Do Americans sing in Primary/elementary school?
Posted by helloidk55@reddit | AskAnAmerican | View on Reddit | 190 comments
In New Zealand everyone sings in primary school on a very regular basis (maybe twice a week), not just choir students. We would sing all sorts of songs like Mamma Mia, I’ll be there for you etc.
geri73@reddit
I remember in kindergarten, we would sing the Letter People them song before learning out letter, John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt, the Star Spangled Banner, Fifty Nifty, and the Pledge of Allegiance. Now, this was 1979-80.
hoppyrules@reddit
Hi grew up in NYC and NJ in the 70’s and 80’s. We had a mandatory music class in elementary school. Generally it was learning the recorder in 4th grade, an instrument (clarinet , guitar, flute) in 5-6th. We sang as well as part of other classes..
sorcerousmike@reddit
From Ohio here
We had a mandatory Music class in our Elementary (Kindergarten-6th grade)
but for both Middle School (7th and 8th) and High School (9th-12th) Band, Choir, and Choral were all classes you had to choose to take and weren’t mandatory
AdamOnFirst@reddit
Did you basically EVER sing in elementary music? We almost never did. I think they taught us what rounds were one time and we sang one of those and they tried to get us to sing Rocky Mountain High in like fifth grade but that was a failure.
episcoqueer37@reddit
Oh goodness, I still have trauma memories of the paper bowties we had to wear for the Christmas concert in elementary. I can't imagine the pain of parents and grandparents who had to listen to everyone in 8 grades (k-7) sing up to 3 songs per grade.
sorcerousmike@reddit
We had to sing a lot in our elementary music classes - and half our grade was performing in the two musical plays we’d do every year
(I actually failed every year because my shy ass was not getting on that stage lmao)
AdamOnFirst@reddit
Yeah, I definitely never had to do that until I discovered it on my own later
thejt10000@reddit
Similar in NYC.
number1millipedefan@reddit
same here in Colorado (although for me elementary ended at 5th grade & middle school started in 6th)
Extension_Abroad6713@reddit
Exact same for me in Michigan. We even would do one or two plays/musicals a year. I remember third grade’s was about Michigan/Michigan’s history since that was a major topic covered that year. Another year was “Go Fish” lol. I also remember learning the “Fifty Nifty United States” and singing that a lot
number1millipedefan@reddit
oohhh my god Fifty Nifty.... that song is still so engrained into my skull
North_Artichoke_6721@reddit
We had music class twice a week when I was little. We learned basic rhythm, what the shapes of the notes mean, and how to carry a tune.
It wasn’t until high school that we had a proper choir and different singing parts (alto, soprano) and how to properly read music.
TwinFrogs@reddit
Back in the 1980’s we had to sing the national anthem ever morning after the pledge. It was stupid, but Reagan demanded it.
Plastic_Concert_4916@reddit
Like someone else said, this varies a lot. Not just at a state level, but a county level. Where I grew up, during elementary school we had music class once a week. We sung sometimes, but more folk songs like "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean." Some classes we didn't sing at all, just played around with different instruments. And like many Americans, I have strong memories of playing the recorder and driving my parents crazy with it. We did not sing outside of music class.
In middle and high school, music class was mostly elective.
No-Environment6103@reddit
Yes. I do think the most popular thing everyone did in music class was learn how to play the recorder. More specially the song Hot Cross Buns.
IJustWantADragon21@reddit
My school wouldn’t spring for recorders. We just sang whatever weird crap out teacher handed us on ancient mimeographed sheet music (and this was about 20 years after the death of the mimeograph)
JoulesMoose@reddit
Weirdly in my elementary school recorder was a separate music class with a different teacher. I think we did recorder in 3rd grade as a kind of prep for choosing an instrument in 4th. The regular music class you were in from Kindergarten-5th grade had chorus components, rhythm, some history (i remember photos of composers being on the projector in that classroom) and reading music (we had a computer game for this that I loved). At 3rd grade we added a separate class for recorder which then became for whatever instrument you chose in 4th and 5th grade. I vaguely remember being offered the option to drop your instrument and have “study hall” instead in 5th grade
trailquail@reddit
I could literally hear Hot Cross Buns in my head when I read that, as played by a dozen squeaking recorders. Two for a penny, hot cross buns!
Ok_Acanthisitta_2544@reddit
Same!
IJustWantADragon21@reddit
Oh my God I want to talk about this! So I went to a Catholic grade school and we had mandatory weekly “music class” which was just singing. Our teacher was not teaching us anything about music except that notes go up and down on a scale. We sang all kinds of weird shit! She had made up Halloween songs! We learned all the “fight songs” for the different branches of the military! We sang all kinds medley of Civil War era folk songs from both sides! And we sang the soundtracks of musicals. Not just the Sound of Music and Bye Bye Birdie (though we did those a lot) No, full on versions of Grease, and Chicago that she personally sanitized to be PG with her own made up lyrics! She also attempted to transcribe the African chanting lyrics at the beginning of the Lion King so we could do Circle of Life. And every Christmas we had MANDATORY CHRISTMAS PAGEANTS! The little kids did the Nativity story and the older kids had to sing and dance in her own original batshit insane shows! Some were based on Christmas cartoons, others were completely original or mashups of multiple movies! And all of it! (ALL OF IT!) had the sole accompaniment of her lone, out of tune piano which she played standing up and banging on it like she thought she was Jerry Lee Lewis!!!
I don’t know if this is actually a good answer because I’m sure no other school in America had a program this deranged, but I’m so glad your question let me share it! (And I’m a little relieved other places in the world had crazy ass singing class too) 😂
Jujubeee73@reddit
Yes— there is music class once a week in elementary school. It’s not always singing every week though— they dance and do instruments as well (recorders are a common instrument for classroom settings- similar to a clarinet but smaller). Our local school has a winter sing (performance) for the younger elementary students & a spring sing for the older elementary students.
CIA-pizza-party@reddit
I was in grade school in the 90s/early 2000s. We would sing constantly. In music class, in church, for the fall and spring shows, during morning announcements.
Core memory is a certain teacher putting on old records for us. It was usually Jesus music from around the 70s.
donotpassgo2514@reddit
It was disturbingly common when I was in school. Everyone had to take vocal music. No exceptions. And we had concerts. Terrible memories.
DawaLhamo@reddit
Yes. We had music class. I can't remember how often we'd go per week. And I got all the leads in the little musical plays we'd do in the first couple years until more of the other students learned how to sing in key and got better than me, lol. I recall watching Sound of Music a zillion times, because whenever the music teacher was sick, we'd watch Sound of Music. We watched it several times every year. I learned to hate that movie.
Blutrumpeter@reddit
Yes there's a music class the same way we have gym and we're all forced to sing stuff including folk songs
payscottg@reddit
As someone who was in elementary school in the post-9/11 era, all of our songs were viciously patriotic
Creative_Energy533@reddit
Same, but I was in second grade during the bicentennial year, so that's why our songs were patriotic. That's actually how I learned what gay meant because we were singing "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" and some people were snickering when it got to "and we'll all be gay" and I asked my mom, so she explained.
undreamedgore@reddit
Follow the drinking Gourd was the only one I remembered from elementary school.
djninjacat11649@reddit
Yeah, horrible experience imo, though maybe my elementary school just had shitty music teachers
undreamedgore@reddit
It sucked, but helps development both physically and mentally.
Brilliant_Towel2727@reddit
I don't think it's the teachers so much as the recorders.
micmea1@reddit
I think there was one thing parents and students and probably most people f the faculty could agree on and that's the music recitals were terrible experiences lol. Like sure it's cute when the kids are like 4 or 5 but after that it's just...oof.
MsKongeyDonk@reddit
Sorry that was your experience, music is awesome.
djninjacat11649@reddit
Music yes, not elementary school music classes
MsKongeyDonk@reddit
Again, that's your personal experience. Many, many people enjoy their elementary music classes and teachers. I've taught thousands of kids elementary music, and have many, many each year return to say hi and talk about their favorite memories from music, including graduates. You should see kids participating in high-level music, it's awesome to see how engaged they are with instruments. Music doesn't suddenly start in HS, if there's no exposure to music in elementary, HS band programs would look a lot different.
Some kids feel the way you do about P.E. or art or reading. Just because it's not your thing doesn't mean it's bad.
djninjacat11649@reddit
Man PE also sucked but I think that is largely an experience influenced by horrid asthma during my childhood
Gertrude_D@reddit
Probably the teacher. I loved music class as a kid, then I moved. It quickly became my most hated class.
epic_meme_guy@reddit
I only remember FUNGA ALAFIA ASHE ASHE
Creative_Energy533@reddit
We used to sing once in a while in grade school, maybe a few times a month? But I'm Gen X. Like art, etc, I don't know if schools do that anymore.
Soggy-Isopod9681@reddit
When I transferred to public school during kindergarten, our teacher was a hippie lady who'd play guitar or autoharp and we'd sing Cat Stevens songs and shit. I loved her and she treated me like I was special to her. But I think she made all her students feel special.
MRSA_nary@reddit
In addition to music class in elementary school, it’s really common for younger grades incorporate music throughout the day every day. Usually preschool and kindergarten, which would be like 3-6 years old.
HermioneMarch@reddit
Typically students all have music once a week. They might sing, or play a rhythm instrument or recorder. It’s basically learning rhythm and scales so that you can join chorus/ band etc in middle school if you want.
moonchic333@reddit
Yep. I went to private school and had music classes into grade 12. We would have concerts every year and we would also do a lot of singing in church as well.
Sufficient_Stop8381@reddit
I only remember singing patriotic and folk crap like America the beautiful and my country tis of thee and this land is your land in elementary school. Hated it.
Sitcom_kid@reddit
At first I was in private school so we sang all the time. Then we moved and I attended public school for 6th grade and we had music class once per week.
Far-Fortune2118@reddit
Yes! My kids had 3 days a week of music class and they had a Christmas performance and a spring performance where they would sing all the songs they have learned to parents/siblings/friends.
soonerpgh@reddit
I'm 53, it's been a minute since I was in elementary school, but we sang quite often. My kids went to what was considered a "specialty" school which emphasized music, so their classes were pretty heavy music-oriented.
Sad_Ease_9200@reddit
We had music class every week where we learned mainly racist folk songs.
cdb03b@reddit
In Elementary School there is a mandatory music class that all students go to once or twice a week. It isn't until middle school that you typically start to have choice and you get kids split into choir, band, and orchestra.
Potential_Paper_1234@reddit
Yes we had mandatory music class which was more like chorus/choir.
themcp@reddit
We had music class from 1st grade up through 8th grade.
In 8th grade we had to write and sing our own song.
purplechunkymonkey@reddit
My great niece's school encorparates American Sign Language in their songs. The oldest 2 are in 3rd grade, I think.
Unique-Coffee5087@reddit
In the fourth grade we had a filmstrip/tape recording series called "Folksongs in American History". It was fascinating, and we learned a lot of songs that were tied to different historical periods. From Yankee Doodle to Goober Peas (from the Civil War) to the Erie Canal, and I recall titles from the Spanish American War and several from WWI (something like 'was someone you know on the Lusitania').
skittlesriddles44@reddit
Yes! In addition to music class, when I was in elementary school we would sing songs in big groups
FrancisOfTheFilth_@reddit
I know in elementary school we had different songs we would sing together, also sang the different national songs every morning during the pledge and boy did my third grade teacher have a vengeance against the kids who would not sing. Mrs.Renee, if you are out there, I still remember them all, don't have to tell me twice to sing along
Brilliant_Towel2727@reddit
Yes, for some reason the American educational system considers it a matter of grave importance that every child learn the lyrics to John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt, The Farmer in the Dell, and I've Been Working on the Railroad.
AndromedaGreen@reddit
Yes, I used to be an K-5 elementary school music teacher. I saw every class in the school for 45 minutes once a week, and I also taught 4th and 5th grade choir. My school also had an orchestra teacher and a band teacher.
midnighteyesx@reddit
I was in elementary in the late 90s. Every chorus class for a full school year if we had extra time at the end of class we’d beg the teacher to play My Heart Would Go On so we could all sing along. Best four mins of the whole week x
cohrt@reddit
Yeah and it fucking sucked. As soon as it was optional I stopped.
ProfessionalAir445@reddit
We had weekly music class at my Catholic elementary school. K-8 (ages 5-13).
Appropriate-Food1757@reddit
Yeah
BearsLoveToulouse@reddit
I remember my music teacher making us sing Yellow Submarine and When I’m 64. But so far my son is 2nd grade and so far (at least he says) they haven’t done any singing in music class. Not 100% sure what he is doing in it lol
Prior_Benefit8453@reddit
My grandsons don’t get to sing. My daughter volunteers for art. They’re in Kindergarten and 2nd grade.
bubba1834@reddit
Lmao the first song we ever learned in Kindergarten besides God Bless America (was in Brooklyn 2001) was That’s Amore.
EcstasyCalculus@reddit
Oh yes, it's practically a rite of passage here. One moment that sticks out to me is having learned Lift Every Voice And Sing during Black History Month. I loved it. Then comes the NFL announcement that they're playing LEVAS before games as a response to George Floyd and all the white Americans are like 'there's a black national anthem?' and I'm like 'yeah, didn't you learn it in elementary school?'
I also remember having to sing some graduation song for 5th grade graduation. It wasn't Pomp and Circumstance but something completely different with more of a contemporary pop rhythm.
Positive-Avocado-881@reddit
Nope! Haven’t you heard? Music is banned in America :)
BankManager69420@reddit
This is going to completely depend on your school. My school put a huge emphasis on singing. We sang pretty much every day from kindergarten through sixth grade. My siblings on the other hand didn’t sing at all.
Apprehensive-Pop-201@reddit
Yes. But it can really suck. Way back in1974, I was in 4th grade. We had music every day. My teacher played piano. Unfortunately, she was also a big Evangelical Christian. So 2 times per week, we had to sign church music.
botulizard@reddit
We'd have the same thing. Sometimes they'd be purpose-written songs for children in such classes, sometimes there would be patriotic or folk songs, and other times we'd sing popular songs.
Smokinsumsweet@reddit
Yes I loved that part of school
Bluesnow2222@reddit
We had music class once a week where we either sang or explored music concepts like find the beat or how notes work. We’d often times sing oldies like the Beatles, normal kiddie songs, or Disney songs.
I was also in Chorus through all of elementary school. It was voluntary big group and we’d practice for performances a few times a week. Anyone could join chorus and we performed a few times a year in big auditoriums for seasonal stuff.
There was a secondary chorus group that you had to try out for and was more focused on outputting quality performances rather than just cute chaos of the normal group. We were still pretty bad— I’m practically deaf to pitch but they gave me a solo for some reason. We performed at the state capital, some baseball games, and during seasonal performances a well along with normal chorus back to back. It was fun getting to travel- you didn’t for normal chorus.
peter303_@reddit
We had a music class of which signing was a component.
bangbangracer@reddit
I remember regularly learning music and there being 3 "concerts" each year in elementary school.
Suppafly@reddit
Yes, they typically have music class and practice a few songs to sing at holiday programs.
LonelyAndSad49@reddit
It depends on the school district. I grew up going to a very poor school and we did not have any kind of music class. It was strictly academically focused. No field trips, sports, music, etc.
WhenI was older, you could take choir class as an elective but there weren’t any kind of performances or extracurricular activities around it.
TheRealDudeMitch@reddit
I went to a Catholic school. We had music class once a week where we would sing the hymns that would be used in Mass that week. It sucked.
Western_Nebula9624@reddit
Some? We do have music class. In my district, grades K-2 music class sings a lot and grades 3-5 spends more time on simple instruments (boomwackers, xylophones, small percussion and recorders in 5th grade), simplistic music theory and small amounts of music history (focused on types of instruments with units about specific composers). 6-8 have music for about 9 weeks and they play ukuleles. ECE (preK) and Kindergarten also sing a lot as part of regular class - educational songs (days of the week, alphabet, etc) and some "routine" songs that help with transitions (a song for cleaning up, a song to sit on the carpet, that kind of thing).
CountChoculasGhost@reddit
I had a music class basically every year until maybe when I was 13 or so? It wasn’t all singing (anyone else vividly remember learning the recorder?).
At that point you could choose to take choir, band, or not take anything. I am very not musically inclined, so I stopped taking any music classes.
JoshinIN@reddit
Yes, music class once a week all year, then a concert for the parents at the end of the year.
Flashy_Watercress398@reddit
Absolutely.
I remember being morbidly fascinated by my elementary school music teacher. Nice lady, built on a rather grand scale, teaching during the era of short skirts. She'd come to our classrooms with her autoharp and teach us to sing folk songs. I was always waiting for the disastrous moment when her girdle would resign from its mighty struggle.
She retired, and we got some hippie chick who taught us songs in foreign languages, with accompanying dances, all of which were probably completely made up.
My own kids had weekly music classes throughout elementary school, often with a stage performance or two during the year. A couple of them went to an arts magnet elementary, and it was always standing room only in the audience for the fifth grade class production of The Music Man or The Sound of Music.
Now that the youngest two are 13 and 15, they don't participate in choral classes, but both are in band.
mmlickme@reddit
Elementary school kids go to music class
Ayla1313@reddit
Had music class all the way up to high school. There was also school chorus from kindergarden up.
BubbhaJebus@reddit
Yes, but thankfully in my case it was in groups, because I can't sing worth shit. My worst nightmare was being forced to sing solo in front of a group.
Total-Improvement535@reddit
I remember everybody in my grade being brought to an empty class, sat on the floor, and taught “Rockin’ Robin” by the Jackson5. Never came up after that.
Metroid_cat1995@reddit
Yep. Everyone did music class. Went to two different schools and Yep everybody had music class. Elementary school my my school was cool because we got to learn about exotic instruments and some classes and we've been saying or at least heard songs in different languages which was kind of cool. But the strangest thing was is that the CD that the teacher had was That the version was in one language and then they tried to sing the English version similar to the melody. Lol I remember we were singing or at least hearing the song in Japanese, Spanish and Turkish. That's what I have at the top of my head. And then one year we did something called music on the move where we would all sit at keyboards and try to learn certain things either on the keyboard or we would sing songs. I remember There was a song called upstanding citizen and the ghost of John. And there were a few kids who liked the song eight legs and it was about a spider.
DrMindbendersMonocle@reddit
In my experience we did. They usually had classes sing a song at certain big assemblies. I know I had to do it multiple times
Pburnett_795@reddit
Yes
tranquilrage73@reddit
In the late 1970s, early 1980s, I had two different teachers who loved to sing to and with the class. My kindergarten teacher even had a piano in the classroom. I still have fond memories of both of those teachers.
We also had music class once or twice a week, which was all singing.
Individual_Corgi_576@reddit
I’m a little older than you (still GenX) and when I was really little all the teachers had a piano and the ability to play was a requirement of employment.
padall@reddit
That was my second grade teacher. We sang a lot in her class, and she even offered to give piano lessons to interested students after school.
We also had music class, of course. 40 years later and I still sing "Low bridge, everybody down... low bridge, cuz we're coming to a town..." every time I'm near the Erie Canal. 😂 (That was huge for us NYers. )
Stepjam@reddit
We had mandatory music class til about 6th grade. I don't think we specifically learned to read music though (I learned that outside school at least).
Ok-Truck-5526@reddit
They keep cutting music education, so not much. In my mom’s day ( 1930’s) they always sang folk songs in her one- room schools.
ncconch@reddit
I started Catholic school in the 70s. I could sing in Latin.
HoneyWhereIsMyYarn@reddit
Yup. On top of a 2x a week music class that covers a variety of things (singing, some instrument practice, very basic music theory, and some 'traditional' dancing like line dancing), my elementary school also had a weekly assembly for all kids that were in grades K - 3 (5 - 8 years old) that was literally just singing. I have no clue if other schools had the assembly, but I do know that most American schools have a similar music class.
The assembly was mostly folk music, some patriotic songs like My Country Tis of Thee or Yankee Doodle, and maybe the occasional karaoke song. They'd put the lyrics up on a projector, and we'd sing through them for about 30 minutes. Whatever class behaved the best, and sang decently well, got to take the Sing-Along trophy back to their classroom for the week.
whatevendoidoyall@reddit
Did you grow up in Oklahoma? This sounds really similar to my elementary school music experience.
HoneyWhereIsMyYarn@reddit
I'm actually from the Seattle area!
like_shae_buttah@reddit
Yeah we dos a lot of singing growing up. I thought that was normal school stuff for kids everywhere
Sleepygirl57@reddit
Yep music class. They also put on Concerts every spring and Christmas that is parents are forced to endure going to.
lesfleursroses@reddit
I went to 3 different elementary schools and each one had us singing a patriotic song or the national anthem in the morning
webbess1@reddit
Yes, and it's exactly as you describe in New Zealand.
thunderclone1@reddit
In middle to the end of high school, my district required that we take either choir or band classes.
elphaba00@reddit
In sixth grade, we had to pick either band or chorus as our elective class. But in seventh grade, you didn't have to make that choice, and you got a couple more options. My kids go to the same district, and this time in sixth grade, there is a third option - a nine-week rotation of different classes (art and vocational). My son went with band; my daughter chose the nine-week option.
Odd-Help-4293@reddit
Oh wow. We had to take some kind of arts class for at least one year in high school, but I did visual arts (drawing & painting) instead. They also had photography as an option.
poopoodapeepee@reddit
Damn! Also from Wisconsin and thankfully that never happened in our district.
Vachic09@reddit
It's very common to have a music class. Some other classes might have a song to help remember certain concepts.
AnimatronicHeffalump@reddit
My mom is an elementary choir teacher. Choir is required for all students until high school at the school she teaches at (where I went). Choir is daily through elementary (except kindergarten because they’re only there half days), and in middle school they have choir 3 days a week and the other two are either guitar or music theory.
Idk about public schools, but I’m under the impression that choir is at least required through elementary school and is a daily class.
Gallahadion@reddit
We probably sang in the music classes I had regularly in elementary and middle school (I remember playing instruments more than singing, but I can't imagine that we didin't sing at all). We also had an annual performance where the entire school gathered on one stage to sing songs (the songs were different depending on the grade, with the exception of the final song), and for a few years we would perform an opera every year, too.
battlebarnacle@reddit
Mandatory 1-8th grade (6-13 years old), optional in high school (14-18). 6-8th grade, you could avoid singing if you played an instrument. My voice must have been bad because they made me play triangle or tambourine lol.
Sheetz_Wawa_Market32@reddit
🎶 You’re a grand old flag, you’re a high-flying flag! 🎶
Does that one count? 😅 Seems virtually mandatory in the early grades.
And, remember, my fellow Americans, 🎶 there’s never a boast or a brag 🎶! 🤣/😭
MamaMidgePidge@reddit
My kids had music class as one of their rotating "specials" in elementary school. Music, art, PE, library. Rinse, repeat.
In younger years they learned songs in the classroom too, depending on teacher.
Substantial_Back_865@reddit
In Illinois they made us sing throughout elementary school.
aenflex@reddit
We sang a lot in my elementary school, 1-6 grade. We would have assemblies and sing songs all the time. I grew up in New England and I was a child in the 80s/ early 90s.
I have a 10-year-old in elementary school and it’s in a different state, and they do not sing. The only time they sing is in music class.
abbot_x@reddit
Yes, we usually have music classes in elementary school, though they are often just an hour or so a week and receive less emphasis than math and reading.
These classes combine listening to music and performing music, which mostly consists of the entire class singing together. It’s also common for all students to play the recorder and for some or all students to have the opportunity to receive basic instruction on an instrument in higher elementary grades. Organized bands and orchestras are found in secondary schools.
The music classes are usually taught by a specialist teacher who only teaches music classes (and teaches all the music classes in the school). Students usually go to a music room for these classes.
It is common for students to perform at assemblies, awards ceremonies, and seasonal concerts, to which parents are invited. The music teacher leads the performances. For example, students might sing non-religious holiday songs at a December concert, etc.
Esmer_Tina@reddit
Music class was so funny. We’d all line up in height order and head down the hall to the music room, where we would sing for an hour then line up and head back to class. At the end of the year there was a concert and if you were really lucky you got to be one of the kids to do a little dance.
That’s where we all learned “50 Nifty United States” where you sing all the states in alphabetical order. Always made the audience of proud parents stand and cheer!
Odd-Help-4293@reddit
Oh man. We did a math-themed concert one year. I remember singing Dolly Parton's "9 to 5". Which is not actually about or telling time lol. I'm trying to remember what other songs we did.
Odd-Help-4293@reddit
We'd have a weekly music class, and singing was part of that. (We also learned how to play the recorder one year, which was terrible, but it gave us some exposure to playing an instrument.)
Fearless-Boba@reddit
Kids usually have "specials" each week which includes art, music, physical education, library, etc. When you got to 4th grade you could start doing band and perform in school concerts and then in 5th grade you were allowed to join choir. For like holidays and stuff before that, each grade K-4 did class songs they'd sing at assemblies. So you had like the actual choir perform (grades 5 and 6) and the band (grades 4 through 6) perform at actual concerts and perform for graduation (6th grade) etc.
TheBimpo@reddit
We had music class once a week in elementary school. Once we reached junior high, singing was covered in electives like choir.
ehm_pea@reddit
yes growing up kids did sing, it was a mandatory class everyone took. in the latter half of elementary school, mine introduced instruments. 4th grades (8/9 year olds) string orchestra, 5th grades added brass & woodwind instruments. you could take those instead of singing
we had semi-annual performances. usually one before christmas and one near the end is the school year, around may. parents come, see their kid , etc
seanx40@reddit
No singing at all in school at any level for non choir students.
Plague_Locusts@reddit
I'm a zoomer, and we had a music class that covered a lot of things. I did singing, guitar, recorder, music history, and a bunch of other stuff. There was also an extracurricular band and choir.
Plague_Locusts@reddit
My state (Washington) has these huge clam like animals called goeducks. They are easy to hunt and pretty edible. I had to sing about them. Also, sang "shoo fly" and "the cat came back."
Better_Software2722@reddit
I did. But that was 50 years ago. I remember Christmas songs in public school
StopLosingLoser@reddit
We were expected to sing along with the national anthem in elementary school
grammarkink@reddit
Yes. And at least twice a year, we'd put on class wide musical performances that our parents could attend at night. I still know the words to a bunch of songs from musicals because of this.
Pitiful_Bunch_2290@reddit
Yep. I was in choir from kindergarten until my junior year in college.
manicpixidreamgirl04@reddit
I guess some schools do. My music classes always focused more on instruments. Keyboard in kindergarten - second grade, recorder in third grade, band in fourth and fifth grade. But then, almost everyone was in glee club, even though it was optional.
Sleepwalker0304@reddit
It was kind of a general music class in elementary school. Sometimes there was singing, sometimes there was education based around instruments like recorders or xylophones. We learned a bit of classical music like the score of The Nutcracker. You learned notes and rhythm and super basic composition and sight reading but if you couldn't carry a tune it didn't exist to humiliate you.
If you really wanted to sing you had to wait until grade four which was the first year you could join the elementary chorus. You could join Elementary Band the same year.
Extension-Ad8549@reddit
If they offer chorus then yes
CODENAMEDERPY@reddit
Yeah
therealDrPraetorius@reddit
We used to, but not any more.
Boring_Detective142@reddit
I went to a parochial school and we didn't have music class nor did we learn to play recorders as a lot of people have said but we did sing hymns in Bible study. So there is not only regional variation but also between public vs. private school.
MMARapFooty@reddit
We do a play in elementary school
Middle School we had band and choir
000ttafvgvah@reddit
When I was little, we lived in Arizona (quite the red state, lots of guns) for a few years. Every morning, in addition to the Pledge of Allegiance, they made us sing the national anthem as well as My Country ‘Tis of Thee (sort of a runner-up national anthem, sung to the tune of God Save the Queen). 😬
As an adult, I live in a very blue city in a very blue county in California, and not only do they do none of that in my daughter’s elementary school, she is constantly learning songs in school. Some that I remember from childhood (e.g., On Top of Spaghetti) and many that are totally new to me.
padall@reddit
That might be a generational thing, too. I grew up in a blue city in a blue state, and we definitely said the pledge and sang My Country Tis of Thee every day, as well.
Texas43647@reddit
We did but not in middle school. Only elementary
crown-jewel@reddit
We had music class in elementary school! I can’t remember the cadence but it was my favorite ☺️ it was primarily singing, but I also remember learning to play the xylophone and glockenspiel too, which was fun. We put on performances a couple times a year.
Bluemonogi@reddit
We had music class every other day at my elementary school. Sometimes it was singing and sometimes instruments. They were going to start a choir when I was in 6th grade but I moved and changed schools so I don’t know if that happened. My new elementary school did not have a choir.
We had to learn songs for the annual Christmas program or other special school events. Otherwise it was like old folk songs.
unix_name@reddit
I did :D.
livelongprospurr@reddit
We did. Also learned simple instruments and elementary music reading. It was part of the regular curriculum.
gollo9652@reddit
We sang every day in elementary school. When my son was in elementary school they sang songs as part of the curriculum.
shelwood46@reddit
Yes, through 6th grade it was weekly at least and mandatory singing in a choir, plus some recorder and sticks and stuff. In 5th grade our teacher brought in someone to teach songwriting and we all wrote a song (separately), that was fun. There was also orchestra with real instruments but that was optional and there was a fee for your instrument rental. Junior high and high school, you had to take music appreciation but choir/orchestra/band were electives.
DryFoundation2323@reddit
Yes.
Der-Candidat@reddit
In elementary school, absolutely, kids sing a lot. Many of us were also forced to play the recorder.
tsukuyomidreams@reddit
We used to do annual events where we had to sing. I hated it! But I love that I still remember the songs
Yuval_Levi@reddit
Yeah...we sang in primary/elementary school back in the 90's...the songs were picked out by the teachers...usually patriotic anthems or disney songs (i.e. this land is your land, america the beautiful, lean on me, you've got a friend in me, hakuna matata, etc.)
ButterflyHarpGirl@reddit
When I was growing up, we sang all the time in music classes, except when we were doing the recorder units. But, even then, I think we still did some singing…
username-generica@reddit
We had music class in grades k-5. We did a wide variety of things including playing the xylophone and learning to read sheet music. The worst though was learning how to square dance in 4th grade. We all hated it. In 6th grade you got to choose between choir, band or orchestra. My kids' k-8 school does things differently. In k-5 they have music class. During 3rd grade they learn to play the recorder and earn a different color ribbon they tie on their recorder each time they learn a new song. In 6th grade they learn to drum and play the ukulele. In grades 5-8 they get to take 1 elective and they have wide selection to choose from. My younger chose to play in the school's rock band every one of those years. He's now in 8th and plays the piano, ukulele, electric bass guitar and electric guitar. The high school he'll attend in the fall has an orchestra so he decided to start taking viola lessons. He now has a real passion for music now because of the music opportunities he's had at school.
old-town-guy@reddit
There are about 33m students enrolled at the elementary level in the US. Undoubtedly most of them sing at one time or another as part of the curriculum. How often depends a great deal on the students and the school.
muzic_2_the_earz@reddit
I have a few faint memories as a kid singing in school. Old folk songs mainly, but also some stuff I think the teacher just liked. I remember singing Elvis and The Beatles. Holidays we'd sing the normal themed stuff for Xmas. Spooky stuff at Halloween was my favorite though, nothing better than jamming out as a hyperactive kid to some Little Bunny Foo Foo!
AdamOnFirst@reddit
No, quite infrequently, much less frequently than you describe. We did very very little singing in elementary music class, and none that was remotely serious, and none in secondary school unless you joined choir.
dwintaylor@reddit
There’s a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza
BookLuvr7@reddit
It depends on the school, but mine and those my family taught at did.
docfarnsworth@reddit
yeah we had music and art class regularly until about 11-12?
-Random_Lurker-@reddit
My school did long ago, but it's mostly died out today. Some schools are lucky enough to still have music classes, or individual teachers that sing with their kids. Since Bush's "No Child Gets Ahead" act though, anything and everything in education that isn't pure academics has been gutted.
MoneyHungryOctopus@reddit
This is not accurate. My old school in Pennsylvania still has music programs. No Child Left Behind isn’t even on the books anymore, having been super seated by the “Every Student Succeeds Act” in 2015.
allieggs@reddit
A local school district is in the news now for doing mass layoffs, where arts/music/other elective programs were the only positions that didn’t get cut.
The reason they gave for that was that declining enrollment meant less per-student funding overall, and that this was the largest part of their budget. But the arts programs are funded by special grants, and also are a small enough portion of the budget that cutting them would not have made a dent. I believe this was not the case when the 2008 recession happened.
XainRoss@reddit
Yes the same in the states. Lower grade levels generally go to music class and sing one or two days a week a put on programs once or twice a year. Somewhen around middle school they usually do the infamous "recorders" or another instrument. They learn to read music "FACE" and "Every Good Boy Does Fine". Choir and band are generally electives after that, though music appreciation/history is often a 9 week class or 2 around middle school/Jr high level. They'll study the history of music, influence of different cultures like Jaz, and watch musicals like West Side Story. Though sadly a lot of music and art programs are early victims of budget cuts.
AdMriael@reddit
In the 70s we had music class or an arts class all the way from K-6. My understanding though is that a lot of schools have canceled music programs so we need the input of current parents to see the state of things.
winteriscoming9099@reddit
Yes. There’s a music class where you’re forced to sing. You’re also forced to learn how to play the recorder. In my school, we then were required to join chorus for 4th and 5th grade, we could choose chorus/band/orchestra for middle school, and we could drop music altogether or pick one of those for high school.
jquailJ36@reddit
We had music class once a week in grade school (1st-6th), same as we had PE and art. It was mostly singing, very basic learning to read sheet music (like treble clef notes and C scale) some basic instruments (no recorders, but the 'fun' kind of percussion stuff) and we'd have a Christmas program and a spring program. You could start to take band in 5th, but it was outside class and your parents had to get the instruments. In middle school, iirc, band and chorus were the music classes and both were optional. Same for high school only then there was the option of marching band, concert band, or both (I only did concert.)
jafropuff@reddit
Not sure if kids still do it these days but I went to elementary school in the early 2000s and we had one music teacher but it was only for 3rd and 4th grade. Former broadway actor and he came in once a week. In the 3rd grade, we sang a bunch of patriotic songs like proud to be an American and in the 4th grade we sang some songs from lion king. Then we would have a recital with the other classes in the same grade at the end of the year.
In 5th grade, they brought in the recorder guy. I remember learning happy together by the turtles.
EloquentRacer92@reddit
Not really at my school. We did learn the recorder though.
lionhearted318@reddit
Yes, especially in kindergarten
Heartfeltregret@reddit
yeah. In music class we had to sing and play recorder… i don’t know if every school had them, my school wasn’t big or wealthy but we also all sat at keyboards and learned different notes and simple songs. I hated having to play the recorder but singing(poorly) and playing the keyboard was fun. we got to use other instruments too, like bongo drums the marimba and tambourines- those are the instruments i remember specifically. Music class was a few times a week. 2 or 3 days, i think. We all had to sing in concerts for holidays and things as classes.
smoothiefruit@reddit
you have to start early teaching kids the dangers of shipping ore
JNorJT@reddit
In music class yeah
Material-Double3268@reddit
My son had to go to choir multiple times a week (not every day ) from 3rd grade -5th grade. It’s an option, but not required after that. I had to do the same thing at that age. I chose to play an instrument after that.
Historical_Bunch_927@reddit
Every state does things differently, and different schools can be pretty different within a state. So I absolutely don't want to speak for everybody, but I got mandatory music class every week in elementary school. For middle school and high school, we had to sign up for chorus. My music teacher asked the fifth grade if they wanted to do chorus in middle school and just signed us up. If we wanted to join chorus in High School we had to audition for it.
SplinteredInHerHead@reddit
Yes. This was one of them: Kookaburra sits on the old gum tree, Merry merry king of the bush is he. Laugh, Kookaburra, laugh, Kookaburra, Gay your life must be!
JSmith666@reddit
We also learn the recorder
ALoungerAtTheClubs@reddit
I had so much anxiety over having to play that thing in front of the class.
Playful_Champion3189@reddit
I still remember singing “it’s a small world after all” in kindergarten for our parents. We also sang in elementary school, but in middle school we only sang if we were in choir, not everyone was required to.
HeatherM74@reddit
Yes. Kindergarten - 5th automatically have choir. After that it is an elective.
Fabulous_Rub7003@reddit
Does the Pledge of Allegiance count?
MmmIceCreamSoBAD@reddit
Choir was mandatory in my grade school and we also had like school pageants and stuff, basically events for the parents where like a few hundred kids across a couple grade would sing and do choreographed stuff. And obviously little kids will do singing in the classroom a lot as a learning mechanism.
In my high school, it was not mandatory though there was an extracurricular (outside class hours, akin to sports) choir program you could do
PickleProvider@reddit
Yup
BippidiBoppetyBoob@reddit
Music class was compulsory for us in elementary school, but different states have different rules...
poopoodapeepee@reddit
Well, yeah but everyone just mouthed the word “alligator” over and over so it looked like they were singing.
Outrageous-Table6524@reddit
Used to sub for elementary schools -- they sure do sing, and they sure do have opinions if YOU don't sound as good Mrs. Sinclair does...
DeeDeeW1313@reddit
Yes usually music class is part of a set curriculum.
Annual choir concerts are fairly common too.
hitometootoo@reddit
I don't recall every singing or needing to sing. I've been to several schools too. I guess if you're in a singing class or band you might, but not sure why else someone would need to in school.
Guardian-Boy@reddit
Starting in third grade, I was given the choice to do band or choir. I chose band and got put on clarinet. Did that until fifth grade when I switched to choir. Did choir through eighth grade and then switched school districts which didn't require any music classes.
Acrobatic_Fan_8183@reddit
My six year-old has some kind of concert 2-3 year in public school. She's learning rudimentary sight reading of notation, too. Probably not the rule nation-wide but I had singing and dance all thru school, as well as band, choirs, etc. Drama departments are usually in every school. The middle school across the street does about 4 musical theatre productions a year. High school does more sophisticated theatre a couple times a year. I grew up in a tiny western farm town and I could have learned as much music as I wanted to. It was available via marching band, etc.
Avtamatic@reddit
Yep. In elementary school we had music classes, and we had choir like once a week with half of or the whole grade. For us, it ended in middle school, which was 6th grade for mine.
I think we had concerts or something we were supposed to do. I never went to them though.
Epicapabilities@reddit
Yes. I didn't appreciate it at the time, but I look back on it fondly now.
petitecrivain@reddit
Yeah we had music class and later in elementary school everyone was in choir.
Martothir@reddit
This will vary greatly by state, as education is run on a state level.
In Texas, most (but not all) districts have an elementary music teacher on campus that gets to see a the kids once or twice a week, sing with them, and sometimes put on very simple programs. So in short, yes, but not every district has elementary music (budget), and even if they do, some have trouble hiring enough teachers to fill spots.
OhThrowed@reddit
Sure, no promises we enjoy it though.
Arleare13@reddit
Yes, that’s a thing here.