Week of May 14

Attention parents of 3rd and 4th Grade Students!  Don't forget that the 3rd-4th Grade Spring Sing is Tuesday, May 22 @ ELM PLACE - 7:00pm!

Doors will open at 6:45.  Enter through door #10, by the auditorium.  Performers meet their classes in the hallway at 6:50.  Parents go directly to the auditorium.  Parking is available at Elm Place and Indian Trail.  See information sheet that was sent home, or access it under the "Important Dates" section of the blog!

Read on to find out about what your students have been learning in music during the past week...

Kindergarteners in Ms. Waller's class sang a song where they came up with new ways to play their rhythm sticks.  They composed new words to this song and thought of creative ways to use their instruments.  They also sang a song called "Sounds on the Farm" and played a singing game.  Ms. Tepper's morning class listened to a story called So-me and the Dance.  This book taught them the Solfege syllable “la,” which is the highest pitch they have learned so far.  They also played hand drums and maracas.  Students in Ms. Tepper’s afternoon class did not have music due to the early release on Thursday.

First graders focused on call and response form this week.  They learned a song called "Charlie Over the Ocean" and played a singing game with this song.  They also did an activity where they compared and contrasted two different versions of a song called "Everybody Oughta Know," which is also in call and response form.

Second graders continued assessing their own recordings and conferencing with me this week.  They also began watching a movie about George Frideric Handel called "Handel's Last Chance."  The students love this movie!

Third and fourth graders had their full grade level rehearsals in the music room this past week.  Monday will be their assembly in the WT gym, and Tuesday evening is their concert at Elm Place.  Please see the note that was sent home for more information.  If you need an extra copy, you can access it under the "Important Dates" section of the blog.

Fifth graders took some of what they learned from watching "Stomp Out Loud" and applied it to drumming this week.  They worked on African drumming using the tubanos, djembes, gathering drum, gankogui, agogo bell, and shekeres.

Music Fact of the Week

Continuing with our celebration of “International Museum Day” on May 18, take a look at The Motown Historical Museum website, which has lots of information about this great genre of music:  http://www.motownmuseum.com/mtmpages/