When I asked teachers about the curriculum in this particular school they all gave me similar responses. They thought the curriculum needed to be followed to a point. There comes a time in the semester when you just need to stop teaching to the curriculum and either take a few steps back or move on if there is a need to do so. Music is the kind of subject that should not be taken lightly with a basic curriculum. By strictly following a curriculum the students are limited to how much they are able to retain and could be hearing too much information at once that they cannot absorb. Especially in a choir or band setting. If the curriculum explains that the students will learn sight singing, rhythms, and 6 pieces to be performed on the concert, the teacher may not always be able to follow that in a strict manner due to the amount of time a piece needs. If a month or two is spent learning rhythms what will happen when December comes and the 6 pieces of music are only half learned? Of course this depends entirely on the curriculum of the school.