Week of January 11

There were all kinds of exciting things happening in the music room this week!  Read on to see some of the highlights...

The kindergarteners were thrilled to learn to read their first two real musical symbols!  They learned that a quarter note gets one beat of sound, and a quarter rest gets one beat of silence.  We count quarter notes by clapping and saying "ta," and we count quarter rests by saying "shh" as we put our fists down in the air.  Ask them to demonstrate for you!  They composed rhythms using these symbols in class.

First graders rhythmically and melodically dictated a song called "Here We Sit" on the 5-line staff, and they played instruments to rhythms they sight-read from American jazz music.  They also began learning about the instrument families of the orchestra.  The first family they learned about this week was the brass family.  One of the tools we looked at was a website called the "San Francisco Symphony for Kids".  You can find the link for it under "Fun Music Websites" on the right-hand side of this page if you are interested in working with your child some more at home!

Second graders performed a song called "John Kanaka-naka."  They enjoyed working with partners to create their own rhythm stick patterns for the response section of the song.  Then they learned how to do-si-do for the call section.  When they put it all together, each group had its own unique version of the song!  They also played a song called "Everybody Oughta Know" with rhythm instruments and came up with some creative movements to "Skip to My Lou."

Third graders finished "Dance for the Nations" by singing it in a round and then adding the last element...singing and performing the dance in a round - in three concentric circles!  This was extremely difficult but they did a great job with it!  They also learned a new song called "Tideo" and did a tricky movement activity along with it.  They will add more to this next week.

Fourth graders played through "Twinkle, Twinkle," on the recorder and continued working in small groups to prepare to test for their next belt.  Most of the fourth graders are currently working on their blue belts.

Fifth graders learned two new notes on the recorder this week:  F and low C.  They played through "Simple Gifts" and continued working in small groups to prepare to test for their next belt.  Most fifth graders are currently working on their orange or green belts.  Since there will be no school this coming Monday, they will not be testing again until the following Monday.  Please encourage them to be ready!