Kindergarteners sang an echo song about Thanksgiving this week called "I Wish I Were a Turkey." They did movements with this song, as well. They also sang a song called "Turkey Dinner" and played a game to reinforce finding the steady beat in the song.
First graders studied "O Fortuna" from Carl Orff's cantata called "Carmina Burana" this week. They analyzed tone color in this piece and played unpitched percussion instruments with the song. They really enjoyed this. They also did a composition activity where they composed short rhythms based on things for which they are thankful.
Second graders worked in groups to finish their composition activity based on the Pieter Brueghel painting with which they have been working. They also sang, did movement to, and played instruments with a song called "Yummy Pumpkin Pie." They did a dance to the "Turkey Tango," too.
Third graders read a book called When I First Came to This Land. They analyzed when the story probably took place and why the characters experienced what they did. They then sang the song of the same name and played unpitched percussion instruments with the song. Students discovered that particular unpitched percussion instruments were selected because of the tone color of each instrument so they could be used to represent particular characters in the story.
Fourth graders worked on their recorder technique this week. They learned the correct way to blow into the instrument and the proper way to cover the holes. The most common mistake for beginning recorder players to make is they often want to use their right hands to cover the holes on the top of the instrument. The right hand should be on the bottom of the recorder for support, and the left hand should be at the top, covering the holes. They will use the right hand more later. Over Thanksgiving break, if students have time, they should work on developing muscle memory, especially for the "G" finger position (thumb, first, second, and third fingers). A recorder fingering chart is available for download under the "Recorder Music" section of the blog if they did not bring their own home.
Fifth graders reviewed basic recorder technique this week and began reviewing the notes B, A, G, and re-introduced high C and high D. High C and high D can be difficult notes for many students, so these are important notes to be practiced over Thanksgiving break if your child has time. He does not even need to blow into the recorder for this; the finger position is the most important thing at this point! A recorder fingering chart is available for download under the "Recorder Music" section of the blog if your student did not bring his home.
Music Fact of the Week
This Thanksgiving, you and your family may end up watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. One of the things about the parade that I especially look forward to is the wide variety of marching bands and musical groups. You can see which marching bands will be performing and the selections they will be playing here: http://www.marching.com/news/2012/2012-macys-thanksgiving-parade-bands/
Take a look at this video clip from the 1982 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade: http://quietube3.com/v.php/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83MRlA3EL00 It is amazing to see how so many things are completely different, but some things, like the importance of the music of the marching bands, is still the same.
I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
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