Music Standards Hub

NAfME · 2014 · 140 standards

National Core Arts Standards for Music, Pre-K to Grade 5

Every National PK–5 general music standard in one place, grade by grade, with the Prodigies lesson that teaches each one.

The National Core Arts Standards (2014) are the national voluntary standards for music, published by the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards with NAfME. They are organized by four artistic processes (Creating, Performing, Responding, Connecting) and eleven anchor standards, grade by grade from Pre-K.

Most states either adopt them outright or write their own standards on the same frame, so the codes here (like MU:Cr1.1.Ka) show up on lesson plans across the country.

Official nameNAfME Core Music Standards
Published byNational Association for Music Education
Adopted2014
Grades on this pagePK–5
Standards on this page140
Code formatMU:Cr1.1.PKa
Organized byCreating, Performing, Responding, Connecting
Official sourcenafme.org

NCAS Pre-K music standards

18 standards. Pre-K page, with more lesson ideas →

Creating 5

Performing 7

Responding 4

Connecting 2

NCAS Kindergarten music standards

19 standards. Kindergarten page, with more lesson ideas →

Creating 6

Performing 7

Responding 4

Connecting 2

NCAS Grade 1 music standards

20 standards. Grade 1 page, with more lesson ideas →

Creating 6

Performing 8

Responding 4

Connecting 2

NCAS Grade 2 music standards

20 standards. Grade 2 page, with more lesson ideas →

Creating 6

Performing 8

Responding 4

Connecting 2

NCAS Grade 3 music standards

21 standards. Grade 3 page, with more lesson ideas →

Creating 6

Performing 9

Responding 4

Connecting 2

NCAS Grade 4 music standards

21 standards. Grade 4 page, with more lesson ideas →

Creating 6

Performing 9

Responding 4

Connecting 2

NCAS Grade 5 music standards

21 standards. Grade 5 page, with more lesson ideas →

Creating 6

Performing 9

Responding 4

Connecting 2

Free printable

The National PK–5 music standards checklist

Every standard on this page as a one-page-per-grade PDF with a box to tick, ready for your curriculum map, your evaluation binder, or the next time someone asks “how is this standards-aligned?”

From the folks who built this page

Teach every one of these with Prodigies PK-5

Prodigies PK-5 has a lesson for 136 of the 140 national standards on this page (97%). 252 open-and-go video lessons, PK through Grade 5, with plans, printables and assessments, taught by Mr. Rob with colorful bells your kiddos can play from day one.

  • Every lesson is already tagged to your state's codes
  • No music degree needed to press play
  • 30 days free, no credit card, nothing to cancel

Try the whole curriculum free for 30 days

A real person reviews every trial, usually the same day. Prefer to look first? See Prodigies PK-5.

Questions teachers ask

How many elementary music standards does NCAS have?

This page lists 140 standards: 18 in Pre-K, 19 in Kindergarten, 20 in Grade 1, 20 in Grade 2, 21 in Grade 3, 21 in Grade 4, 21 in Grade 5.

Where can I find the official document?

The official source is https://nafme.org/my-classroom/standards/core-music-standards/. This page copies the standard text word for word and adds grade-by-grade navigation and lesson matches.

Is there a music curriculum aligned to the national standards?

Prodigies PK-5 has a lesson for 136 of the 140 standards on this page (97%). Every lesson is tagged to these codes. Try it free for 30 days.