K-5 General Music Materials

The Des Moines Independent Community School District is seeking proposals for K-5 General Music Instructional Materials. The district is looking for innovative, flexible resources that expose students to a wide range of music literary, games, and song tales, Orff orchestrations, and cultural music. The materials should enhance teacher autonomy in instructional design and support the development of critical thinking, notation reading, singing, and playing skills. The district is committed to ensuring that these resources and professional learning opportunities are inclusive and supportive of all students, particularly multilingual learners and students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Some key features of the proposal include: • Music for instrumental and vocal use, showcasing a diverse range of composers, genres, time periods, and pedagogical approaches • Music literacy materials that support Takadimi as a pedagogical practice • Movement and Games allowing in-depth exploration of sounds, rhythm, and movement • Digital resources such as online anthologies, movement, orchestration, songtales, and games • Music History and Appreciation, including listening guides, cultural connections, and world music approaches • Creativity and Composition materials that support students in music creation • Elements of music that align with the comprehensive teaching of harmony, texture, timbre, form, and expression • Songbooks, Songtales, and Texts that support students in diverse musical elements and cultures • Resources and strategies to support multilingual learners and students with IEPs