McHenry District 15's middle school music curriculum is aligned with the National Standards for Music Education. There are four main anchor standards for music instruction: 

Creating: Students demonstrate knowledge of the creative process through an understanding of compositional and expressive techniques. 

Performing: Students develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation with the help of playing various instruments. 

Responding: Students will choose music based on their interests and experiences and construct a meaningful interpretation of the composition.

Connecting: Students will connect their personal interests, experiences, ideas, and knowledge by creating, performing, and responding to societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding.