Week of Oct. 19
We're following the PreK theme of "Rollercoasters" this week, which is an excellent way to talk about and sing high and low pitches and train our ears to find certain notes with our voices. We began our week with a math/music song about apples and how many are left each time we pick one and eat it. Counting in English and Spanish was included in this song. Then we explored high and low pitches and listened to some poems about what happens in the fall. We also used our tone blocks for high and low echoes and listened to Copeland's "Rodeo" as we accompanied on the tone blocks and drums.
We're moving along in our Music for Little Mozarts program as we explore rhymes and music steps in singing and finding pitch. A new music friend, Nanneral Mozart, was added to our collection and the kids helped tell stories with these little puppets. They kept a steady beat with various percussion instruments as we sang "Are You Sleeping?". We put the beat in our feet with a few warm-up songs such as "Elephant, Funky Dance" and "Beat in Our Feet". We also perfected some moves for our holiday piece. We attempted to sing "Are You Sleeping?" in round form (two parts) and I was amazed. That's not surprising with this group!
First graders are putting their holiday piece together really well, remembering their words, and singing in their solo groups. We will be learning some signing for the words next week. We also worked in small groups to figure out some rhythm patterns with our cups. We showed off for each other. One particularly fun activity was doing a cup rhythm to "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" which we presented to Ms. Edwards.
Our budding violinists are getting more confident with the bow on the string. Many have earned their yellow and green tassels by being able to pizzicato "Twinkle" with the Mississippi Hot Dog rhythm and bowing it with that rhythm as well as the Run Pony Run rhythm. We started one of our holiday pieces by using long bows and playing different rhythm patterns. We are getting over our first complicated hurdles of using the correct positions and remembering finger patterns. Thanks to all the parents who are sending their kids in for special help before school in the mornings. It makes a difference!
In third grade, we are continuing to move into more breathing fingering skills on our recorders. More students are earning tassels and even coming in for special help before school and during some recesses. We started a music composition with "pretend" Halloween candy, called "Candy Corn Composition". It involved choosing a rhythm pattern and fitting a melody to it that could be played on their recorders. Some even wrote lyrics to it!
Our ukulele musicians are using their chord families in different songs such as "She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain" and "My Bonnie", which was especially crazy when they stood up on every word beginning with "B" while they were still playing. Try that sometime. We are working out our harmony parts with the holiday piece and most of the kids have learned their script lines as well. Next comes the choreography which will be a natural for these energetic youngsters!
The fifth grade is developing an ambitious composition with a Halloween theme which involves rhythm patterns, a melody, and lyrics. Then, as if that weren't enough, they are playing it for the class on their ocarinas and singing it while accompanying themselves on their guitars. Yes, they are turning into musicians.
In our Drama and Set Design class, the middle schoolers are continuing to create some interesting props for the holiday show and some are working on script lines and blocking their scenes. Costume ideas are coming together. If your student has a specific role in the show and needs some costume ideas, our local thrift stores are a great resource. You can contact me any time for suggestions. We are working on self-initiative and solving problems in creating some of our props.
We're moving along in our Music for Little Mozarts program as we explore rhymes and music steps in singing and finding pitch. A new music friend, Nanneral Mozart, was added to our collection and the kids helped tell stories with these little puppets. They kept a steady beat with various percussion instruments as we sang "Are You Sleeping?". We put the beat in our feet with a few warm-up songs such as "Elephant, Funky Dance" and "Beat in Our Feet". We also perfected some moves for our holiday piece. We attempted to sing "Are You Sleeping?" in round form (two parts) and I was amazed. That's not surprising with this group!
First graders are putting their holiday piece together really well, remembering their words, and singing in their solo groups. We will be learning some signing for the words next week. We also worked in small groups to figure out some rhythm patterns with our cups. We showed off for each other. One particularly fun activity was doing a cup rhythm to "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" which we presented to Ms. Edwards.
Our budding violinists are getting more confident with the bow on the string. Many have earned their yellow and green tassels by being able to pizzicato "Twinkle" with the Mississippi Hot Dog rhythm and bowing it with that rhythm as well as the Run Pony Run rhythm. We started one of our holiday pieces by using long bows and playing different rhythm patterns. We are getting over our first complicated hurdles of using the correct positions and remembering finger patterns. Thanks to all the parents who are sending their kids in for special help before school in the mornings. It makes a difference!
In third grade, we are continuing to move into more breathing fingering skills on our recorders. More students are earning tassels and even coming in for special help before school and during some recesses. We started a music composition with "pretend" Halloween candy, called "Candy Corn Composition". It involved choosing a rhythm pattern and fitting a melody to it that could be played on their recorders. Some even wrote lyrics to it!
Our ukulele musicians are using their chord families in different songs such as "She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain" and "My Bonnie", which was especially crazy when they stood up on every word beginning with "B" while they were still playing. Try that sometime. We are working out our harmony parts with the holiday piece and most of the kids have learned their script lines as well. Next comes the choreography which will be a natural for these energetic youngsters!
The fifth grade is developing an ambitious composition with a Halloween theme which involves rhythm patterns, a melody, and lyrics. Then, as if that weren't enough, they are playing it for the class on their ocarinas and singing it while accompanying themselves on their guitars. Yes, they are turning into musicians.
In our Drama and Set Design class, the middle schoolers are continuing to create some interesting props for the holiday show and some are working on script lines and blocking their scenes. Costume ideas are coming together. If your student has a specific role in the show and needs some costume ideas, our local thrift stores are a great resource. You can contact me any time for suggestions. We are working on self-initiative and solving problems in creating some of our props.