Grade 6 General Music Curriculum
If you teach 6th grade general music, Music Complete – Middle School gives you a no-prep course that starts where your students are: new to middle school, with very different elementary music backgrounds. It is a Grades 6–8 curriculum with units that build across the three years, so your 6th graders get solid foundations that carry into grades 7 and 8.
Start with grade 6 →Music Complete – Middle School, from $149.90, is a Grades 6–8 general music curriculum that 6th grade teachers can use as their starting point. Its units build across the three grades, beginning with foundations such as notation, rhythm and music vocabulary alongside listening and creating. Differentiated worksheets, slides and answer keys help with 6th graders who arrive from very different elementary programs.
The curriculum
Music Complete – Middle School, Grades 6–8
Start with the full curriculum. The other resources below are optional add-ons. Open any cover for the full contents and price.
Music Complete – Ready-to-Use Curriculum for Middle School Music (Grades 6–8)
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The real problem
What 6th graders bring to music class
Sixth graders arrive from several elementary schools, and their music backgrounds can differ wildly. One feeder school had weekly music with recorders and Orff instruments; another had music every other week, or lost its teacher halfway through. Some students already play piano or sing in a church choir. Others cannot tell you what a quarter note is. They are also new to middle school: new building, lockers, six teachers, and a strong wish not to look silly in front of peers. That last point matters in music, where singing or clapping alone feels risky at eleven. A good 6th grade course has to do several things at once. It should fill gaps without boring the kids who already know the basics, build shared vocabulary for talking about music, and give students low-stakes ways to make sound together before asking anyone to perform. It also has to lay foundations that grade 7 and 8 can build on. A weak start means repeating basics later.
Why it fits
How the curriculum meets 6th graders
The product does not split units by grade, but its structure suits the start of the middle school sequence.
- Theory foundations begin with notation, rhythm and meter, filling gaps from uneven elementary programs.
- Listening units across genres give every student a shared starting vocabulary.
- Differentiated worksheets let experienced students go further while beginners catch up.
- Music and everyday life lessons connect class to music 6th graders already listen to.
- Group performance tasks let shy students make music without standing alone.
- Units build across Grades 6–8, so 6th grade work feeds directly into later years.
Getting started
Starting the year with 6th grade
A suggested way to begin. The order is your choice; this is one approach that suits new middle schoolers.
- Find out what they already knowUse an early review activity or a short listening task to see who reads notation and who does not. It tells you more than any elementary report would.
- Build vocabulary through listeningStart with listening and describing music: tempo, dynamics, mood, instruments. The orchestra instruments sample on the product page shows the kind of material that suits this stage.
- Teach rhythm before pitchRhythm and meter can be clapped and counted as a group, which feels safer for 6th graders than singing pitches alone. Notation follows naturally. Clap first, then write.
- Keep performance in groupsUse group arranging or small presentations rather than solos early on. Confidence grows over the year, and you can ask for more later. Praise effort out loud.
- Leave room for grade 7Teach foundations well rather than racing through all the content. Save more advanced material so grade 7 has somewhere to go. Next year's teacher will thank you.
Which version
Which version for a 6th grade teacher
If you teach only 6th grade, the Starter version at $149.90 with 50+ resources gives you a full foundation year. If you teach 6th grade now but expect to pick up 7th or 8th, or you share students across grades, the Extended version at $199.90 with 90+ resources covers more of the 6–8 range. The Pro version at $239.90 adds Teach-Life-Balance, a separate time-saving course with a planner, guides and templates; consider it if your first year in middle school is also your busiest.
Honest limits
What to know before buying
The curriculum covers Grades 6–8 as one product; it does not label units as grade 6, 7 or 8, so you choose where to start. No audio or video is included; bring your own recordings. It is written for U.S. middle school classrooms, so check it against your state or district grade 6 music requirements. If the 7th and 8th grade music teacher at your school wants to share it, send Teach Lessons a short message first. If it is not right, exchange it within 7 days for store credit of equal value, not cash.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Does it match my state's grade 6 music standards?
It does not claim alignment with, or endorsement by, any state standards or the National Core Arts Standards. It is written for U.S. general music for the whole middle school span. Compare its units with your state or district grade 6 expectations and decide which ones to teach this year.
Is there a separate grade 6 edition?
No. It is one Grades 6–8 product with units that build across the three years. For 6th grade you start with the foundations and choose units that suit students new to middle school. The rest is there for later grades. You can also skip units your students clearly already know and come back to them later if needed.
My 6th graders have very different backgrounds. Will it work?
Worksheets are differentiated and the material is described as suitable for mixed-ability classrooms. That helps when one student plays piano and the next has never read music. Starting with foundations also gives everyone a shared base. Students who arrive ahead can take harder versions of the same worksheet, which keeps them busy without making the rest of the class feel behind.
Do my students need instruments?
No. Listening, theory and creating tasks are desk-based, and performance tasks are classroom-friendly. If your room has instruments, you can add them, but the course does not depend on them. For 6th graders, that also means less time handing out equipment and more time on rhythm, listening and short group tasks that build confidence.
Can I see sample pages first?
Yes. The product page has a browser preview of three sample documents, including Music in the Orchestra – Instruments, which gives a good sense of the level for 6th graders. Try it with your own class in mind: would a typical 6th grader follow it with some support? The other two samples show material that may suit later in the sequence.
How do I get the files?
Access is instant. You receive a download link by email, and the files are also stored in your customer account under Orders. Nothing ships physically, so you can download the materials the same day and look through the first units before your 6th graders arrive. If you change computers, download them again from the account.
Give 6th grade a strong first year
Open the product page, read through the sample documents, and pick your starting units.
Start with grade 6 →