Week of March 12

It was nice speaking to those parents and students who stopped by during conferences.  We have a very exciting week ahead!  On Thursday afternoon, students will celebrate Music in Our Schools month and Youth Art Month by experiencing an afternoon of Arts in Action.  The afternoon will begin with an opening assembly and will continue as students attend three pre-selected workshops of the twenty-one that will be presented!

This past week, Kindergarteners in Ms. Waller’s class learned about eighth notes and used quarter notes and eighth notes to rhythmically dictate “Closet Key.”  They also looked for patterns in the song and discussed the form.  Students in Ms. Tepper’s classes did not have music due to conferences.

First graders discovered that, like people, instruments also have many characteristics in common with the members of their families.  They began learning about the brass family.  The San Francisco Symphony for Kids has a great website that we will be using during our instrument unit, in case you would like to take a look at it with your child:  http://www.sfskids.org/templates/instorchframe.asp?pageid=3  They also watched a short video about how trombones are made.  They loved this!

Second graders began learning a song called "John Kanakanaka" this week.  This song is in call and response form.  They did several rhythm stick activities with this piece, and they are in the beginning stages of working with partners to compose movements to the rhythm using the rhythm sticks.

Third and fourth graders began learning instrument parts for their Spring Sing this week.  They also filled out their questionnaires letting me know whether they would like to play instruments, have speaking parts, dance parts, singing solos, etc. in the concert.

Fifth graders began playing guitars this week!  Many students were surprised how difficult this was.  They thought the guitars looked small to begin with, but when they actually began playing them, they were surprised at how much it felt like they had to stretch their fingers.  They are working very hard so far!

 

Music Fact of the Week

Thursday, March 22, which happens to be Arts in Action Afternoon at Wayne Thomas, is also National Sing Out Day!  Celebrate National Sing Out Day by having an "Opera Day" in your home.  See if you can sing everything!