Week of February 1

Here are some highlights from the music room this week...

Kindergarteners learned about pitched and unpitched instruments by playing the xylophones, metallophones, and glockenspiels (pitched instruments) and the woodblock (unpitched instrument) with "Wee Willie Winkie."


First graders reviewed the instrument families of the symphony orchestra by reading a story called The Remarkable Farkle McBride.  They really liked the illustrations in this book!  They were able to label the characters from "Peter and the Wolf" with the instruments that played each theme and decide to which family that instrument belonged.  The first graders were also excited to begin learning the first song for their Spring Sing!

Second graders began their Spring Sing music this week!  They learned about how a theme in their opening song was borrowed from Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumblebee" and they were introduced to some basic line dance and square dance steps.


Third graders discovered that it is much easier reading a choral score on the second attempt than it is the first time through!  They did a great job singing and adding movement to their opening Spring Sing song.


Fourth graders started the first song for their Spring Sing this week!  They had a homework assignment consisting of three questions about this song that they should have turned in already.  If your child has not turned this in yet, please have him do so on Monday!


Fifth graders learned to play B-flat on their recorders.  They have been working very hard on their music, and many students even earned two belts in class this week!  Most fifth graders are currently working on their purple belts.

The third graders had the great opportunity to meet Dave Cruikshank and Curtis Brackenbury on Thursday.  Mr. Cruikshank is a former Olympic speedskater who is married to Bonnie Blair, and Mr. Brackenbury is a former NHL player.  Take a look at the Solami's Solo section of this blog for a special photo!