Week One in Review (Sept. 6 - Sept. 9)

Welcome back to school! This week nearly all of the K-5 students at Loon Lake were welcomed back into the music classroom! It was wonderful to see all of the K-1 and 3-5 grade students; I look forward to seeing 2nd grade students in week two! This past week, returning students reviewed and established procedures while reviewing musical skills from the previous year.

Kindergarten students were welcomed into the classroom with a song entitled Come and Follow Me. Students followed Mrs. Aaronson in a line until all were standing in a circle holding hands. Students then learned a song called Hey, Hey Look at Me and explored ways to move their bodies to the steady beat. Students pretended to sip chocolate milk through a straw and hiss like snakes to practice breath support for singing. Students were challenged to hiss like baby snakes (quietly) and big snakes (loudly). Students saw and heard a slide whistle and were challenged to imitate the instrument's sound with their voice. Students learned a chant about naughty Mr. Bee; he stung a man on his knee and pig on his snout! We talked to Mr. Bee and he will be sure not to do that again! Students enjoyed buzzing like bees and pretending to get pollen from a flowers. Students explored their speaking, whisper, shouting, and singing voices. Students were then introduced to Melody, the magical musical monkey. Melody can do many different tricks, but she will only do them if the students sing to her. Many students were excited to ask melody to jump, walk, sing, and spin!

First grade students were welcomed into the classroom with a new song entitled Welcome, Welcome, Everybody. Students then introduced themselves to the class through a name game called P, My Name is Paul. In this game, students stated the letter at the beginning their name, their name, and something that also begins with that letter. For example, Mrs. Aaronson said, "A my name is Mrs. Aaronson and I like acorns." Students then learned a song called Hey, Hey Look at Me and explored ways to move their bodies to the steady beat. Students enjoyed playing a game called Move and Freeze. During this game, students quietly moved around the room (tiptoeing, skipping, hopping, etc.) until they heard the teacher play the pattern "short-short long." After students heard this pattern they froze. This game prepares students to hear patterns of short and long sounds, which is important for learning to read rhythm. Lastly, students enjoyed using their loud and quiet voices in the story Five Little Monkeys Swinging from a Tree. Students explored the story twice, once with puppets and again with a book.

2nd grade students will begin music classes in week two.

3rd grade students were welcomed into the classroom with a new song entitled Welcome, Welcome, Everybody. Students introduced themselves with the song Up the Ladder. Students took turns saying their names and the names of their classmates in rhythm as Mrs. Aaronson accompanied on the djembe. Students reviewed the song Rocky Mountain and melodic notes do, re, mi, sol, and la. Students also reviewed the rhythm of the song by tapping it on their hands. Students were asked to write eighth notes, quarter notes, and half notes on the board. Students also began learning a patting/clapping pattern for a new song entitled Tideo. This song, which will be used to prepare students for new note high do, contains a two-part dance that students will learn next week.

4th grade students were welcomed into the classroom with a new song entitled Welcome, Welcome, Everybody. Students introduced themselves with the song Up the Ladder. Students took turns saying their names and the names of their classmates in rhythm as Mrs. Aaronson accompanied on the djembe. Students reviewed the song Great Big House in New Orleans and melodic notes do, re, mi, sol, and la. Students also reviewed the rhythm of the song by tapping it on their hands. Students were asked to write eighth notes, quarter notes, and half notes on the board. Additionally, students began learning a game from the Philippines entitled Sagidi, Sapopo. In this game, students performed four-beat movements in canon. This week students were very successful at performing a two-part body percussion canon. Next week, we will try three-parts!

5th grade students were welcomed into the classroom with a new song entitled Guten Morgen. In this song students learned how to say good morning in German, Spanish, and Italian. Once students could successfully sing the song as a class, they were challenged to sing it as a 2-part round. Next week, students will attempt to sing the round in 3 and 4 parts! Students introduced themselves to the class through an African American chant entitled Shabooya. Students continued to get to know their classmates by singing You've Changed. While the class sang this song, one student changed something about himself. For example, he might have tucked in his shirt, rolled up his sleeves, or untied his shoe. After the song was over, the class attempted to guess what had changed. Students also enjoyed playing this game in partners. Lastly, students learned a game entitled King of the Castle. In this game, students were required to repeat a four-beat pattern (pat, clap, snap, snap) while names were passed around the circle. The goal was to make sure that each name was said on the first snap. While this sounds quite simple, it is much more difficult than it appears. Students were told to practice over the weekend so that we can try again next week.

Mrs. Ellis's students were welcomed into the classroom with a new song entitled Welcome, Welcome, Everybody. Students introduced themselves through the song Willoughby Wallaby Woo. In this song a monkey sits on 'me and you.' Each child had a turn to say his or her name and have the monkey sit on them. Students then learned a song called Hey, Hey Look at Me and explored ways to move their bodies to the steady beat. Students pretended to sip chocolate milk through a straw and hiss like snakes to practice breath support for singing. Students were challenged to hiss like baby snakes (quietly) and big snakes (loudly). Students saw and heard a slide whistle and were challenged to imitate the instrument's sound with their voice. Students learned a chant about naughty Mr. Bee; he stung a man on his knee and pig on his snout! We talked to Mr. Bee and he will be sure not to do that again! Lastly, students enjoyed using their loud and quiet voices in the story Five Little Monkeys Swinging from a Tree. Students explored the story twice, once with puppets and again with a book.

Mrs. Ross's students were welcomed into the classroom with a new song entitled Welcome, Welcome, Everybody. Students introduced themselves through the song Bounce High, Bounce Low. Each student's name was placed into the song and each student had a chance to bounce a basketball to another student. Students moved their arms up and down to show the melodic direction of the notes in the song. Students then listened to Fossils from Carnival of the Animals while performing motions to the steady beat. Students also watched a video in which an animated centipede played all of the instruments in this song. Students were asked to identify all of the instruments.  Students were then given rhythm sticks and instructed to imitate four-beat patterns of quarter notes and eighth notes. The goal of this aural activity is to prepare students to read these notes. Students also began learning a song entitled Closet Key.This song which includes a fun guessing game, will be used to review/introduce students to melodic notes mi, re, and do.

Mrs. Muller's students were welcomed into the classroom with a new song entitled Guten Morgen. In this song students learned how to say good morning in German, Spanish, and Italian. Students introduced themselves to the class through an African American chant entitled Shabooya. Students continued to get to know their classmates by singing You've Changed. While the class sang this song, one student changed something about himself. For example, he might have tucked in his shirt, rolled up his sleeves, or untied his shoe. After the song was over, the class attempted to guess what had changed. Students learned/reviewed the song Great Big House in New Orleans and its rhythms. Students read eighth notes, quarter notes, and half notes.