Welcome to the online module of the revised music Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) that will guide high school music curriculum and instruction for the state of Texas.
Students may select Music Levels I, II, III, and IV or Music Studies courses to fulfill the fine arts requirement for graduation. Level numbers represent achievement levels, not grade-level classification. For example, a student in high school choir for the first time is typically enrolled in Choir I, regardless of the student's grade level. Therefore, any Music I course might have students from various grade levels. Likewise, the "top" high school band will likely have students enrolled who are in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12.
Because students in secondary level performance classes often have differing skill and experience levels, performance expectations are individualized.
The levels of materials used in performance groups change from year to year and are also tied to the level of the course. For example, each of the four levels of choir has its own lesson plans and materials. As teachers analyze and choose literature, they consider the skills and techniques needed to build student proficiency while making selections that represent a broad range of cultures, time periods, and genres.
The following questions might be useful in selecting literature:
- Will teachers be team teaching?
- Do students' developmental levels vary significantly?
- How much individualized instruction will beginners need?
Strong student achievement should always be the focus.
Finally, students and teachers will need access to digital resources and devices in most music studies courses.