. Fifth graders also study the opera and composers in preparation for a spring field trip to an opera. Each year, students compete for the privilege of performing with the Guilford County Elementary School Honors Chorus.
Fourth graders learn to play the recorders.
Along with the third graders, they study symphony music to prepare for the annual Greensboro Symphony Orchestra performance which they attend at War Memorial Auditorium in Greensboro with all the other Guilford County third and fourth graders. Second graders learn about the four families of instruments in the percussion family and accompany their songs. They also learn about the half note, time signature, tie note and slur. First graders at Northwood study the instruments in the orchestra. We pantomime the story and take a listening quiz to review the four families of instruments.