By: Kathryn Hodgins, Content and Public Relations Specialist, Florida Virtual School

A student uses a small string instrument during an online music activity.

A Closer Look at the FLVS Elementary Music Program

When students begin their first Florida Virtual School (FLVS) elementary music lesson, the room fills with sounds: soft taps on a digital drum, bright notes from a virtual xylophone, and the shake of maracas they have crafted themselves. Young learners begin to understand that music isn't just something to listen to, but something they can explore, build, and express for themselves.

Teachers say these hands-on elements help students better understand abstract musical concepts by seeing and hearing them in action.

“Students immediately perk up when they hear a new sound or discover how a rhythm pattern changes the feel of a song,” said Jaimi Gruler, senior manager, FLVS curriculum development. 

“The goal is to let them explore, experiment, and build confidence.”

Exploring Music Through Movement and Culture

The FLVS K–5 music courses, designed for elementary students, integrate movement-based activities, listening exercises, and global exploration. Built around exploration and creativity, the standards‑based curriculum invites students to experience sound, movement, and cultural traditions as they learn how music shares stories, emotions, and ideas.

Students sing, move, compose, and experiment with sounds that help them understand not only music but also themselves. One moment they’re exploring tempo through full‑body movement; the next, they’re stepping into a 360° cultural tour or adjusting dynamics on an interactive soundboard. Each activity gives students a chance to explore, imagine, and express their ideas in new ways. 

Music Growth From Kindergarten Through Fifth Grade

From discovering the difference between loud and soft sounds in kindergarten to composing original musical works in fifth grade, students experience a full progression of learning. Each grade level introduces new concepts that build on prior knowledge.

• Kindergarten: Basic rhythm patterns, loud/soft sounds, and movement-based exploration.
• Grade 1: Singing activities, American musical traditions, and simple instrument creation.
• Grade 2: Listening comprehension and understanding music’s role in cultures.
• Grade 3: Dynamics, tempo, musical storytelling, and world music traditions.
• Grade 4: Music history and broader cultural connections.
• Grade 5: Musical composition, modern music careers, and how technology shapes music today.
  

Inside the Classroom

Live teacher-led lessons blend music history, theory, and practice. Each course is packed with interactives, digital xylophones, pianos, sound boards, listening games, drag-and-drop, and recording tools. Students sing with their microphones, participate in call‑and‑response songs, play digital instruments together, and dance to demonstrate concepts such as tempo and form.

Families never have to buy instruments, but students are welcome to use any they already own, and many projects include fun make‑your‑own options using household materials.

These lessons allow students to practice performance skills, collaborate with peers, and ask questions in real time. Students learn music the way musicians do: by listening, experimenting, and performing.

Editor’s Note: This article is published in connection with National Arts Month. In addition to the elementary music program featured here, FLVS provides arts and music courses for middle and high school students, along with related clubs for those interested in creative pursuits.

About the Author: Content and Public Relations Specialist at Florida Virtual School, Katie Hodgins, leverages her extensive experience and passion for storytelling to highlight the people, places, and opportunities that define the FLVS community. A military veteran and lifelong learner, Katie enjoys communicating unique and innovative stories to inspire and engage the next generation. Having traveled throughout the world, she is proud to have planted roots here in Florida and with Florida Virtual School.