Well, the holiday season is over, our concerts are finished and it's time to relax...just kidding!! We have lots of activities happening in the music room to keep us going through the winter months!
4th and 5th grades are wrapping up all of their recorder activities. They've worked really hard and I am so proud of all they have accomplished! So many of the kids decided to really challenge themselves and learn more than one new song this year--so awesome!! We've talked about why we learn to play the recorder, and I get a lot of answers about practicing reading notes, learning to read notes, to prepare them for another instrument should they choose to play later on, etc. All of these answers are terrific and true, but really, learning these songs hopefully teaches the kids perseverance--it isn't easy in the beginning! I've watched many of them push through until they could play their song and the excitement when they finish is amazing. Recorders also teach responsibility and teamwork--you'd be surprised how many of them want to help other students. It really has been awesome to watch!
Our fifth graders, however, must move on to practice our DARE songs for graduation in February. What a special day for them! We are also going to review some of the rhythm work we started earlier in the year before moving on to percussion ensembles!
Our fourth graders are also jumping right back into to rhythm review before they start the Science of Sound unit. This unit is so much fun, and comes complete with some experiments! I am hopeful the kids will have time to create their own instruments as well!
Third grade is continuing their recorder work--we are SO ready to start Hot Cross Buns!!! They are so excited and honestly are doing a fantastic job!
Second grade is just about to add one more note to their Solfa Scale...RE. They can sing it, find it in a pattern and write it in a pattern with a little help. Soon we will try some partner composing and use technology to allow the kids to hear their work!
First grade is learning LA officially this week...their third note on the Solfa Scale. We have a great time doing this because we have some great games with our LA songs! They are also practicing distinguishing between line and space notes in music notation--no small feat for such young musicians! Soon we will also add DO to the Solfa Scale with more new music and some instruments! It's a busy season ahead for them!
Kindergarten is almost ready to learn the first two notes of their Solfa Scale, SO & MI. These are the foundation of all the rest of our melodic work in elementary school so we want to take our time and get it right!! We've had LOTS of solo singing in class (in 1st grade, too!) and are just about ready to start some notation reading. So exciting! They love reading music like the "big kids."
So, no relaxing in the music room! The kids are terrific workers and are becoming really great musicians! I am very much looking forward to the months ahead!
4th and 5th grades are wrapping up all of their recorder activities. They've worked really hard and I am so proud of all they have accomplished! So many of the kids decided to really challenge themselves and learn more than one new song this year--so awesome!! We've talked about why we learn to play the recorder, and I get a lot of answers about practicing reading notes, learning to read notes, to prepare them for another instrument should they choose to play later on, etc. All of these answers are terrific and true, but really, learning these songs hopefully teaches the kids perseverance--it isn't easy in the beginning! I've watched many of them push through until they could play their song and the excitement when they finish is amazing. Recorders also teach responsibility and teamwork--you'd be surprised how many of them want to help other students. It really has been awesome to watch!
Our fifth graders, however, must move on to practice our DARE songs for graduation in February. What a special day for them! We are also going to review some of the rhythm work we started earlier in the year before moving on to percussion ensembles!
Our fourth graders are also jumping right back into to rhythm review before they start the Science of Sound unit. This unit is so much fun, and comes complete with some experiments! I am hopeful the kids will have time to create their own instruments as well!
Third grade is continuing their recorder work--we are SO ready to start Hot Cross Buns!!! They are so excited and honestly are doing a fantastic job!
Second grade is just about to add one more note to their Solfa Scale...RE. They can sing it, find it in a pattern and write it in a pattern with a little help. Soon we will try some partner composing and use technology to allow the kids to hear their work!
First grade is learning LA officially this week...their third note on the Solfa Scale. We have a great time doing this because we have some great games with our LA songs! They are also practicing distinguishing between line and space notes in music notation--no small feat for such young musicians! Soon we will also add DO to the Solfa Scale with more new music and some instruments! It's a busy season ahead for them!
Kindergarten is almost ready to learn the first two notes of their Solfa Scale, SO & MI. These are the foundation of all the rest of our melodic work in elementary school so we want to take our time and get it right!! We've had LOTS of solo singing in class (in 1st grade, too!) and are just about ready to start some notation reading. So exciting! They love reading music like the "big kids."
So, no relaxing in the music room! The kids are terrific workers and are becoming really great musicians! I am very much looking forward to the months ahead!
