Kindergarten Music
As the leaves fall off the trees outside, the kindergarten children are singing about falling leaves. ''Rake the Leaves" is a fun song that provides lots of opportunity for pretend play. The children make up verses for the song and act them out. Some of them have very questionable raking skills; perhaps more practice at home! This song is used as a springboard for more tunes and poems about fall. All this talk about Fall is a great chance to explore up and down in music. The children move their bodies, use their voices and play instruments that represent high and low and up and down. This month we also learn some songs about Thanksgiving, our Sprague School Song, America and this year, Hanukkah. We continue to strive for good singing through vocal exploration. Call and response songs, echo songs, and silly warmups all help pave the way for pitch matching. Ask your child to sing "Peep, Squirrel" or "In the Woods" to you to check their progress.
First Grade
First grade moved into November working on the idea of beat versus rhythm. They learned in September (through apple activities) that steady beat can be represented by tally marks, apples, anything as long as it is the same. However, rhythm is represented by different symbols - such as ta's (quarter notes), ti-ti's (eighth notes) and rests. Students have had opportunities to perform steady beat on one sound, along with others playing rhythms on another sound. We are preparing the way for maintaining their own parts while in the midst of an orchestra, or band, or chorus when they are older. Last week we used the nursery rhyme, "Pease Porridge Hot" as the basis for beat and rhythm activities. We even created ABA form, by focusing on beat for the A section, and rhythm for the B. November also bring squirrel songs. These simple songs enable the children to work on pitch matching and singing, along with upward and downward, which they play on glockenspiels. We work to stretch our repertoire for fall as we work on songs for Thanksgiving, and Hanukkah. I have posted some of the titles and recordings on the website if you are interested, or if your child wants to sing along:)
Second Grade
The second graders are doing a great job working on lots of musical concepts. Most classes begin with a rhythm warm up. During this time, the children clap rhythm flashcards while listening to a variety of pieces of music - some blues, jazz, world music, classical. The students are mastering the idea of eighth notes being paired up or separated. They look different, but the children are recognizing the symbols more readily. Daily we also work to stretch our vocal skills. Sliding sounds, ghostly 'boos', whale sounds, are all used to get the children used to singing in their 'head' voice. Then, we follow with echo or call and response songs. I'm sure your child can lead you in a rousing round of "Down By The Bay." Ball bouncing games have also been used to help us feel the half note beat. The half note was then the rhythm used on some "xylophone orchestra" pieces." Last week I introduced the children to five levels of bordun skills to play on the xylophones. Most classes have made it to level two. By the end of the year, we hope to master all of them. Whew. Second graders are also working on Thanksgiving Songs, and Hanukkah, too. Luckily, our second graders already know most of the tunes, so they are just brushing up so they can be the leaders as the big kids on the block. I have posted some of the titles and recordings on the website if you are interested, or if your child wants to sing along.
As the leaves fall off the trees outside, the kindergarten children are singing about falling leaves. ''Rake the Leaves" is a fun song that provides lots of opportunity for pretend play. The children make up verses for the song and act them out. Some of them have very questionable raking skills; perhaps more practice at home! This song is used as a springboard for more tunes and poems about fall. All this talk about Fall is a great chance to explore up and down in music. The children move their bodies, use their voices and play instruments that represent high and low and up and down. This month we also learn some songs about Thanksgiving, our Sprague School Song, America and this year, Hanukkah. We continue to strive for good singing through vocal exploration. Call and response songs, echo songs, and silly warmups all help pave the way for pitch matching. Ask your child to sing "Peep, Squirrel" or "In the Woods" to you to check their progress.
First Grade
First grade moved into November working on the idea of beat versus rhythm. They learned in September (through apple activities) that steady beat can be represented by tally marks, apples, anything as long as it is the same. However, rhythm is represented by different symbols - such as ta's (quarter notes), ti-ti's (eighth notes) and rests. Students have had opportunities to perform steady beat on one sound, along with others playing rhythms on another sound. We are preparing the way for maintaining their own parts while in the midst of an orchestra, or band, or chorus when they are older. Last week we used the nursery rhyme, "Pease Porridge Hot" as the basis for beat and rhythm activities. We even created ABA form, by focusing on beat for the A section, and rhythm for the B. November also bring squirrel songs. These simple songs enable the children to work on pitch matching and singing, along with upward and downward, which they play on glockenspiels. We work to stretch our repertoire for fall as we work on songs for Thanksgiving, and Hanukkah. I have posted some of the titles and recordings on the website if you are interested, or if your child wants to sing along:)
Second Grade
The second graders are doing a great job working on lots of musical concepts. Most classes begin with a rhythm warm up. During this time, the children clap rhythm flashcards while listening to a variety of pieces of music - some blues, jazz, world music, classical. The students are mastering the idea of eighth notes being paired up or separated. They look different, but the children are recognizing the symbols more readily. Daily we also work to stretch our vocal skills. Sliding sounds, ghostly 'boos', whale sounds, are all used to get the children used to singing in their 'head' voice. Then, we follow with echo or call and response songs. I'm sure your child can lead you in a rousing round of "Down By The Bay." Ball bouncing games have also been used to help us feel the half note beat. The half note was then the rhythm used on some "xylophone orchestra" pieces." Last week I introduced the children to five levels of bordun skills to play on the xylophones. Most classes have made it to level two. By the end of the year, we hope to master all of them. Whew. Second graders are also working on Thanksgiving Songs, and Hanukkah, too. Luckily, our second graders already know most of the tunes, so they are just brushing up so they can be the leaders as the big kids on the block. I have posted some of the titles and recordings on the website if you are interested, or if your child wants to sing along.