Kindergarten classes are ending for the school year. I can't believe it! The good news is that I will see you all in the Fall for 1st grade music. YIPPEE! Kindergarten classes wrapped up the school year with frog songs. How fun is that? The children loved hopping to "Jump Frog Jump." We kept the beat to "Song of the Frogs" and used bullfrog guiros and vibraslaps, along with a fun bean-bag tossing game. We also learned a finger-play about "Five Little Froggies." The story of "Chicken Little" was brought to life with a variety of instruments as sound effects. The kids sang, "It Hit Me on the Head" about the acorn that hit Chicken Little, each time a new character ran into Chicken Little. Good singing technique continues to be emphasized as the children head toward first grade, and then we will jump in right where we left off! Happy Summer, Kindergarten!
First Grade students finished up May with a fabulous Portfolio Day Performance! The children really rallied to perform so well together. "Pictures at an Exhibition" was the culminating piece in our exploration of how music and art 'go together'. The students learned about Modest Mussorgsky. He was a Russian composer in the 1800s. Mussorgsky worked with other young artists and writers - they were known as the Mighty Handful. These men were greatly affected by the death of their friend, Victor Hartman - a painter and architect. An exhibition of Hartman's work inspired Mussorgsky to compose "Pictures at an Exhibition" in which each musical piece was based on a piece of visual art. The children love hearing Mussorgsky's pieces, and looking at the artwork. So....Mrs. Feld, the art teacher, photographed the first graders working on artwork and then we used them in music class as the basis for our spring performance. A piece of art based on Monet's Giverny garden - featuring a bridge over water lilies - led to the song, "Sur le Pont D'Avignon" which translates to "On the Bridge at Avignon"...a lovely dance/song in French. The children were so happy to see their visual artwork and realize each song was based on something they had already created. It was great fun, and we showed a visual presentation of the art while the children performed. Well done, everyone!!
Second Grade students wrapped up May and June with a look at Patriotic songs. Memorial Day and Fourth of July are filled with this music, so I like to give the kids a head-start. We discussed the stories behind "America the Beautiful," "America," "The Star Spangled Banner," "Grand Old Flag," "Yankee Doodle," and even "Yankee Doodle Dandy." They watched a really old film clip of James Cagney performing the last song which shows some tap dancing, and early rap and parre court! "This Land is Your Land" is always a big hit, too. And of course we did some tap dancing for National Tap Dance Day in May. We read about Mr. Bojangles - Bill Robinson - and watched another really old film clip of Mr. Bojangles and Shirley Temple! We finished out the year with some great dancing - "Sweets of May" is a really energetic dance in two lines - reel style. It keeps us hopping! All the best to our second graders at Half Day School next Fall! For now, Happy Summer!
First Grade students finished up May with a fabulous Portfolio Day Performance! The children really rallied to perform so well together. "Pictures at an Exhibition" was the culminating piece in our exploration of how music and art 'go together'. The students learned about Modest Mussorgsky. He was a Russian composer in the 1800s. Mussorgsky worked with other young artists and writers - they were known as the Mighty Handful. These men were greatly affected by the death of their friend, Victor Hartman - a painter and architect. An exhibition of Hartman's work inspired Mussorgsky to compose "Pictures at an Exhibition" in which each musical piece was based on a piece of visual art. The children love hearing Mussorgsky's pieces, and looking at the artwork. So....Mrs. Feld, the art teacher, photographed the first graders working on artwork and then we used them in music class as the basis for our spring performance. A piece of art based on Monet's Giverny garden - featuring a bridge over water lilies - led to the song, "Sur le Pont D'Avignon" which translates to "On the Bridge at Avignon"...a lovely dance/song in French. The children were so happy to see their visual artwork and realize each song was based on something they had already created. It was great fun, and we showed a visual presentation of the art while the children performed. Well done, everyone!!
Second Grade students wrapped up May and June with a look at Patriotic songs. Memorial Day and Fourth of July are filled with this music, so I like to give the kids a head-start. We discussed the stories behind "America the Beautiful," "America," "The Star Spangled Banner," "Grand Old Flag," "Yankee Doodle," and even "Yankee Doodle Dandy." They watched a really old film clip of James Cagney performing the last song which shows some tap dancing, and early rap and parre court! "This Land is Your Land" is always a big hit, too. And of course we did some tap dancing for National Tap Dance Day in May. We read about Mr. Bojangles - Bill Robinson - and watched another really old film clip of Mr. Bojangles and Shirley Temple! We finished out the year with some great dancing - "Sweets of May" is a really energetic dance in two lines - reel style. It keeps us hopping! All the best to our second graders at Half Day School next Fall! For now, Happy Summer!