Alabama State Standards for Arts Education: Grade 8
AL.1.1. General Music: Sing.
1.1.1. Students will sing a varied repertoire of age-appropriate music alone and with others.
1.1.2. Students will sing with proper vocal technique. (Pure head tone; Good diction; Good posture; Intonation; in rhythm; Articulation; Tonal production)
1.1.3. Students will sing expressively. (Technical accuracy; appropriate dynamics; Phrasing; Interpretation; Vocal timbres blended; Tempo)
1.1.4. Students will use age-appropriate vocal range.
1.1.5. Students will sing songs representing diverse cultures.
1.1.6. Students will respond to the cues of a conductor.
1.1.7. Students will sing descants, ostinatos, partner songs, rounds, two-, three-, and four-part songs.
AL.1.2. General Music: Perform on Instruments.
1.2.8. Students will perform a varied repertoire of music using good posture and playing positions.
1.2.9. Students will perform accompaniments to music from diverse cultures.
1.2.10. Students will perform accompaniments on pitched and unpitched instruments (To music from diverse cultures and genres; to movement; to choral literature; to poems, stories)
1.2.11. Students will perform with technical accuracy. (Pitch; Rhythms; Tempo; Dynamics; Phrasing; Balance; Tone)
1.2.12. Students will read and play by sight moderately difficult songs.
AL.1.3. General Music: Read, Notate.
1.3.13. Students will recognize and use standard notation symbols and terms. (Meter; Rhythm; Pitch; Dynamics; Tempo; Articulation; Form)
1.3.14. Students will use a system to read pitch notation in the treble and bass clefs in major, pentatonic, and minor keys.
1.3.15. Students will sight read and perform complex rhythmic patterns using unpitched and pitched instruments.
1.3.16. Students will read whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, and dotted notes and rests in and meter signatures.
1.3.17. Students will read at sight melodies in both treble and bass clefs.
1.3.18. Students will use standard notation to record musical ideas.
AL.1.4. General Music: Listen, Analyze, and Describe.
1.4.19. Students will identify music forms.
1.4.20. Students will describe music events in listening example using correct terminology.
1.4.21. Students will demonstrate knowledge of musical elements through analyses of music.
AL.1.5. General Music: Improvise, Compose, and Arrange.
1.4.22. Students will Improvise and create variations and accompaniments.
1.4.23. Students will improvise vocal and instrumental pieces using a variety of sound sources.
1.4.24. Students will explore timbres. (Electronic voice; Environment; Invented sound sources; Voice)
1.4.25. Students will improvise on given pentatonic, major, minor, and simple modal scales.
1.4.26. Students will compose and arrange songs and instrumental pieces.
1.4.27. Students will compose accompaniments for songs, stories, poems, and dramatizations.
1.4.28. Students will use a variety of sound sources when composing.
1.4.29. Students will explore varied composing and arranging techniques of composers.
1.4.30. Students will use composition to demonstrate understanding of musical elements. (Melody; Rhythm; Harmony; Form; Texture; Expressive elements; Timbre)
AL.1.6. General Music: Evaluate.
1.6.31. Students will recognize and practice accepted audience behavior.
1.6.32. Students will recognize and practice accepted performance behavior.
1.6.33. Students will refine and apply criteria for evaluating music performances and compositions.
1.6.34. Students will make valid musical decisions about their individual and ensemble performances.
AL.1.7. General Music: Connect.
1.7.35. Students will understand relationships between music and the other arts as well as disciplines outside of the arts.
1.7.36. Students will understand music in relation to history and culture.
AL.2.1. Vocal, Choral Music Levels I and II: Sing, and Read.
2.1.1. Students will sing a varied repertoire employing proper vocal techniques. (Posture; Breath control; Tonal production; Diction; Articulation; Intonation)
2.1.2. Students will interpret note, rest values and meter signatures.
2.1.3. Students will interpret standard symbols and terms related to: (Pitch; Dynamics; Tempo; Articulation; Expression)
2.1.4. Students will listen , sing, and describe changes in musical events of a musical score using standard terminology.
2.1.5. Students will sight-sing simple melodies and rhythms.
2.1.6. Students will sing whole and half-step patterns of the major and minor scales.
2.1.7. Students will sing forms that represent interpretive and expressive qualities of diverse genres, cultures, and languages.
AL.2.2. Vocal, Choral Music Levels I and II: Analyze, Describe.
2.2.8. Students will compare the use of musical elements of diverse genres, stylistic periods, cultures, and languages.
2.2.9. Students will distinguish various combinations of vocal sounds.
AL.2.3. Vocal, Choral Music Levels I and II: Create, Improvise, and Compose.
2.3.10. Students will improvise simple melodic embellishments to a given melody.
2.3.11. Students will compose vocal rhythmic and melodic variations of given melodies.
2.3.12. Students will compose harmonic accompaniment to be sung with a melody using I, IV, V, VI chords.
2.3.13. Students will compose songs using standard symbols and terms to establish balance, unity and contrast, tension and release.
2.3.14. Students will compose melodies to be sung over rhythmic ostinatos.
AL.2.4. Vocal, Choral Music Levels I and II: Evaluate.
2.4.15. Students will evaluate vocal performance using established criteria of vocal technique.
2.4.16. Students will develop criteria to evaluate vocal technique and various styles.
2.4.17. Students will exhibit appropriate audience behavior.
2.4.18. Students will exhibit appropriate performance behavior.
AL.2.5. Vocal, Choral Music Levels I and II: Connect.
2.5.19. Students will relate music to history and culture.
2.5.20. Students will recognize and sing a variety of vocal styles and forms from various historical periods and ethnic cultures.
2.5.21. Students will introduce the relationship between music, the other arts and the disciplines outside the arts.
2.5.22. Students will relate ways ideas in songs are found in other arts disciplines.
2.5.23. Students will relate musical skills and concepts to concepts of other core disciplines.
2.5.24. Students will discuss distinguishing characteristics of songs (Style; Language; Composer)
2.5.25. Students will exhibit appropriate audience behavior.
2.5.26. Students will exhibit appropriate performance behavior.
AL.3.1. Instrumental Music Level I: Read.
3.1.1. Students will read whole, half, quarter, eighth, and dotted notes and rests in and allay breve meter signatures.
3.1.2. Students will sight-read accurately simple melodies.
3.1.3. Students will sight-read appropriate clefs.
AL.3.2. Instrumental Music Level I: Perform.
3.2.4. Students will perform accurately on at least one instrument alone and in large and small ensembles with good posture, good playing position, and good breath as well as bow or stick control.
3.2.5. Students will perform a varied repertoire of beginning instrumental literature on at least one string, wind, or percussion instrument.
3.2.6. Students will perform with proficiency solo and ensemble literature appropriate to the individual developmental level.
3.2.7. Students will demonstrate basic knowledge of fundamental musical structure through performance of scales, arpeggios and rudiments.
AL.3.3. Instrumental Music Level I: Listen, Describe.
3.3.8. Students will demonstrate awareness of basic expressive musical symbols.
3.3.9. Students will analyze and describe significant changes in a musical score. (Reading; listening)
AL.3.4. Instrumental Music Level I: Create.
3.4.10. Students will improvise simple melodic embellishments to a given melody.
3.4.11. Students will compose harmonic accompaniment to be played with a melody.
AL.3.5. Instrumental Music Level I: Evaluate.
3.5.12. Students will discuss the musical means used by a performed instrumental work to evoke feelings and emotions.
3.5.13. Students will evaluate the quality of self and others' performances using established criteria. (Tone; Intonation; Technique; Balance; Blend)
3.5.14. Students will exhibit appropriate audience behavior.
3.5.15. Students will exhibit appropriate performance behavior.
AL.3.6. Instrumental Music Level I: Connect.
3.6.16. Students will relate music to history and culture.
3.6.17. Students will discuss ways in which the principles and subject matter of various disciplines outside the arts are interrelated with those of instrumental music.
3.6.18. Students will recognize multicultural musical styles as they relate to various historical periods and their relationships to beginning instrumental performance literature.
AL.4.1. Instrumental Music Level II: Read.
4.1.1. Students will read whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, and dotted notes and rests in and alla breve meter signatures.
4.1.2. Students will sight-read accurately and expressively simple melodies.
4.1.3. Students will sight-read appropriate clefs while keeping a steady beat.
AL.4.2. Instrumental Music Level II: Perform.
4.2.4. Students will perform accurately on at least one instrument alone and in large and small ensembles with good posture, good playing position, and good breath as well as bow or stick control.
4.2.5. Students will perform a varied repertoire of intermediate level instrumental literature on at least one string, wind, or percussion instrument.
4.2.6. Students will perform with proficiency solo and ensemble literature appropriate to the individual developmental level.
4.2.7. Students will demonstrate basic knowledge of fundamental musical structure through performance of scales, arpeggios and rudiments.
AL.4.3. Instrumental Music Level II: Listen, Describe.
4.3.8. Students will demonstrate awareness of basic expressive musical symbols.
4.3.9. Students will aurally discriminate pitches.
4.3.10. Students will analyze and describe significant changes in a musical score. (Listening; Performing; Reading)
AL.4.4. Instrumental Music Level II: Create.
4.4.11. Students will improvise melodic embellishments to a given melody.
4.4.12. Students will create and perform rhythmic and melodic variations.
4.4.13. Students will compose harmonic accompaniment to a melody.
AL.4.5. Instrumental Music Level II: Evaluate.
4.5.14. Students will discuss the musical means used by a performed instrumental work to evoke feelings and emotions.
4.5.15. Students will evaluate the quality of self and others' performances using established criteria. (Tone; Intonation; Technique; Balance; Blend)
4.5.16. Students will exhibit appropriate audience behavior.
4.5.17. Students will exhibit appropriate performance behavior.
AL.4.6. Instrumental Music Level II: Connect.
4.6.18. Students will relate the importance and roles of instrumental music in other cultures.
4.6.19. Students will discuss ways in which the principles and subject matter of various disciplines outside the arts are interrelated with those of instrumental music.
4.6.20. Students will recognize multicultural musical styles as they relate to various historical periods and their relationships to intermediate performance literature.
AL.5.1. Instrumental Music Level III: Read.
5.1.1. Students will read whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, and dotted notes and rests in and alla breve meter signatures.
5.1.2. Students will sight-read accurately and expressively advanced melodies and middle school performance literature.
5.1.3. Students will sight-read appropriate clefs while keeping a steady beat.
5.1.4. Students will recognize and demonstrate standard terms. (Pitch; Dynamics; Rhythm; Tempo; Articulation; Expression)
AL.5.2. Instrumental Music Level III: Perform.
5.2.5. Students will perform accurately on at least one instrument alone and in large and small ensembles with good posture, good playing position, and good breath as well as bow or stick control.
5.2.6. Students will perform with proficiency a large and varied repertoire of instrumental literature with a level of difficulty appropriate to middle school instrumental programs.
5.2.7. Students will perform with proficiency solo and ensemble literature appropriate to the individual developmental level.
5.2.8. Students will perform a variety of styles and forms from various time periods and ethnic groups.
AL.5.3. Instrumental Music Level III: Listen, Describe.
5.3.9. Students will demonstrate awareness of basic expressive musical symbols.
5.3.10. Students will demonstrate extensive knowledge of fundamental musical structure through performance of scales/arpeggios and/or rudiments.
5.3.11. Students will aurally discriminate pitches.
5.3.12. Students will analyze and describe significant changes in a musical score. (Listening; Performing; Reading)
AL.5.4. Instrumental Music Level III: Create.
5.4.13. Students will improvise melodic embellishments to a given melody.
5.4.14. Students will create and perform rhythmic and melodic variations.
5.4.15. Students will compose harmonic accompaniment to a melody.
5.4.16. Students will utilize technological advancements to enhance performance and composition.
AL.5.5. Instrumental Music Level III: Evaluate.
5.5.17. Students will evaluate the musical means used by a performed instrumental work to evoke feelings and emotions.
5.5.18. Students will evaluate a given musical work and performance in terms of its aesthetic qualities.
5.5.19. Students will evaluate the quality of personal and others' performances using established criteria. (Tone; Intonation; Technique; Balance; Blend; Interpretation)
5.5.20. Students will exhibit appropriate audience behavior.
5.5.21. Students will exhibit appropriate performance behavior.
AL.5.6. Instrumental Music Level III: Connect.
5.6.22. Students will analyze multicultural musical styles as they relate to various historical periods and their relationships to middle school performance literature.
5.6.23. Students will discuss ways in which the principles and subject matter outside the arts are interrelated to those of instrumental music.
5.6.24. Students will describe the elements of music and expressive instrumental devices in the music of diverse genres, cultures, and languages.
AL.6.1. Instrumental Music Level IV: Read.
6.1.1. Students will read whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, thirty-second, and dotted notes and rests in and alla breve meter signatures.
6.1.2. Students will sight-read accurately and expressively advanced melodies and high school performance literature.
6.1.3. Students will interpret standard terms related to (Pitch; Dynamics; Rhythm; Tempo; Articulation; Expression)
AL.6.2. Instrumental Music Level IV: Perform.
6.2.4. Students will perform on at least one instrument accurately alone and in large and small ensembles. (Posture; Breath control; Tonal production; Diction; Articulation; Intonation)
6.2.5. Students will perform with proficiency a large and varied repertoire of instrumental literature with a level of difficulty appropriate to high school band programs.
6.2.6. Students will perform with proficiency solo and ensemble literature appropriate to the individual developmental level.
6.2.7. Students will perform a variety of instrumental styles and forms from various time periods and ethnic groups.
AL.6.3. Instrumental Music Level IV: Listen, Describe.
6.3.8. Students will demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of expressive musical symbols through instrumental performance.
6.3.9. Students will demonstrate extensive knowledge of fundamental musical structure through performance of scale, arpeggios, and rudiments.
6.3.10. Students will describe pitches aurally.
6.3.11. Students will analyze and describe significant changes in a musical score. (Listening; Performing; Reading)
AL.6.4. Instrumental Music Level IV: Create.
6.4.12. Students will improvise simple melodic embellishments to a given melody.
6.4.13. Students will compose instrumental rhythmic and melodic variations of given melodies.
6.4.14. Students will compose harmonic accompaniment to a melody using I, IV, V, VI chords.
6.4.15. Students will utilize technological advancements to enhance performance and composition.
AL.6.5. Instrumental Music Level IV: Evaluate.
6.5.16. Students will evaluate the musical means used by a performed instrumental work to evoke feelings and emotions.
6.5.17. Students will evaluate a given musical work and performance in terms of its aesthetic qualities.
6.5.18. Students will evaluate the quality of personal and others' performances using established criteria. (Tone; Intonation; Technique; Balance; Blend; Interpretation)
6.5.19. Students will recognize and practice appropriate audience behavior.
6.5.20. Students will recognize and practice appropriate performance behavior.
AL.6.6. Instrumental Music Level IV: Connect.
6.6.21. Students will analyze multicultural musical styles as they relate to various historical periods and to high school instrumental literature.
6.6.22. Students will explain ways in which the principles and subject matter of various disciplines outside the arts are interrelated with those of high school instrumental literature.
6.6.23. Students will relate musical skills and concepts to concepts of other core disciplines.
AL.7.1. Visual Arts: History.
7.1.1. Students will analyze art work originating in major cultures of the world.
7.1.2. Students will contrast unique features of particular art styles.
7.1.3. Students will analyze themes and symbols in art of different cultures.
7.1.4. Students will analyze ways that culture influences works of art.
7.1.5. Students will research various uses of the visual arts in business and industry.
7.1.6. Students will define selected visual art vocabulary. (Elements of Art; Principles of Design; Analogous Colors; Vanishing Point; Monochromatic Colors; Horizon Line; Complementary Colors; Perspective; Tone; Contour drawing; Shading; Modified contour drawing; Cast shadow; Blind contour drawing; Assemblage; Realism; Found objects; Value; Sculpture; Caricature)
7.1.7. Students will analyze a variety of art works.
7.1.8. Students will evaluate the work and style of a selected artist.
7.1.9. Students will use a variety of media to research the life of a selected artist.
7.1.10. Students will analyze the impact of the life of a selected artist on culture, history, politics, and economy.
7.1.11. Students will interpret ways artists achieve different effects with the elements of art and principles of design.
7.1.12. Students will investigate different art careers.
AL.7.2. Visual Arts: Criticism.
7.2.13. Students will evaluate the roles art works play in the environment.
7.2.14. Students will apply criteria in judging works of art. (Craftsmanship; Originality; Composition)
7.2.15. Students will make finer discriminations about the elements of art and principles of art when responding to various art forms.
AL.7.3. Visual Arts: Aesthetics.
7.3.16. Students will analyze aesthetic qualities (meaning, purpose, and role) that exist in both natural and man-made objects.
7.3.17. Students will evaluate ways value, harmony, balance, and unity make a work of art pleasing.
7.3.18. Students will connect the visual arts with other content areas.
7.3.19. Students will describe imaginative ways of perceiving the environment.
7.3.20. Students will examine mood and feeling generated by art forms.
7.3.21. Students will compare various artistic solutions to environmental and social problems.
AL.7.4. Visual Arts: Production.
7.4.22. Students will apply steps artists use in the production of art. (Inception of an idea; Elaboration and refinement of an idea; Execution in a medium; Evaluation of the product)
7.4.23. Students will use a variety of ideas and personal experiences as sources of subject matter for art production.
7.4.24. Students will create art using the elements of art and principles of design.
7.4.25. Students will use various visual relationships in creating original art productions.
7.4.26. Students will produce art using a variety of two-dimensional production methods and materials.
7.4.27. Students will produce art using a variety of three-dimensional production methods and materials.
7.4.28. Students will demonstrate proficiency in the use of art techniques to create artwork.
7.4.29. Students will use multimedia and other technology to create visual imagery and design.
7.4.30. Students will produce graphic art symbols, signs, posters, and wall designs for specific purposes.