Kindergarten Music classes are moving and shaking. Classes begin with vocal activities to enable the children to become comfortable with all of their vocal sounds - not just the talking and shouting used so much! Each day the children explore their voices by making siren sounds, matching slide whistle sounds, matching their voice sounds to curved lines, and even using puppets to initiate ghost and whale 'conversations.' The students become comfortable with all the sounds they can make, which will help them eventually find their singing voices and be able to match pitch. They will have countless opportunities to do this exploration. The month of September covers the theme, "Going to the Farm" and kindergarten classes focus on a different animal each week. Percussion instruments are introduced to complement the sounds and "Old MacDonald" adds on and on each week. Free movement is also explored daily, through a structured activity using djembe drums or color cards to start and stop the movement. Thirty minutes flies by in kindergarten music!
1st graders are also exploring their vocal sounds. They continue to use all sorts of sounds, and are becoming very comfortable singing individually as they continue the ghost and whale conversations. Children are the best models for each other and they have lots of opportunity to share as they wish.
1st Grade is learning about beat and rhythm, through apple-themed rhymes. They use instruments to highlight the different sound of steady beat and melodic rhythm, and are also internalizing the rhythms - we call it 'think' the rhythms. It's a great challenge to 'think' the rhymes together, and see if we end up at the same place at the same time! Gradually, the apples/steady beat will be transformed into quarter notes or TA's as they learn basic rhythm notation.
2nd graders continue the vocal exploration - though they are quite skilled and accustomed to sharing their own voices. It is truly best if students can learn from students, so there is always time given for independent vocalizing. Conversely, group singing is also wonderful, and we definitely enjoy that, as well. Currently, students are learning a song that incorporates "hello" in many different languages. It is great to have many children able to share their native language skills - and we all learn from them! In addition, 2nd graders are reviewing their xylophone skills in what we call the xylophone forest. Barred instruments of many sizes are used, metallophones, xylophones and glockenspiels, along with drums and shakers. They are reviewing technique, how to rotate through the instruments, and basic skills such as moving by step, hands together and alternating, rolls and slides, and borduns. Soon they will be making beautiful music!
1st graders are also exploring their vocal sounds. They continue to use all sorts of sounds, and are becoming very comfortable singing individually as they continue the ghost and whale conversations. Children are the best models for each other and they have lots of opportunity to share as they wish.
1st Grade is learning about beat and rhythm, through apple-themed rhymes. They use instruments to highlight the different sound of steady beat and melodic rhythm, and are also internalizing the rhythms - we call it 'think' the rhythms. It's a great challenge to 'think' the rhymes together, and see if we end up at the same place at the same time! Gradually, the apples/steady beat will be transformed into quarter notes or TA's as they learn basic rhythm notation.
2nd graders continue the vocal exploration - though they are quite skilled and accustomed to sharing their own voices. It is truly best if students can learn from students, so there is always time given for independent vocalizing. Conversely, group singing is also wonderful, and we definitely enjoy that, as well. Currently, students are learning a song that incorporates "hello" in many different languages. It is great to have many children able to share their native language skills - and we all learn from them! In addition, 2nd graders are reviewing their xylophone skills in what we call the xylophone forest. Barred instruments of many sizes are used, metallophones, xylophones and glockenspiels, along with drums and shakers. They are reviewing technique, how to rotate through the instruments, and basic skills such as moving by step, hands together and alternating, rolls and slides, and borduns. Soon they will be making beautiful music!