Laura Thiele is the music specialist for the lower elementary classrooms at FJA (Grades 1-3). Mrs. Thiele has been involved with music and dance for children for almost twenty years, with training and certifications in Kodaly and Orff-Schulwerk music and movement education.

Students in grades 1-3 have general music class twice weekly. Music class activities include singing, folk dancing, playing the recorder, and working with classroom rhythm instruments. The recorder is introduced as a worthy instrument in its own right. Third year students have an additional "pull-out" lesson for recorder each week, providing time to work on solos and ensembles. Students learn to play by ear and also to sight-read. Proficiency on the recorder is encouraged as an avenue for developing musicianship! The activities and curriculum goals for music are designed to meet and/or exceed the published Arizona State Standards for music education.