Band Class Info - Click here!

Welcome to Music!

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The students at Mountain Discovery Charter School enhance their core education by participating in music classes. They are encouraged to learn about themselves, their surroundings, their heritage, and their diversities through the music program.

The Music Program at MDCS serves the entire school community. Children learn about and develop an understanding and apprecation for music through listening, creating, performing and movement. 

Music Class is.....

• Creating - Learning about music and musical notation.  Using sounds, instruments and voices to create and express original and improvised musical ideas.

• Performing - Playing written and inprovised music individually, in a group, for the class, school or community.  Developing respect for the performances and musical ideas of others. 

• Responding - Listening to and/or watching recordings, performances, sounds and stories, then responding appropriately with movement, musical accompaniment, reactions, ideas and critiques.   

• Understanding - Learning about music history and the people and cultures that have shaped music and our society.  Understanding the important role that music plays in our world, society and culture, and how music relates to the other arts, as well as science, math, language arts and social studies.

While using the North Carolina Standard Course of Study (which is based on the MENC National Standards for Music Education) as a guide, students become musically literate with a quality program that addresses the learning needs of the whole child. Studies in music address the physical, emotional, social, intellectual, and aesthetic development of children. This also allows the students to be successful because the various learning styles and intelligences of each child are addressed.

Why is Music in Schools Important?

Many studies have been done showing the links between participation in school music and band programs and increased test scores as well as improved academic performance.  Below are some links if you are interested in reading further. Click the band class info link above for specific class and instrument requirements.

Why Music Education? - Link to the MENC website that provides facts and insights on the benefits of music study.

Westville, Illinois Band website - Summarized research about the benefits of participating in school band programs. 

MDCS Band Programs

Beginning in the fifth grade, students have the opportunity to participate in band. Flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone and percussion are the instruments students may choose from.  In the band program, students will learn music notation, basic music theory and skills to perform on their chosen instrument. 

More advanced students will have the opportunity to audition for WNC Bandmasters' District events, as well as other opportunites that may be available through Western Carolina University's School of Music and the community. 

Students that remain in the band program at MDCS will be prepared to participate in band at the high school level. 

Websites of Interest:

WNC Band District Website - Information and dates for students wishing to participate in district events.

Western Carolina University School of Music - Information about WCU music programs, calendar of events and other information.

Music Educators National Conference - Information about school music programs from the Music Educators' National professional organization.

MDCS Technology Classes

"Active, Lifelong Learners In A Technology Intensive Environment"

At Mountain Discovery Charter School, we strive to support the philosophy of the North Carolina Standard Course of Study, while staying true to our philosophy of "Empowering Our Students."  All students in grades K-8 have many opportunities to be involved with and use technology in the classroom as well as in our computer lab.

Fourth and fifth grade students are instructed in keyboarding skills, while the middle school students participate in a more intensive study of technology in preparation for the NC Eight Grade Computer Competency Skills Test.   Lessons and activities in these classes embrace the basic Standards as well as integrate course objectives from other disciplines.