Students in 5th through 8th grades may choose to participate in band. For 5th and 6th grade students, there is an after school band program one day a week.  6th grade students have the option to be in Music class, where they learn to play a band instrument, sing, play xylophones, and learn about the elements of music.  7th and 8th grade students may participate in either Concert Band or in General Music where students perform, create original improvisations, arrangements and compositions, and learn about music from a variety of cultural and historical traditions.  Students in the General Music class sing and play in xylophone, recorder and percussion ensembles.

Self discipline is something Mrs. Engelking encourages her students to learn. When it comes to this her motto is, "Make excellence a daily habit!" You may reach Mrs. Engelking by calling 651-293-8690, or by emailing her at gina.engelking@spps.org.

MRS. KIM KROETSCH is

Mrs. Kroetsch teaches students to sing a song that she composed with poetry by Langston Hughes.

Mrs. Kroetsch loves directing our two choirs!  She is constantly inspired by the high-quality musicianship our students demonstrate when they sing together.  She also loves working with the many professional artists who come into our school community to work in residence with students and teachers.

Mrs. Kroetsch had the great fortune to serve on the committee of arts educators at the MN Department of Education developing the most recent edition of the Minnesota State Arts Standards.  The arts standards encompass music, dance, theater, visual art and media arts.  They provide direction in helping students learn not only about the Foundations of each art form, but also the three Large Artistic Processes:  Create, Perform & Respond.  The K-5 music curriculum that

Young music students learn how to read rhythms.

• A solid grounding in the foundations of music, including: Describing the elements of music (melody, rhythm, harmony, dynamics, tone color, texture, form and their related concepts) and how they are used in the performance, creation and response to music.
• Identifying the characteristics of a variety of genres and musical styles including cultural and historical traditions of music.
• Reading and notating music.
• Singing and playing instruments alone and in a group demonstrating proper posture, breathing, technique, age appropriate tone quality and expressive intent.
• The tools to create their own music, including: Improvisation, composition and arranging rhythms, melodies and accompaniments
• Revision of their own creative work based on feedback
• The skills to perform music, including: Singing and playing instruments alone and in groups.
  

  Students working together to create their own music on our class set of Orff instruments.
  Revising their own performances based on feedback
• The ability to respond to music that they hear, including: Justifying personal interpretations and reactions to music

Linwood Monroe has a partnership with the Saint Paul Orchestra’s CONNECT program.  Students will attend a SPCO concert in February focused on expression in music.    Mrs. Kroetsch is also an arts coordinator for our school and is happy to answer any questions about our many arts partnerships. You may reach Mrs. Kroetsch by calling 293-6606. You may also email her at kim.kroetsch@spps.org.

Interested in knowing what your student learns each year in music? 

Check out the Saint Paul Public School's Kindergarten- Grade 5 Music Scope and Sequence at the bottom of this page!  Mrs. Kroetsch and Mrs. Engelking helped to create this important document which guides music instruction across our school district.  It outlines exactly what students learn in music at each grade level throughout their elementary music education.  Check it out!