January has been a month of new beginnings and fresh starts in music class! Along with starting to work on new concert songs, here is what else we have been up to...
Both 4th and 5th graders studied the life and work of Mozart during January. They were impressed with how much Mozart accomplished in his short life of 35 years. We listened to several great pieces by Mozart, including his Theme and Variations on Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. We will be studying Franz Peter Schubert in February!
Students in 5th grade started a drumming unit this month. They have been practicing two different tones on the drum (high and low) and using them to improvise musical answers. They have also started work on a 6-part percussion ensemble, which takes a lot of focus and patience!
The 4th graders have been buzzing with the excitement of the new recorder unit! They have gotten the basics down, and they are beginning to earn "belts" by passing playing tests. A few things to remember when playing the recorder - blow gently, cover the holes completely, and practice often! Learning a new instrument is very challenging, but it's a great opportunity to practice perseverance and grit.
Third graders have been learning about sixteenth notes and performing rounds. A round is when two or more groups do the same thing but start at different times. We often practice rounds by making two different circles, which allows the groups to focus on their own part.
Both 4th and 5th graders studied the life and work of Mozart during January. They were impressed with how much Mozart accomplished in his short life of 35 years. We listened to several great pieces by Mozart, including his Theme and Variations on Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. We will be studying Franz Peter Schubert in February!
Students in 5th grade started a drumming unit this month. They have been practicing two different tones on the drum (high and low) and using them to improvise musical answers. They have also started work on a 6-part percussion ensemble, which takes a lot of focus and patience!
The 4th graders have been buzzing with the excitement of the new recorder unit! They have gotten the basics down, and they are beginning to earn "belts" by passing playing tests. A few things to remember when playing the recorder - blow gently, cover the holes completely, and practice often! Learning a new instrument is very challenging, but it's a great opportunity to practice perseverance and grit.
Third graders have been learning about sixteenth notes and performing rounds. A round is when two or more groups do the same thing but start at different times. We often practice rounds by making two different circles, which allows the groups to focus on their own part.
Students in 2nd grade learned two new notes - Do and Re - to add to the other notes they already know (Sol, La, and Mi). They have also been discussing form: how music is organized. Students have been identifying the different sections of music by letter (A, B, C, etc) and talking about the patterns they hear.
First graders learned the "real" music names for quarter notes and eighth notes, and they have been practicing writing, reading, and performing rhythms including these notes. They have also been singing songs with the notes Sol and Mi and playing the steady beat on barred instruments.
Students in kindergarten have been singing songs and playing games about the alphabet, counting, and coins. They have been practicing their singing voices, listening for high and low, and practicing playing up and down on the barred instruments.
Students in kindergarten have been singing songs and playing games about the alphabet, counting, and coins. They have been practicing their singing voices, listening for high and low, and practicing playing up and down on the barred instruments.