Common Planner
K–12 Standards

Music: High School

Other Virginia Fine Arts sets

Creative Process

  • 1

    Apply creative thinking to composing and improvising music. Apply creative thinking by employing originality, flexibility, experimentation, individual voice, and imagination to improvise and compose music.  

    1. HM.1

      The student will demonstrate creative thinking by composing and arranging music within specified guidelines.HM.1

      1. a

        Compose and arrange appropriate voicings and ranges.HM.1.a

      2. b

        Improvise over tonal or rhythmic structure.HM.1.b

      3. c

        Improvise variations on a simple melody.HM.1.c

  • 2

    Understand and apply a creative process to develop ideas for creating and performing music. Understand and apply a creative process to guide the development of ideas and original work.

    1. HM.2

      The student will apply a creative process for music.HM.2

      1. a

        Define, evaluate, organize, develop, and share personal ideas, investigations, and research of music ideas and concepts.HM.2.a

      2. b

        Develop and share individual creative processes for creating original music compositions, arrangements, and improvisations.HM.2.b

Critical Thinking and Communication 

  • 3

    Analyze, interpret, and evaluate music. Develop critical thinking skills in the analysis, interpretation, and evaluation of the work of self and others.

    1. HM.3

      The student will analyze, interpret, and evaluate music.HM.3

      1. a

        Describe music styles and forms using music terminology.HM.3.a

      2. b

        Define and classify various musical styles that represent a variety of historical periods and cultural influences.HM.3.b

      3. c

        Describe and interpret works of music using inquiry skills and music terminology.HM.3.c

      4. d

        Examine and apply accepted criteria for evaluating works of music.HM.3.d

      5. e

        Examine and apply accepted criteria for critiquing musical performances of self and others.HM.3.e

  • 4

    Formulate and justify personal responses and connections to music. Recognize, justify, and articulate personal responses, beliefs, and opinions regarding music and recognize the value in learning about diverse opinions and responses to music.

    1. HM.4

      The student will formulate and justify personal responses to music.HM.4

      1. a

        Explain how the context of a musical work’s creation may influence the response of the listener.HM.4.a

      2. b

        Analyze and explain personal responses to works of music.HM.4.b

  • 5

    Develop collaboration and communication skills for music rehearsal and performance. Identify and apply collaboration and communication skills for rehearsal and performance of music.

    1. HM.5

      The student will evaluate and demonstrate collaboration skills and concert etiquette.HM.5

      1. a

        Examine audience etiquette appropriate for various musical settings.HM.5.a

      2. b

        Exhibit active listening in music settings.HM.5.b

      3. c

        Demonstrate respect for the contributions of others in collaborative music experiences.HM.5.c

History, Culture, and Citizenship

  • 6

    Understand cultural and historical influences of music. Demonstrate understanding of cultural and historical influences of music. 

    1. HM.6

      The student will explore historical and cultural influences of music.HM.6

      1. a

        Describe distinguishing characteristics of musical forms and styles from a variety of cultures.HM.6.a

      2. b

        Identify cultural and historical influences of musical styles.HM.6.b

  • 7

    Understand music as a form of community engagement. Identify and interact with music and develop a lifelong engagement as a performer, supporter, advocate, and audience member.

    1. HM.7

      The student will describe opportunities for music performance and advocacy within the community.HM.7

  • 8

    Ethical and legal considerations for music and intellectual property. Identify and understand ethical and legal considerations for engaging with music, resources, and source material as a responsible citizen. 

    1. HM.8

      The student will describe ethical standards as applied to the use of intellectual property.HM.8

Innovation in the Arts

  • 9

    College, career, and the 21st Century Workplace. Connect music content and skills to career options, college opportunities, and the 21st Century workplace.

    1. HM.9

      The student will explore connections between music skills and college, career, and workplace skills.HM.9

  • 10

    Understand and explore the impact of current and emerging technologies. Participate in a rapidly changing world of music and explore the impact of current and emerging technologies, media, and processes.

    1. HM.10

      The student will explore and describe ways in which innovative media, tools, and processes are influencing music.HM.10

  • 11

    Cultivate connections to other fine arts and fields of knowledge. Identify and cultivate connections between music and other fields of knowledge to develop problem-solving skills.

    1. HM.11

      The student will explain relationships of music to the other fine arts and other fields of knowledge.HM.11

Technique and Application

  • 12

    Music Literacy: Acquire the technical skills and artistic knowledge necessary for creative, expressive, and artistic performance. Demonstrate understanding of elements of music and ways they are used for artistic performance and creative expression

    1. HM.12

      The student will use a variety of analog and digital notations (e.g. standard notation, lead sheets, tablature, piano roll).HM.12

      1. a

        Notate original musical ideas.HM.12.a

      2. b

        Identify symbols for pitch, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, articulation, and expression.HM.12.b

    2. HM.13

      The student will perform a variety of music.HM.13

      1. a

        Sing or play with increased technical proficiency.HM.13.a

      2. b

        Use indicated dynamics, phrasing, and other elements of music.HM.13.b

      3. c

        Evaluate and apply performance practices.HM.13.c

Technique and Application 

  •  

    Technique and Application 

The student will perform a varied repertoire of music representative of diverse styles, forms, and cultures.HM.14

  • HM.14

    The student will perform a varied repertoire of music representative of diverse styles, forms, and cultures.HM.14

The student will read, count, and perform rhythmic patterns HM.15

  • a

    Use a counting system.HM.15.a

  • b

    Include patterns that suggest duple and triple meter.HM.15.b

  • c

    Use instruments, body percussion, and voice. HM.15.c

  • d

    Include complex rhythms and syncopation.HM.15.d

The student will create movement to express elements of music and interpret expressive qualities of an original music composition.HM.16

  • HM.16

    The student will create movement to express elements of music and interpret expressive qualities of an original music composition.HM.16

Frequently asked questions

What grade levels do these standards cover?
Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, and Grade 12
Where can I read the official document?
Fine Arts Standards of Learning General Music

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Sibling grade bands, other subjects in this jurisdiction, and the same subject across other states.

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