Kindergarten
Kindergarten kids are busy learning lots of songs for their first Winter Sing. Songs cover Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Christmas and good old Jingle Bells and our school song. In addition, children are reviewing dances and play party games, such as "The Farmer in the Dell" and "Bobolinka," and will be exploring creative movements to accompany rhymes such as "Toy Shop" and "Cousin Peter." Kindergarten children are starting basic echo clapping to introduce children to a variety of rhythms and steady beat. Later on in the year, we will introduce the icons.
First Grade
December in music class always means lots of holiday music, but in first grade it also is our time to study "The Nutcracker Suite" by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. The music, while written in 1892, is wonderfully joyful and exciting for children today. First graders learn vocabulary including, ballet, composer, suite and conductor. They are also learning about some of the different instruments in the orchestra, the story of The Nutcracker, and are discovering that while the dances may look easy, they are very difficult when they give it a go! Years of study is what they realize makes dancers able to take those graceful leaps and turns. Students also are learning about the many holidays in December, including Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, New Years, and Chinese New Year. First graders are also learning how to perform rhythmic canons. It's a round, but echo clapping instead of singing. Students who take music lessons are invited to share a song with the class the 2nd week of December. If your child asks to bring their instrument or music to school, it's just an opportunity to share their music with their classmates - during their regular music class.
2nd Grade
2nd Graders begin the month with 'sleigh' music. It's amazing how many songs there are about riding in a sleigh! We started with "Jingle Bells," checked out a painting called, "Holiday Sleigh Ride," and listened/moved to "Sleigh Ride" by Leroy Anderson and "Musical Sleigh Ride" by Leopold Mozart - Wolfgang's dad. Children created fabulous Venn diagrams comparing and contrasting these pieces. The students take on a leadership role for the winter sing, so we are working on those pieces, as well as learning dances to a Hebrew folk song, playing boomwhackers and reviewing some info about "The Nutcracker." Students are working on 3-part rhythmic canon, in addition to our basic 2-part canon. They are doing great! Students who take music lessons are invited to share a song with the class the 2nd week of December. If your child asks to bring their instrument or music to school, it's just an opportunity to share their music with their classmates - during their regular music class.
Kindergarten kids are busy learning lots of songs for their first Winter Sing. Songs cover Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Christmas and good old Jingle Bells and our school song. In addition, children are reviewing dances and play party games, such as "The Farmer in the Dell" and "Bobolinka," and will be exploring creative movements to accompany rhymes such as "Toy Shop" and "Cousin Peter." Kindergarten children are starting basic echo clapping to introduce children to a variety of rhythms and steady beat. Later on in the year, we will introduce the icons.
First Grade
December in music class always means lots of holiday music, but in first grade it also is our time to study "The Nutcracker Suite" by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. The music, while written in 1892, is wonderfully joyful and exciting for children today. First graders learn vocabulary including, ballet, composer, suite and conductor. They are also learning about some of the different instruments in the orchestra, the story of The Nutcracker, and are discovering that while the dances may look easy, they are very difficult when they give it a go! Years of study is what they realize makes dancers able to take those graceful leaps and turns. Students also are learning about the many holidays in December, including Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, New Years, and Chinese New Year. First graders are also learning how to perform rhythmic canons. It's a round, but echo clapping instead of singing. Students who take music lessons are invited to share a song with the class the 2nd week of December. If your child asks to bring their instrument or music to school, it's just an opportunity to share their music with their classmates - during their regular music class.
2nd Grade
2nd Graders begin the month with 'sleigh' music. It's amazing how many songs there are about riding in a sleigh! We started with "Jingle Bells," checked out a painting called, "Holiday Sleigh Ride," and listened/moved to "Sleigh Ride" by Leroy Anderson and "Musical Sleigh Ride" by Leopold Mozart - Wolfgang's dad. Children created fabulous Venn diagrams comparing and contrasting these pieces. The students take on a leadership role for the winter sing, so we are working on those pieces, as well as learning dances to a Hebrew folk song, playing boomwhackers and reviewing some info about "The Nutcracker." Students are working on 3-part rhythmic canon, in addition to our basic 2-part canon. They are doing great! Students who take music lessons are invited to share a song with the class the 2nd week of December. If your child asks to bring their instrument or music to school, it's just an opportunity to share their music with their classmates - during their regular music class.