National Core Arts Standards for Music (2014)

from the Lesson Zone

The National Core Arts Standards for Music, adopted in 2014 under the leadership of the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards and with key contributions from the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), emphasize developing music literacy. They center on four primary artistic processes: Creating, Performing, Responding, and Connecting.

These standards are structured around 11 Anchor Standards shared across all arts disciplines and tailored for music education. They serve as a framework to support effective curriculum design, instructional planning, and meaningful assessment in music programs throughout the United States.

1) Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.

(Creating: Imagine musical ideas.)

2) Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.

(Creating: Plan and make.)

3) Refine and complete artistic work.

(Creating: Evaluate and refine.)

4) Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation.

(Performing: Select and analyze music.)

5) Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation.

(Performing: Rehearse, evaluate, refine.)

6) Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work.

(Performing: Present music.)

7) Perceive and analyze artistic work.

(Responding: Perceive and analyze.)

8) Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.

(Responding: Interpret.)

9) Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work.

(Responding: Evaluate.)

10) Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art.

(Connecting: Relate personally.)

11) Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding.

(Connecting: Contextualize.)

Creating

Imagine, Plan and Make, Evaluate and Refine.

Performing

Select, Analyze, Interpret; Rehearse, Evaluate, Refine; Present.

Responding

Perceive and Analyze; Interpret; Evaluate.

Connecting

Synthesize/Relate personally; Contextualize (history/culture).

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