Curriculum | Fresh Beat Band

Learn about the Fresh Beat Band's Music Curriculum on Nick Jr.

It's more than just singing and dancing and having fun with friends! The Fresh Beat Band has a preschool-appropriate music curriculum that informs every element of the show.

The music curriculum covers three key areas:

1. Self-Expression Through Music

Kids learn to express their feelings and emotions through movement, song, and instrumental music
The show encourages kids to play with music by experimenting with sounds and song lyrics to create unique musical compositions that convey everyday experiences
The Fresh Beat Band's members play a variety of musical instruments in personally creative ways (traditional instruments, homemade instruments, his/her body)
The band creates music inspired by environmental sounds, rhythms and beats (dripping water, howling wind, footsteps, etc.)
The band offers examples of how to perform music in a variety of ways (alone, as a group, etc.)
The band members model positive attitudes about, and confidence in, their own creative musical abilities

2. Music Appreciation

The Fresh Beats express how they value music as a part of everyday life, modeling this attitude for their preschool audience.
They listen attentively and appreciatively to the musical performances and ideas of their friends
Together they play a variety of music and sing songs to celebrate music from different cultures and genres
They discuss reactions, opinions, and feelings about diverse musical genres and styles

3. Comprehension of Music Terminology and Concepts

Appropriate vocabulary is always used when referring to music terminology
- General music terms--beat, rhythm, lyrics, accompaniment, composer, encore
- Musical contrasts: allegro (quickly)/adagio (slowly), ritardando (gradually slower)/accelerando (gradually faster), legato (smooth and connected)/staccato (short and separated), piano (soft)/forte (loud), long note/short note
Viewers are shown how to identify musical instruments by sight and sound
- A variety of instruments types: woodwinds (flute, clarinet, etc.), percussion (snare drum, cymbals, etc.), brass (tuba, trumpet, etc.), strings (violin, harp, etc.), electronic (synthesizer, etc.), world instruments
Viewers are taught to identify different ways to perform a piece of music and different music types
- Different performance styles: solo, a cappella, duet, round, instrumental, etc.
- A variety of musical genres: classical, jazz, rock, reggae, rap, march, and lullaby