March is blowing in some great stuff in 2nd Grade music classes! The students will be exploring the great work, "Peter and the Wolf" by Sergei Prokofiev. The story of Peter and his adventures trying to capture the wolf are expressed through narration and music. Each character is represented by a musical theme played on specific instruments. During our studies, the children will learn about the various musical instruments of the orchestra and how they are grouped into musical families, as well as discovering the role of a narrator and learning about musical themes. In addition to our "Peter and the Wolf" unit, the children will continue to develop their singing skills through a variety of choral activities, further their Orff playing skills, as well as firm up their Spanish while singing "El Coqui" - a traditional Puerto Rican folksong about a little tree frog, and "Que llueva" a traditional Spanish rain song. Singing, moving, listening, creating, playing, and analyzing are all a part of 2nd grade music!
Our first graders have been exploring Orff instruments - beginning with learning how to move through the 'xylophone forest.' Students are learning about the variety of instruments in the 'forest', from the largest contrabass bars, to the basses, altos, to the smallest glockenspiels. These instruments are providing a lovely background to a lullaby they are singing, "Sleep, Baby, Sleep." Hopefully, they can use this song to help lull a family member back to sleep sometime! In addition, the children have watched some old video footage of Bill "Mr. Bojangle" Robinson tap dance along with Shirley Temple - to support a very rhythmic story, "Rat-a-Tat-Tat." If your child came home and tried to put quarters on their socks, I admit, that was my idea! Now, in March, the children have watched a scene from another really old movie that features Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing to "Pick Yourself Up." This is a sweet song with a great message, and watching those two amazing dancers was a great way to introduce the song. So, if there are questions about black and white movies - again, I admit, that's probably from me, too!
Kindergarten students did a fabulous job in February creating musical compositions using lines and symbols. This student-created notation helps to cement the concept of high and low sounds being high and low on the paper, and later on a musical staff. It also reinforces the concept of reading from left to right. These 'pieces' were performed each class by the students. It was great fun to have the composer give instructions, but even more important, was realizing that our 'notation' had to be clear in order for others to perform our piece. Kindergarten students have also been learning several dances. Some with partners, and some in lines. It's another opportunity to use our manners as we work take new partners each round. Dr. Seuss' birthday was celebrated with a reading of "My Many Colored Days." This Dr. Seuss story explores feelings using colors to identify these moods. The children used colored scarves and creative movement to help bring the story to life. Dr. Seuss keeps on giving to children after all these years!
Our first graders have been exploring Orff instruments - beginning with learning how to move through the 'xylophone forest.' Students are learning about the variety of instruments in the 'forest', from the largest contrabass bars, to the basses, altos, to the smallest glockenspiels. These instruments are providing a lovely background to a lullaby they are singing, "Sleep, Baby, Sleep." Hopefully, they can use this song to help lull a family member back to sleep sometime! In addition, the children have watched some old video footage of Bill "Mr. Bojangle" Robinson tap dance along with Shirley Temple - to support a very rhythmic story, "Rat-a-Tat-Tat." If your child came home and tried to put quarters on their socks, I admit, that was my idea! Now, in March, the children have watched a scene from another really old movie that features Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing to "Pick Yourself Up." This is a sweet song with a great message, and watching those two amazing dancers was a great way to introduce the song. So, if there are questions about black and white movies - again, I admit, that's probably from me, too!
Kindergarten students did a fabulous job in February creating musical compositions using lines and symbols. This student-created notation helps to cement the concept of high and low sounds being high and low on the paper, and later on a musical staff. It also reinforces the concept of reading from left to right. These 'pieces' were performed each class by the students. It was great fun to have the composer give instructions, but even more important, was realizing that our 'notation' had to be clear in order for others to perform our piece. Kindergarten students have also been learning several dances. Some with partners, and some in lines. It's another opportunity to use our manners as we work take new partners each round. Dr. Seuss' birthday was celebrated with a reading of "My Many Colored Days." This Dr. Seuss story explores feelings using colors to identify these moods. The children used colored scarves and creative movement to help bring the story to life. Dr. Seuss keeps on giving to children after all these years!