Greetings from the music room! This was an exciting week of singing, moving, and playing instruments! Here are some of the highlights:
Kindergarten students practiced combining steady beat and loud/quiet this week. Students reviewed the chant Chop, Chop, Chippity Chop while Mrs. Aaronson pointed to beat icons on the interactive white board. Students kept the beat by pretending to chop vegetables. Students then decided which sentences should be loud and which should be quiet. While students kept the beat, they also had to use the correct volume. Students reviewed songs When I Was One, Here Comes a Bluebird, and My Pony Macarnoi. Students finished working with the song My Pony Macroni this week and as one of the students said, "next time, we can start something new!"
First grade students were formally introduced to quarter rests this week. Students reviewed the song Hot Cross Buns and discovered the beats of silence in this song are quarter rests. Students also practiced writing and reading quarter notes and eigthth notes by reading "magic sticks" and writing patterns using their own "magical" Popsicle sticks! Students did an excellent job writing four-beat quarter note and eighth note patterns. Lastly, students learned a Dance for Hanukah and practiced identifying high and low notes in the song Walk and Stop.
Second grade students focused on the new melodic note 'do' this week. Students reviewed 'do's placement on melody street and the properties of this note (it is a skip lower than mi and in the same family as sol and mi). Students learned to read a series of three melodic patterns containing notes do mi sol and la. Students found one of those patterns in the song Rocky Mountain. Students also began preparing to learn about half notes (notes that receive two counts). Students learned new songs Grandma Grunts and Draw a Bucket of Water. Both of these songs will help students to learn about half notes. Students also discovered the location of four long notes in the song Rocky Mountain.
Third grade focused on discovering a new high note this week. Students learned a new song, Li'l Liza Jane, and searched for the highest note in this song. Students also reviewed the song I Lost the Farmer's Dairy Key and located the highest note in this song. Students were led to discover that this high note is higher than melodic note la (the highest note that the students currently know). Students also practiced performing a two-part body percussion canon and transferred this to an exercise entitled I Love the Holidays. Students also reviewed how to play rhythm tic tac toe and were able to play this game in groups of four to five students.
Fourth grade students focused on learning the recorder note E this week. Students practiced switching between the notes G and E and learned to play the song Rain, Rain. Once students mastered this song, they were given the opportunity to create an accompaniment for it using the xylophones. Students were challenged to create a four-beat pattern that could be repeated as an ostinato. After students shared their four-beat patterns with the class, one pattern was selected for the entire class to learn. After all Ss had learned to play this pattern, a quarter of the class played the accompaniment while the rest of the class played Rain, Rain on the recorder. This proved to be quite challenging for the students as they had to focus on their part while staying in time with the other part.
Fifth grade students began a unit on music evaluation this week. The goal of this unit is to begin piecing together the information that fifth grade students have learned throughout elementary school music class. We began this week by reviewing the four instrument families (woodwind, brass, strings, and percussion). Students were asked to make lists of the instruments in each family and aurally identify each family. Students did a wonderful job recalling what they had learned about these instrument families in fourth grade! Students then began learning how to follow along with a listening map containing instrument families. Students learned about the history behind Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky's composition Pictures at an Exhibition and followed along with a listening map to the movement Promenade. Students also began learning a Czech song entitled Ho Young Rider.
Mrs. Ellis's continued to practice steady beat and prepare for quarter notes and eighth notes this week. Students were particularly successful at walking to the steady beat while Mrs. Aaronson played the cajon. Students were challenged to freeze when they heard the pattern - 'short-short long.' Students also enjoyed having the opportunity to play the cajon. Some students even chose to play the steady beat! Additionally, students learned a fun counting song about pirates entitled When I Was One
Mrs. Ross's students focused on melodic notes do re and mi this week. Students were introduced to melody street and reviewed how to sing do re mi patterns. Students reviewed the placement of do re mi patterns in the songs Rocky Mountain and Great Big House in New Orleans. Students also began discovering patterns that contain the melodic note sol. Due to the student's mastery of do re and mi, next week students will begin focusing on adding patterns with melodic note sol to their list of known patterns.
Mrs. Muller's students continued to review the rhythms dotted quarter note/eighth note and syncopation this week. Students reviewed the rhythm tic tac toe game and were assessed on their ability to read rhythmic patterns as they played this game. Students also began learning a Czech song entitled Ho Young Rider.
Sunday, December 18, 2016
Monday, December 12, 2016
Week Fourteen in Review (Dec. 5 - Dec. 9)
Greetings
from the music room! This was an exciting week of singing, moving, and
playing instruments! Here are some of the highlights:
Kindergarten students continued to focus on steady beat this week. Students reviewed Chop, Chop, Chippity Chop, We Clap Our Hands Together, and Pony Macaroni. Students also learned the songs Alice the Camel and Dr. Knickerbocker. All of these songs and chants provide students with the opportunity to practice keeping the steady beat by using their bodies. Students were asked to reflect on their movements and assess whether or not they matched the movements of the teacher. Additionally, students learned a fun counting song about pirates entitled When I Was One and a movement filled song entitled Here Comes a Bluebird. During Here Comes a Bluebird, students join their hands in a circle and lift them to create 'windows'. One at a time, students are chosen to be bluebirds and are able to 'fly' in and out of the 'windows'. Students enjoyed flying through the windows and being able to choose new partners.
First grade students continued to practice reading quarter notes and eighth notes this week. Students reviewed the difference between beat and rhythm by singing the song Snail, Snail and patting the beat or clapping the rhythm. Then students practiced clapping the rhythm to the song Starlight, Starbright and drawing rainbows in the air to show the song's phrases (a phrase is a musical sentence). After students were successful in showing the song's four phrases, they were shown four boxes of music notes on the interactive white board. Students were led to discover that these four boxes contained the music notes for each of the song's four phrases; however, they were out of order. Students worked together to place the four rhythm patterns in the correct order! Students also practiced showing the location of silence in music by singing and playing games to the songs Hot Cross Buns and Naughty Kitty Cat.
Second grade students learned their final folk dance, Rural Felicity, this week. Students have developed such a remarkable dance vocabulary during our folk dancing unit that they were able to learn this entire dance in five minutes! It was the perfect way to wrap up our unit. It combined many different movements that students had learned in previous dances as well as a new and exciting tunnel at the end! Students were also formally introduced to the melodic note do this week! Students sang short melodic phrases containing this new note, reviewed its place on the staff and on melody street, and practiced writing the pattern do mi sol la on the interactive white board as a class.
Third grade students continued to review rhythm this week while also building repertoire for learning a new melodic note. Students played rhythm Tic Tac Toe as a class and were instructed to play Tic Tac Toe for homework! Next week students will play this game in small groups and it will be necessary for students to be confident in how to play the game. Students also learned a new song, I Lost the Farmer's Dairy Key, which will be used to learn the a new high melodic note. Students enjoyed performing a body percussion pattern and playing rock, paper, scissors while singing this song.
Fourth grade students reviewed the song Merrily We Roll Along and were invited one at a time to test for their orange belt. During testing, students were able to play musical dominoes or Go Fish. After testing, students learned to play a French folk song, Au Claire de la Luna, on the recorder. Students also learned a new note, E. Lastly, students practiced a variety of rhythms by responding through movement to notes played on a drum and notes played on temple blocks.
Fifth grade students began the week by focusing on their rhythm post-assessment. Students played a variety of review games such as finding the correct rhythm on the floor, Morse Code (tapping a rhythm on a friend's hand and the friend must figure out the correct rhythm), and heads up, rhythms up. Following the assessment, students began a unit on music evaluation by reviewing the four orchestral instrument families and the instruments that belong to them.
Mrs. Ellis's students reviewed all of the material from last week and continued to focus on steady beat and the preparation of quarter notes and eighth notes. As an extension to the game move and freeze, students were asked to move to a steady beat prior to freezing. Students also practiced a chant called Two Little Apples and performed a series of movements to this chant. Students were challenged to perform the movements while saying the words in their heads. It was really fun to watch the level of concentration that students had while performing this task. Lastly, students practiced using their loud and quiet voices with the chant Chop, Chop, Chippity Chop.
Mrs. Ross's students reviewed all of the material from last week and continued to focus on melodic notes do re and mi. Students learned a new song, Rocky Mountain, and searched for a more complex pattern in this song: mi mi re re do. This task proved to be difficult for many of the students as this pattern contains two more notes than the patterns learned thus far. However, with a bit of practice, students were also able to find similar patterns. Lastly, students began to study the rhythm to the song Frog in the Meadow.
Mrs. Muller's students focused on preparing for their rhythm post-assessment. This week, students played a variety of review games such as finding the correct rhythm on the floor, heads up, rhythms up, and rhythm tic tac toe. Students particularly enjoyed playing tic tac toe and were delighted when they were able to beat Mrs. Aaronson at this game - twice!
Kindergarten students continued to focus on steady beat this week. Students reviewed Chop, Chop, Chippity Chop, We Clap Our Hands Together, and Pony Macaroni. Students also learned the songs Alice the Camel and Dr. Knickerbocker. All of these songs and chants provide students with the opportunity to practice keeping the steady beat by using their bodies. Students were asked to reflect on their movements and assess whether or not they matched the movements of the teacher. Additionally, students learned a fun counting song about pirates entitled When I Was One and a movement filled song entitled Here Comes a Bluebird. During Here Comes a Bluebird, students join their hands in a circle and lift them to create 'windows'. One at a time, students are chosen to be bluebirds and are able to 'fly' in and out of the 'windows'. Students enjoyed flying through the windows and being able to choose new partners.
First grade students continued to practice reading quarter notes and eighth notes this week. Students reviewed the difference between beat and rhythm by singing the song Snail, Snail and patting the beat or clapping the rhythm. Then students practiced clapping the rhythm to the song Starlight, Starbright and drawing rainbows in the air to show the song's phrases (a phrase is a musical sentence). After students were successful in showing the song's four phrases, they were shown four boxes of music notes on the interactive white board. Students were led to discover that these four boxes contained the music notes for each of the song's four phrases; however, they were out of order. Students worked together to place the four rhythm patterns in the correct order! Students also practiced showing the location of silence in music by singing and playing games to the songs Hot Cross Buns and Naughty Kitty Cat.
Second grade students learned their final folk dance, Rural Felicity, this week. Students have developed such a remarkable dance vocabulary during our folk dancing unit that they were able to learn this entire dance in five minutes! It was the perfect way to wrap up our unit. It combined many different movements that students had learned in previous dances as well as a new and exciting tunnel at the end! Students were also formally introduced to the melodic note do this week! Students sang short melodic phrases containing this new note, reviewed its place on the staff and on melody street, and practiced writing the pattern do mi sol la on the interactive white board as a class.
Third grade students continued to review rhythm this week while also building repertoire for learning a new melodic note. Students played rhythm Tic Tac Toe as a class and were instructed to play Tic Tac Toe for homework! Next week students will play this game in small groups and it will be necessary for students to be confident in how to play the game. Students also learned a new song, I Lost the Farmer's Dairy Key, which will be used to learn the a new high melodic note. Students enjoyed performing a body percussion pattern and playing rock, paper, scissors while singing this song.
Fourth grade students reviewed the song Merrily We Roll Along and were invited one at a time to test for their orange belt. During testing, students were able to play musical dominoes or Go Fish. After testing, students learned to play a French folk song, Au Claire de la Luna, on the recorder. Students also learned a new note, E. Lastly, students practiced a variety of rhythms by responding through movement to notes played on a drum and notes played on temple blocks.
Fifth grade students began the week by focusing on their rhythm post-assessment. Students played a variety of review games such as finding the correct rhythm on the floor, Morse Code (tapping a rhythm on a friend's hand and the friend must figure out the correct rhythm), and heads up, rhythms up. Following the assessment, students began a unit on music evaluation by reviewing the four orchestral instrument families and the instruments that belong to them.
Mrs. Ellis's students reviewed all of the material from last week and continued to focus on steady beat and the preparation of quarter notes and eighth notes. As an extension to the game move and freeze, students were asked to move to a steady beat prior to freezing. Students also practiced a chant called Two Little Apples and performed a series of movements to this chant. Students were challenged to perform the movements while saying the words in their heads. It was really fun to watch the level of concentration that students had while performing this task. Lastly, students practiced using their loud and quiet voices with the chant Chop, Chop, Chippity Chop.
Mrs. Ross's students reviewed all of the material from last week and continued to focus on melodic notes do re and mi. Students learned a new song, Rocky Mountain, and searched for a more complex pattern in this song: mi mi re re do. This task proved to be difficult for many of the students as this pattern contains two more notes than the patterns learned thus far. However, with a bit of practice, students were also able to find similar patterns. Lastly, students began to study the rhythm to the song Frog in the Meadow.
Mrs. Muller's students focused on preparing for their rhythm post-assessment. This week, students played a variety of review games such as finding the correct rhythm on the floor, heads up, rhythms up, and rhythm tic tac toe. Students particularly enjoyed playing tic tac toe and were delighted when they were able to beat Mrs. Aaronson at this game - twice!
Week Thirteen in Review (Nov. 28 - Dec. 2)
Greetings
from the music room! This was an exciting week of singing, moving, and
playing instruments! Here are some of the highlights:
Kindergarten students began focusing on steady beat this week. Students learned a chant called Chop, Chop, Chippity Chop and practiced chopping imaginary vegetables to the steady beat. Students were asked to name vegetables for us to 'chop'. Students reviewed the song We Clap Our Hands Together and
were given the chance to attempt playing a steady beat on a chime during this song. Students also learned a new song called My Pony Macaroni. Students patted a steady beat throughout the song while one student pretended to ride Macaroni the pony. When the student 'riding' Macaroni froze, the whole class froze. When that same student began moving again, the whole class continued patting.
First grade students practiced writing and reading quarter notes and eighth notes. Students worked in groups of 7-8 to create patterns of quarter notes and eighth notes using their bodies. Each group was given four pieces of paper; each piece of paper represented one beat. After listening to a four-beat rhythm pattern, students stood on the papers to show the rhythm. If one student stood on a paper, it indicated one sound on the beat (quarter note). If two students stood on a paper, it indicated two sounds on the beat (eighth notes). Students were incredibly successful at completing this exercise! Students also began learning two new songs: Starlight, Starbright, which will be used to practice reading quarter notes and eight notes and the song Hot Cross Buns which will be used to help students find silence in music (quarter rest).
Second grade students learned a new dance called Sasha this week. This dance was a complete change of pace from the dance that they learned prior to the Thanksgiving holiday. This dance contains a lively first half followed by a freely structured second half. Students enjoyed learning to do right and left arm swings and having the opportunity to interact with one another. Students also focused on the new low note (do) this week. Students learned a new song containing this note, Rocky Mountain, and were challenged to respond to a series notes as they were played on the recorder. When students heard the melodic note sol they placed their hands on their shoulders, when they heard the melodic note mi they place their hands on their middle, and when they heard the new low note they placed their hands on their knees. Students were impressively successful with this activity. Next week students will be formally introduced to the melodic note do!
Third grade students focused on reading melodic notes do re mi sol and la this week. Students reviewed the song Firefly by singing the song's words and its solfege. Students were then handed a bag containing six small strips of paper. On each strip was a four-beat section of this song. Students were asked to write the solfege under all of the notes and then sing each pattern in order to place the song in the correct order. While this was a considerable challenge, the collective third grade was incredibly successful at completing this assignment. If there was any lingering doubt about whether or not students were ready to learn a new melodic note, that doubt has vanished! Students also reviewed all rhythms learned thus far by playing a rhythm telephone game.
Fourth grade students learned to play the songs Old Tom White and Merrily We Roll Along on the recorder this week. Next week, students will play Merrily We Roll Along in order to test for their orange belt. Students also enjoyed practicing notes B A and G by playing a few levels of the online interactive game Joytunes. Lastly, students practiced matching notes to their letter names by playing musical dominoes and Go Fish.
Fifth grade began concluding their rhythm unit this week. Students examined the use of fifth grade rhythms in classical literature such as Bartok's Swineherds Dance, Bach's Fuge in G minor, and Gliere's Russian Sailors Dance. Students also enjoyed playing a rhythm game entitled Poison Pattern and learning a new song, Big Fat Biscuit, and its game. Students reviewed all of their dotted quarter/eighth note and their syncopated flashcards and were challenged to read them in a mixed up order. Lastly, students practiced aurally identifying rhythmic patterns in preparation for next week's rhythm post-assessment.
Mrs. Ellis's students continued to work on steady beat and began preparing to learn about quarter notes and eighth notes. Students reviewed steady beat songs We Clap Our Hands Together, My Pony Macaroni, and Dr. Knickerbocker. Students also began learning a new steady beat song entitled Monkey See and Monkey Do. As students are learning about steady beat, an emphasis has been made on students matching Mrs. Aaronson's movements. The song Monkey See and Monkey Do allows students to practice the same concept while copying a monkey! Students also began learning a move and freeze game. Students were to move freely around the classroom until they heard the sound 'short-short long' played on claves. This pattern signaled to students that they should freeze into a statue. This game will help to prepare students to hear patterns of long and short sounds (quarter notes and eighth notes).
Mrs. Ross's focused on reading quarter notes and eighth notes as well melodic notes mi re and do this week. Students learned the song Hot Cross Buns and worked together to arrange themselves on carpet squares in order to show the presence of one, two, or no sounds on a beat. After students had correctly notated the song's rhythm, students were shown the music for this song and challenged to search for the melodic patter mi re do. Students discovered that this pattern occurs three times in this song. After students were able to identify all of the melodic notes in this song, they were challenged to play it on the xylophone. Students also began learning a song called Frog in the Meadow, a song that will be used to practice rhythm and melodic notes do re mi.
Mrs. Muller's students began concluding their rhythm unit this week. Students examined the use of fifth grade rhythms in classical literature such as Bartok's Swineherds Dance and Gliere's Russian Sailors Dance. Students particularly enjoyed watching Russian dancers perform a dance to this composition. Students reviewed all of their dotted quarter/eighth note and their syncopated flashcards and were challenged to read them in a mixed up order. Students also tried singing Land of the Silver Birch and The Canoe Song at the same time. This proved to be a fun challenge for the students.
Kindergarten students began focusing on steady beat this week. Students learned a chant called Chop, Chop, Chippity Chop and practiced chopping imaginary vegetables to the steady beat. Students were asked to name vegetables for us to 'chop'. Students reviewed the song We Clap Our Hands Together and
were given the chance to attempt playing a steady beat on a chime during this song. Students also learned a new song called My Pony Macaroni. Students patted a steady beat throughout the song while one student pretended to ride Macaroni the pony. When the student 'riding' Macaroni froze, the whole class froze. When that same student began moving again, the whole class continued patting.
First grade students practiced writing and reading quarter notes and eighth notes. Students worked in groups of 7-8 to create patterns of quarter notes and eighth notes using their bodies. Each group was given four pieces of paper; each piece of paper represented one beat. After listening to a four-beat rhythm pattern, students stood on the papers to show the rhythm. If one student stood on a paper, it indicated one sound on the beat (quarter note). If two students stood on a paper, it indicated two sounds on the beat (eighth notes). Students were incredibly successful at completing this exercise! Students also began learning two new songs: Starlight, Starbright, which will be used to practice reading quarter notes and eight notes and the song Hot Cross Buns which will be used to help students find silence in music (quarter rest).
Second grade students learned a new dance called Sasha this week. This dance was a complete change of pace from the dance that they learned prior to the Thanksgiving holiday. This dance contains a lively first half followed by a freely structured second half. Students enjoyed learning to do right and left arm swings and having the opportunity to interact with one another. Students also focused on the new low note (do) this week. Students learned a new song containing this note, Rocky Mountain, and were challenged to respond to a series notes as they were played on the recorder. When students heard the melodic note sol they placed their hands on their shoulders, when they heard the melodic note mi they place their hands on their middle, and when they heard the new low note they placed their hands on their knees. Students were impressively successful with this activity. Next week students will be formally introduced to the melodic note do!
Third grade students focused on reading melodic notes do re mi sol and la this week. Students reviewed the song Firefly by singing the song's words and its solfege. Students were then handed a bag containing six small strips of paper. On each strip was a four-beat section of this song. Students were asked to write the solfege under all of the notes and then sing each pattern in order to place the song in the correct order. While this was a considerable challenge, the collective third grade was incredibly successful at completing this assignment. If there was any lingering doubt about whether or not students were ready to learn a new melodic note, that doubt has vanished! Students also reviewed all rhythms learned thus far by playing a rhythm telephone game.
Fourth grade students learned to play the songs Old Tom White and Merrily We Roll Along on the recorder this week. Next week, students will play Merrily We Roll Along in order to test for their orange belt. Students also enjoyed practicing notes B A and G by playing a few levels of the online interactive game Joytunes. Lastly, students practiced matching notes to their letter names by playing musical dominoes and Go Fish.
Fifth grade began concluding their rhythm unit this week. Students examined the use of fifth grade rhythms in classical literature such as Bartok's Swineherds Dance, Bach's Fuge in G minor, and Gliere's Russian Sailors Dance. Students also enjoyed playing a rhythm game entitled Poison Pattern and learning a new song, Big Fat Biscuit, and its game. Students reviewed all of their dotted quarter/eighth note and their syncopated flashcards and were challenged to read them in a mixed up order. Lastly, students practiced aurally identifying rhythmic patterns in preparation for next week's rhythm post-assessment.
Mrs. Ellis's students continued to work on steady beat and began preparing to learn about quarter notes and eighth notes. Students reviewed steady beat songs We Clap Our Hands Together, My Pony Macaroni, and Dr. Knickerbocker. Students also began learning a new steady beat song entitled Monkey See and Monkey Do. As students are learning about steady beat, an emphasis has been made on students matching Mrs. Aaronson's movements. The song Monkey See and Monkey Do allows students to practice the same concept while copying a monkey! Students also began learning a move and freeze game. Students were to move freely around the classroom until they heard the sound 'short-short long' played on claves. This pattern signaled to students that they should freeze into a statue. This game will help to prepare students to hear patterns of long and short sounds (quarter notes and eighth notes).
Mrs. Ross's focused on reading quarter notes and eighth notes as well melodic notes mi re and do this week. Students learned the song Hot Cross Buns and worked together to arrange themselves on carpet squares in order to show the presence of one, two, or no sounds on a beat. After students had correctly notated the song's rhythm, students were shown the music for this song and challenged to search for the melodic patter mi re do. Students discovered that this pattern occurs three times in this song. After students were able to identify all of the melodic notes in this song, they were challenged to play it on the xylophone. Students also began learning a song called Frog in the Meadow, a song that will be used to practice rhythm and melodic notes do re mi.
Mrs. Muller's students began concluding their rhythm unit this week. Students examined the use of fifth grade rhythms in classical literature such as Bartok's Swineherds Dance and Gliere's Russian Sailors Dance. Students particularly enjoyed watching Russian dancers perform a dance to this composition. Students reviewed all of their dotted quarter/eighth note and their syncopated flashcards and were challenged to read them in a mixed up order. Students also tried singing Land of the Silver Birch and The Canoe Song at the same time. This proved to be a fun challenge for the students.
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