Greetings
from the music room! This was an exciting week of singing, moving, and
playing instruments! Here are some of the highlights:
Kindergarten students reviewed the difference between loud and quiet sounds. Students responded to loud and quiet sounds on the drum. Students stomped for loud sounds and tiptoed for quiet sounds. Students also began learning a new loud/quiet game to the song Lucy Locket. This game is very similar to hot/cold. When the child is close to the hidden item, the class sings loudly. When the child is far away from the hidden item, the class sings quietly. Students also reviewed how to play up and down on the xylophone.
First grade students further explored the presence of two sounds on a beat this week. Students practiced tapping the beat while speaking the chant Queen, Queen Caroline. Students transferred the beat to a steady beat heart chart. (Hearts are used since our heart keeps a steady beat just like music!). After students were successful at using this chart, students were asked which hearts (which beats) have one sound and which hearts have two sounds. Students then read the rhythm of Queen, Queen Caroline by saying short-short for two sounds on a beat and long for one sound on a beat. We use 'short-short' and 'long' to assist students in understanding that eighth notes make shorter sounds (1/2 a beat) than quarter notes (1 beat). Students also began learning a new song for practicing rhythm entitled Bluebells and its fun movement game.
Second grade students learned a new folk dance this week, Galopede. In this dance, students learned to do-si-do, right hand turn, left hand turn, and how to move in a longways set. I have been very impressed with how well students are able to remember and execute these dances. Students also learned a new song containing the new low note do, Kingsland. In addition to singing this song, students learned a fun game in which students pretend to be thieves sneaking into the kings castle to steal his fine linens. If students are caught, they are sent to the dungeon!
Third grade students continued to work on melodic notes do re mi sol and la this week. Students continued to review these notes by practicing a series of flashcards, exploring the notes in the song Great Big House in New Orleans, and learning a new song Sally Go 'Round the Sun. Students also finished a movement activity to the song Rig-a-Jig-Jig. This movement activity highlights the form of the song. Students were asked to describe what makes the two sections different (fast/slow, loud/quiet, different rhythm). Students then performed a two-part movement with a partner. Once students were secure in this movement, new parts were gradually added to challenge the students' memories.
Fourth grade students reviewed the recorder playing technique that they learned last week as well as notes B and A. Students then learned a new note: G. Students practiced playing short rhythmic patterns on each note and switching back and forth between the notes. Students also began learning to play the song Hot Cross Buns. Students were given two pages to take home. These pages contained a fingering chart, Hot Cross Buns, Gently Sleep, and Merrily We Roll Along. Students were instructed to practice Hot Cross Buns and were given the option of working ahead on the other two songs.
Fifth grade students continued to focus on the rhythm pattern dotted quarter note/eighth note this week. Students learned a new song, Little Birch Tree, and listened for this song in Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4. Students were led in a discussion about folk songs and the appearance of such songs in symphonies. Lastly, students began to focus on syncopation by learning a new song entitled Peg Leg the Pirate. This song, which contains a fun guessing game, is full of syncopated rhythms.
Mrs. Ellis's students enjoyed a brief music class prior to the Halloween parade and party. Students explored moving to the steady beat through songs Dem Bones and This is Halloween. Students also enjoyed sharing the name of their favorite candy in a song called Hippity Hop to the Candy Shop. Students also explored vocal sound effects in the story Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson. On Wednesday, students reviewed the difference between loud and quiet sounds. Students responded to loud and quiet sounds on the drum. Students stomped for loud sounds and tiptoed for quiet sounds. Afterwards, students had the chance to practice playing loud and quiet sounds on a hand drum. Lastly, students began learning a new loud/quiet game to the song Lucy Locket.
Mrs. Ross's students reviewed the chant 2,4,6,8 and worked together to put the rhythm of this song in the correct order. Students then practiced reading the rhythm from beginning to end. Students also practiced writing quarter note and eighth note patterns using Popsicle sticks.
Mrs. Muller's students reviewed songs Li'l Liza Jane and Little Birch Tree in order to practice the rhythm dotted quarter note/eighth note. Students practiced a series of rhythm flashcards and enjoyed playing the rhythms on tambourines. Students also began learning the Canoe Song. This song will be used to introduce a new rhythm (syncopation). Lastly, students learned a series of rhythms and performed them to a recording of the Pink Panther Theme Song.
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Week Eight in Review (Oct. 24 - Oct. 28)
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 the difference between loud and quiet sounds this week. Students practiced all previous loud/quiet songs. Students also worked together to make a list of five places where one should be quiet and five places where one may be loud. Lastly, students practice using their singing, speaking, and whisper voices in a fun song called Peanut Butter and Jelly.
First grade students continued to practice the difference between beat and rhythm this week using chants Spider, Spider Legs and All and Queen, Queen Caroline. Students also explored the rhythm of Big Black Cats by arranging themselves on pieces of orange construction paper to show zero, one, and two sounds on a beat. Students further explored the presence of zero sounds (silence) on a beat with by using the interactive white board and the song Do You Know the Muffin Man. While Mrs. Aaronson pointed to a series of eight muffins, students said "yum" for each muffin. As muffins were removed, students were asked to remain silent for each missing muffin.
Second grade students began their folk dancing unit this week! Students worked with partners to learn a folk dance called Heel & Toe Polka. In this folk dance, students practiced sashaying, partner clapping, turning with two hands, and working with many different classmates. Students also continued to practice singing melodic patterns containing the new low note, do. Students were given melody cards for the song Mouse, Mousie and asked to put them into the correct order. This was a challenge for the students and they worked together using the projector to place their cards in the correct order.
Third grade students began to 'level-up' to do re mi sol and la melodic patterns this week by learning the song Great Big House in New Orleans. Students also enjoyed working with a friend to learn a clapping game to the chant Double Trouble. Students were then challenged to speak a short rhyme The Halloween Cat while performing a four-beat body percussion pattern. After students were secure with this rhyme, students were asked to use their own adjective to describe the cat. Beginning with Mrs. Aaronson, we went all the way around the circle until each student had a chance to share their own version of The Halloween Cat.
Fourth grade students concluded all of the written work that they had begun last week. Students then began playing recorders! Students learned about the history of the recorder and how the soprano recorder is part of a much larger family of recorders. Students learned basic recorder playing technique: how to breathe and how to hold the instrument. Students also learned to play two notes: B and A.
Fifth grade students enjoyed a change of pace this week. In honor of the upcoming spooky holiday, students were treated to the spooky sounds of the haunted house courtesy of a Walt Disney record from the 1960s. At the end of the summer when the PTA was cleaning out the back closet of the school, Mrs. Aaronson discovered a record player and a series of old records. In addition to a collection of spooky sounds, this record also contains six stories in sound. As students listened to a sound story about the haunted house, they were asked to either write a brief narrative describing what they heard or draw a series of pictures to depict it. Students came up with some very creative ideas to explain the sounds that they heard! Students also reviewed the song Hill and Gully Rider and were formally introduced to syncopation.
Mrs. Ellis's students continued to focus on the difference between loud and quiet sounds this week. Students practiced all previous loud/quiet songs and read the book Mortimer by Robert Munsch. In this book, Mortimer is a little boy who decides to sing rather than go to sleep at night. Students enjoyed listening as his mother, father, and even the police told him to "be quiet!" Students also had the opportunity to play up and down on the xylophone to match the movement of the characters up and down the stairs. Lastly, students worked together to make a list of five places where one should be quiet and five places where one may be loud.
Mrs. Ross's students reviewed the rhythm to Big Black Cats and practiced reading quarter notes, quarter rests, and eighth notes. Students also began learning a new chant entitled 2,4,6,8. This chant will also be used to practice quarter notes and eighth notes. Students also enjoyed reviewing the rhyme Five Little Pumpkins by reading the book Pete the Cat: Five Little Pumpkins.
Mrs. Muller's students reviewed the songs John Kanaka and Hill and Gully Rider. Students enjoyed having the opportunity to play a repeating pattern from John Kanaka on the xylophone. Students also practiced reading rhythm patterns containing dotted quarter notes/eighth notes. Lastly, students began learning a new song, Little Birch Tree, and listening for this song in Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4.
Kindergarten students continued to focus on the difference between loud and quiet sounds this week. Students practiced all previous loud/quiet songs. Students also worked together to make a list of five places where one should be quiet and five places where one may be loud. Lastly, students practice using their singing, speaking, and whisper voices in a fun song called Peanut Butter and Jelly.
First grade students continued to practice the difference between beat and rhythm this week using chants Spider, Spider Legs and All and Queen, Queen Caroline. Students also explored the rhythm of Big Black Cats by arranging themselves on pieces of orange construction paper to show zero, one, and two sounds on a beat. Students further explored the presence of zero sounds (silence) on a beat with by using the interactive white board and the song Do You Know the Muffin Man. While Mrs. Aaronson pointed to a series of eight muffins, students said "yum" for each muffin. As muffins were removed, students were asked to remain silent for each missing muffin.
Second grade students began their folk dancing unit this week! Students worked with partners to learn a folk dance called Heel & Toe Polka. In this folk dance, students practiced sashaying, partner clapping, turning with two hands, and working with many different classmates. Students also continued to practice singing melodic patterns containing the new low note, do. Students were given melody cards for the song Mouse, Mousie and asked to put them into the correct order. This was a challenge for the students and they worked together using the projector to place their cards in the correct order.
Third grade students began to 'level-up' to do re mi sol and la melodic patterns this week by learning the song Great Big House in New Orleans. Students also enjoyed working with a friend to learn a clapping game to the chant Double Trouble. Students were then challenged to speak a short rhyme The Halloween Cat while performing a four-beat body percussion pattern. After students were secure with this rhyme, students were asked to use their own adjective to describe the cat. Beginning with Mrs. Aaronson, we went all the way around the circle until each student had a chance to share their own version of The Halloween Cat.
Fourth grade students concluded all of the written work that they had begun last week. Students then began playing recorders! Students learned about the history of the recorder and how the soprano recorder is part of a much larger family of recorders. Students learned basic recorder playing technique: how to breathe and how to hold the instrument. Students also learned to play two notes: B and A.
Fifth grade students enjoyed a change of pace this week. In honor of the upcoming spooky holiday, students were treated to the spooky sounds of the haunted house courtesy of a Walt Disney record from the 1960s. At the end of the summer when the PTA was cleaning out the back closet of the school, Mrs. Aaronson discovered a record player and a series of old records. In addition to a collection of spooky sounds, this record also contains six stories in sound. As students listened to a sound story about the haunted house, they were asked to either write a brief narrative describing what they heard or draw a series of pictures to depict it. Students came up with some very creative ideas to explain the sounds that they heard! Students also reviewed the song Hill and Gully Rider and were formally introduced to syncopation.
Mrs. Ellis's students continued to focus on the difference between loud and quiet sounds this week. Students practiced all previous loud/quiet songs and read the book Mortimer by Robert Munsch. In this book, Mortimer is a little boy who decides to sing rather than go to sleep at night. Students enjoyed listening as his mother, father, and even the police told him to "be quiet!" Students also had the opportunity to play up and down on the xylophone to match the movement of the characters up and down the stairs. Lastly, students worked together to make a list of five places where one should be quiet and five places where one may be loud.
Mrs. Ross's students reviewed the rhythm to Big Black Cats and practiced reading quarter notes, quarter rests, and eighth notes. Students also began learning a new chant entitled 2,4,6,8. This chant will also be used to practice quarter notes and eighth notes. Students also enjoyed reviewing the rhyme Five Little Pumpkins by reading the book Pete the Cat: Five Little Pumpkins.
Mrs. Muller's students reviewed the songs John Kanaka and Hill and Gully Rider. Students enjoyed having the opportunity to play a repeating pattern from John Kanaka on the xylophone. Students also practiced reading rhythm patterns containing dotted quarter notes/eighth notes. Lastly, students began learning a new song, Little Birch Tree, and listening for this song in Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4.
Week Seven in Review (Oct. 17 - Oct. 21)
Greetings
from the music room! This was an exciting week of singing, moving, and
playing instruments! Here are some of the highlights:
Kindergarten students reviewed loud/quiet songs Hey, Betty Martin, Lady, Lady, and Lazy Mary. Students learned a new game for Lazy Mary. When Mrs. Aaronson sang with a quiet voice, students pretended to be sound asleep like lazy Mary. When Mrs. Aaronson sang with a loud voice, students jumped up and pretended to get ready for school. Students enjoyed waiting to see when Mrs. Aaronson's voice would switch from quiet to loud! Students also enjoyed reading the book Mortimer by Robert Munsch. In this book, Mortimer is a little boy who decides to sing rather than go to sleep at night. Students enjoyed listening as his mother, father, and even the police told him to "be quiet!" Students also had the opportunity to play up and down on the xylophone to match the movement of the characters up and down the stairs.
First grade students reviewed the song Big Black Cats by singing and moving to the song's rhythm. Students then played the repeating phrase "big black cats" on woodblocks. Students also practiced telling the difference between beat and rhythm using the chant Engine, Engine. First, students practiced patting the beat and clapping the rhythm. Then the class was asked to clap the chant's rhythm while one student played the steady beat on a percussion instrument. Students also learned a fun spooky chant called Criss-Cross Applesauce.
Second grade students reviewed songs Apple Tree and Mouse Mousie and practiced singing melodic notes do mi sol and la. Additionally, since students are making such wonderful progress in rhythm development, it was time for them to take the second grade rhythm pre-assessment. This assessment will be used to show student growth in the area of rhythm this school year.
Third grade students reviewed the song Naka, Naka, Hoi and explored ways to move to this song with a partner. Students were then invited to share their movements with the class. Students focused on singing melodic notes do re mi and sol this week. Students practice singing a series of flashcards, learned a new song entitled Remember Me, and practiced playing a do and sol pattern on the xylophone. Students also played a game called Steal the Bacon. In this game, two students raced to be the first person to identify a melodic pattern. The first student to correctly identify the pattern won a point for his or her team. This game allowed students to practice not only musical skills, but also good sportsmanship.
Fourth grade students continued to focus on the letter names of notes on the treble clef staff this week. Students completed a series of written assignments meant to increase their ability to identify notes' letter names and to allow opportunity for individual assessment and assistance. Students were challenged to work in small groups to write words using the letters of the musical alphabet (ABCDEFG) on the treble clef staff. Students worked together to decode each other's work. Students also completed a story entitled Weekend at Grandma's Farm by decoding words written in music on the treble clef staff. Students also completed a word maker worksheet and a treble clef crossword. Students who completed all three assignments were challenged to create their own musical story in the style of Weekend at Grandma's Farm. Lastly, students learned a song with fun body percussion entitled 'Round and 'Round.
Fifth grade students began learning a new song, Hill and Gully Rider. This Jamaican folk song about zombies will be used to introduce fifth grade students to syncopated rhythm. Students reviewed the song John Kanaka and transferred the repeating pattern in the song onto the xylophones. Students also learned a series of rhythms and performed them to a recording of the Pink Panther Theme Song. One of the rhythm patterns contained the dotted quarter note/eighth note combination that students have been studying. Students also practiced reading a series of rhythm flashcards and began playing an improvisation game.
Mrs. Ellis's students focused on the difference between loud and quiet sounds this week. Students reviewed the songs and activities for Hey, Betty Martin and Lady, Lady. Students also learned a new loud/quiet song entitled Lazy Mary. This song is about a little girl who does not like to wake up in the morning. When Mrs. Aaronson sang with a quiet voice, students pretended to be sound asleep like lazy Mary. When Mrs. Aaronson sang with a loud voice, students jumped up and pretended to get ready for school. Students enjoyed waiting to see when Mrs. Aaronson's voice would switch from quiet to loud! Lastly, students practiced using their nighttime (quiet) and daytime (loud) voices while singing the song Cobbler, Cobbler. Students also practiced keeping a beat while singing this song and pretending to hammer shoes. Students transferred this hammering motion to an instrument; students took turns playing the steady beat on a woodblock while singing the song.
Mrs. Ross's students reviewed the body percussion pattern to the song 'Round and 'Round. Students were then given another opportunity to play this pattern on a drum called the cajon.Students reviewed quarter notes and quarter rests this week through the song Big Black Cats. Students interacted with this song in many ways: they sang the song, clapped the rhythm, played the rhythm on instruments, moved to the rhythm, and practiced writing the rhythm. Students were asked to arrange themselves on sheets of orange paper in order to show the number of sounds on each beat. After students discovered that some beats contained two sounds, students were formally introduced to eighth notes.
Mrs. Muller's students learned two new songs this week: John Kanaka and Hill and Gully Rider. Students learned a movement pattern to John Kanaka which allowed them to work with a partner. During the song Hill and Gully Rider, students were asked to sing a repeating response. After students were successful, they were asked to clap the rhythm of the response and transfer that rhythm to the tambourine. Lastly, students began to learn about the rhythm dotted quarter note/eight note. Students were asked to locate this rhythm in the songs John Kanaka and Li'l Liza Jane.
Kindergarten students reviewed loud/quiet songs Hey, Betty Martin, Lady, Lady, and Lazy Mary. Students learned a new game for Lazy Mary. When Mrs. Aaronson sang with a quiet voice, students pretended to be sound asleep like lazy Mary. When Mrs. Aaronson sang with a loud voice, students jumped up and pretended to get ready for school. Students enjoyed waiting to see when Mrs. Aaronson's voice would switch from quiet to loud! Students also enjoyed reading the book Mortimer by Robert Munsch. In this book, Mortimer is a little boy who decides to sing rather than go to sleep at night. Students enjoyed listening as his mother, father, and even the police told him to "be quiet!" Students also had the opportunity to play up and down on the xylophone to match the movement of the characters up and down the stairs.
First grade students reviewed the song Big Black Cats by singing and moving to the song's rhythm. Students then played the repeating phrase "big black cats" on woodblocks. Students also practiced telling the difference between beat and rhythm using the chant Engine, Engine. First, students practiced patting the beat and clapping the rhythm. Then the class was asked to clap the chant's rhythm while one student played the steady beat on a percussion instrument. Students also learned a fun spooky chant called Criss-Cross Applesauce.
Second grade students reviewed songs Apple Tree and Mouse Mousie and practiced singing melodic notes do mi sol and la. Additionally, since students are making such wonderful progress in rhythm development, it was time for them to take the second grade rhythm pre-assessment. This assessment will be used to show student growth in the area of rhythm this school year.
Third grade students reviewed the song Naka, Naka, Hoi and explored ways to move to this song with a partner. Students were then invited to share their movements with the class. Students focused on singing melodic notes do re mi and sol this week. Students practice singing a series of flashcards, learned a new song entitled Remember Me, and practiced playing a do and sol pattern on the xylophone. Students also played a game called Steal the Bacon. In this game, two students raced to be the first person to identify a melodic pattern. The first student to correctly identify the pattern won a point for his or her team. This game allowed students to practice not only musical skills, but also good sportsmanship.
Fourth grade students continued to focus on the letter names of notes on the treble clef staff this week. Students completed a series of written assignments meant to increase their ability to identify notes' letter names and to allow opportunity for individual assessment and assistance. Students were challenged to work in small groups to write words using the letters of the musical alphabet (ABCDEFG) on the treble clef staff. Students worked together to decode each other's work. Students also completed a story entitled Weekend at Grandma's Farm by decoding words written in music on the treble clef staff. Students also completed a word maker worksheet and a treble clef crossword. Students who completed all three assignments were challenged to create their own musical story in the style of Weekend at Grandma's Farm. Lastly, students learned a song with fun body percussion entitled 'Round and 'Round.
Fifth grade students began learning a new song, Hill and Gully Rider. This Jamaican folk song about zombies will be used to introduce fifth grade students to syncopated rhythm. Students reviewed the song John Kanaka and transferred the repeating pattern in the song onto the xylophones. Students also learned a series of rhythms and performed them to a recording of the Pink Panther Theme Song. One of the rhythm patterns contained the dotted quarter note/eighth note combination that students have been studying. Students also practiced reading a series of rhythm flashcards and began playing an improvisation game.
Mrs. Ellis's students focused on the difference between loud and quiet sounds this week. Students reviewed the songs and activities for Hey, Betty Martin and Lady, Lady. Students also learned a new loud/quiet song entitled Lazy Mary. This song is about a little girl who does not like to wake up in the morning. When Mrs. Aaronson sang with a quiet voice, students pretended to be sound asleep like lazy Mary. When Mrs. Aaronson sang with a loud voice, students jumped up and pretended to get ready for school. Students enjoyed waiting to see when Mrs. Aaronson's voice would switch from quiet to loud! Lastly, students practiced using their nighttime (quiet) and daytime (loud) voices while singing the song Cobbler, Cobbler. Students also practiced keeping a beat while singing this song and pretending to hammer shoes. Students transferred this hammering motion to an instrument; students took turns playing the steady beat on a woodblock while singing the song.
Mrs. Ross's students reviewed the body percussion pattern to the song 'Round and 'Round. Students were then given another opportunity to play this pattern on a drum called the cajon.Students reviewed quarter notes and quarter rests this week through the song Big Black Cats. Students interacted with this song in many ways: they sang the song, clapped the rhythm, played the rhythm on instruments, moved to the rhythm, and practiced writing the rhythm. Students were asked to arrange themselves on sheets of orange paper in order to show the number of sounds on each beat. After students discovered that some beats contained two sounds, students were formally introduced to eighth notes.
Mrs. Muller's students learned two new songs this week: John Kanaka and Hill and Gully Rider. Students learned a movement pattern to John Kanaka which allowed them to work with a partner. During the song Hill and Gully Rider, students were asked to sing a repeating response. After students were successful, they were asked to clap the rhythm of the response and transfer that rhythm to the tambourine. Lastly, students began to learn about the rhythm dotted quarter note/eight note. Students were asked to locate this rhythm in the songs John Kanaka and Li'l Liza Jane.
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