The Davis Elementary music program provides students with the opportunity to learn about all aspects of music by putting themselves in the roles of professional musicians. Knowledge and skills which are discovered and practiced through musical activities in the classroom, teach students to compose, perform, and listen to music. These activities provide a rich context in which learning has purpose and value

To compose, students must improvise, critically analyze, and structure sound. Improvisation allows students to express themselves creatively. Analysis helps students modify their musical ideas to produce the best possible product. Structure gives the student a way to involve the audience with the music by creating expectations which are realized or deferred.

To perform, students must develop a way of acquiring new music. They learn to read music just as they read English. To perform vocally, students must apply knowledge of posture, breathing, tone production, and pitch. To perform instrumentally, students must read staff notation and utilize playing technique. In addition, performers must attend to dynamics and phrasing while responding to the direction of the conductor. Both vocal and instrumental performing require attention to the individual's sound, the group sound, and the individual's contribution within the context of the whole.

To listen to music intelligently, students must learn to direct their attention to a variety of musical components. Rhythmic and melodic motives, large scale forms, compositional techniques, and variations in instrumental timbre and texture direct students' attention and provide a framework for their observations. The ability to sustain focus of attention serves students in other classes and context as well.