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Ms. Jessica Martinez

My name is Jessica Martinez, and it has been a delight teaching at Rodriguez Elementary. Music teachers have the opportunity to build strong relationships with all their students to create a fun and engaging classroom. I want to provide a safe haven for my students to safely and freely express themselves, as that is what the music classroom provided for me growing up.

I have studied the teachings of the Kodály Concept inspired by Hungarian composer and educator, Zoltán Kodály (1882-1967).  The goal is, “to support music education of the highest quality, promote universal music literacy and lifelong music making, and preserve the musical heritage of the people of the United States of the America through education, artistic performance, advocacy and research.” The process involves a sequential layering of skills and concepts designed to build success for every child. Students are immersed in music, different cultures, and singing and then later taught the solfa, rhythm names, and music notation. The process begins with singing games and leads to instrument playing, improvising, composing and arranging, reading and notating, analyzing, and evaluating. The Kodály approach is a dynamic, exciting way of teaching based on kinesthetic, auditory, and visual activities with the aim of instilling a love of music in each child.

I was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas and the youngest of five. I graduated from Texas State University with a B.M. in Music Studies. While I adore music, I also have a multitude of hobbies! I absolutely love baking, watching anime, collecting adorable items, and spending time with my friends and family (which includes two cute dogs)!

“Teach music and singing at school in such a way that it is not a torture, but a joy for the pupil; instill a thirst for finer music in him, a thirst which will last for a lifetime... Often a single experience will open the young soul to music for a whole lifetime. This experience cannot be left to chance, it is the duty of the school to provide it.”

    • SMCISD Fine Arts at the elementary level includes Music and Visual Arts. 

      • Elementary schools must provide TEKS-based instruction to all students in Art and Music at each grade level (Kindergarten-grade 5). 

      • Elementary students are required to demonstrate proficiency in all fine arts disciplines at the appropriate grade levels. 

        • Time requirement: School districts must ensure that sufficient time is provided for teachers to teach and for students to learn all of the required grade-level learning standards. 

      SMCISD offers K-5 Music to all students enrolled in elementary school.  

      SMCISD Music Instruction: “Five Lines of Music”

      1. Rhythm

        1. Instruction in rhythm is the first basic music skill.  It will be incrementally increased as determined for elementary students by internalizing the beat and reading basic rhythm patterns.  

        2. SMCISD Elementary Music Teachers utilize specifically determined counting methods to unilaterally instruct students on producing rhythms verbally based on grade level appropriateness.  These methods are supportive of the vertical alignment with secondary programs and methods.  

      2. Notation

        1. Instruction in reading music notation will occur in 2nd-5th grades.

        2. Students in grades 2-5 will increasingly develop their ability to read and comprehend the Treble Clef through the use of the recorder, Orff, and vocal instruments with increasing difficulty and integration of rhythmic notation up to the eighth note by the end of 5th grade.

        3. Students in grades 1-5 will  increasingly develop their inner ear with the use of solfege as promoted through the Kodaly Method of instruction.

      3. Appreciation

        1. Elementary students will develop ability to recognize classical and modern works of music and styles, and are encouraged to participate in the UIL Music Memory competition.

        2. Students will learn a variety of music skills, course offerings available at secondary levels, and employment opportunities that exist in the field of music.  

      4. Performance

        1. Students will participate in performances to meet TEKS established by the State of Texas to grow students in soft skill areas that will benefit them in all areas of learning.

        2. Students will analyze personal performances, live performances and/or recordings (visual/audible) of various genres to encourage critical thinking and personal improvement.

      5. Musicianship

        1. Students will learn musicianship through individual and group performance opportunities that allow students to demonstrate music expressively, with accurate intonation and rhythm, and demonstrate fundamental skills and performance techniques.

        2. Students will be guided to perform a variety of repertoire at an appropriate level of difficulty in a variety of genres by notation and by memory.
Last Modified on January 6, 2026