I like to give a brief summary of what is going on in music class each week so you can talk to your children about it and also have insight into what we do in our class. Sometimes I included photos or videos to help you see inside the class as well!
KINDERGARTEN – Every year I am amazed at how fast our kindergarten students learn! Our classes are already echoing properly and developing a singing voice. We exploring different ways to move to music and we even met my helper “Chompy” (a fun puppet who sometimes visits music class).
1st GRADE – We told the story “Goldilocks and The Three Bears” using orff instruments this week. Each group of instruments played a part in the story. We reviewed our mallet technique and used the story to practice and develop that technique.
2nd GRADE – We are working on two things this week: 1) Playing 2-3 note melodic patterns 2) Learning the music and choreography for our October musical. Letters about the musical went home this week. Below is a video from one of our second grade classes performing a rotation game at the instruments to help them develop their technique while playing 2-3 note patterns on the instruments.
3rd GRADE – We reviewed our mallet technique and how to perform ostinati while someone else performs a melody. The students played a similar rotation game as 2nd grade, just with a different song. Rotation games are a great way to develop technique and also let every student play every instrument. Then we learned the folk song “Rig A Jig Jig” and the play party game to go along with it.
4th & 5th GRADE – We reviewed our instrument procedures and how to improvise through the fun song “Listen To The Instruments.” Students had to improvise on different instruments to the rhythm of spoken text. The song also reviews and develops the concept of Rondo Form (ABACA) in music. Then these students moved to a circle formation and learned two different folk dances: Noone in the House (4th grade – American Folk Song); Four White Horses (5th Grade – song from the US Virgin Islands).
