Week of December 10

Keep reading to find out some of the highlights from your child's week in music!

Kindergarteners made a list of directions for how to make a snowman and then sang a song called "The Snowman" using this list.  They then composed movements to go with each part of the song.  They really enjoyed this activity and seem to be hoping for snow soon!

First graders sang a song called "Teddy Bear" and re-composed the lyrics, following the same rhyme scheme as the original lyrics.  They then composed movements to go with their new lyrics.  They also began learning about call and response form, studying and performing several songs and singing games in call and response form.

Second graders made their "Rocky Mountain" recordings this week!  Each student was recorded singing the song alone and will listen to his recording on the iPod.  He will then do a self-evaluation, which is the same rubric I have already filled out.  We will then conference and compare our responses.  In the conference, we will set a goal to work toward for the next singing assessment.  Some students have begun the process of evaluating their own recordings.  This is a very eye-opening experience!

Third graders studied the Tchaikovsky's "March" from "The Nutcracker" this week.  They discovered that this piece of music is in rondo form, and they learned movements for each section to help hear the differences between the parts of the song.  They used plates with their movements, and although they had a difficult time at first, they ended up doing a great job and had a lot of fun with this activity!

Fourth graders are now working on their third recorder song.  Most students earned their yellow belts this week for successfully playing their second song on the recorder.  During the recorder unit, students work at their own pace.  A few students are already working their green belts, and a few students are still focusing on their white belts.  Most students are working on their orange belts, which is earned for successfully playing the third song.

Fifth graders are currently working on their second or third recorder songs.  As with the fourth grade recorder unit, students may work at their own pace in this unit.  Most students are working on their yellow or orange belt songs (the second and third songs), but there are a few who are still working toward earning their white belts or have soared ahead and already earned their green belts.

 

Music Fact of the Week

     The Nutcracker Ballet is based on an adapted story by Alexander Dumas.  The original story was not suitable for kids.  In 1892, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky composed a ballet based on Dumas's work.  This ballet is performed worldwide during the holiday season.  It tells the story of a girl named Clara who receives a nutcracker doll from her godfather on Christmas.  She dreams of her adventures in the Kingdom of Sweets.  The first performance of The Nutcracker took place in Russia in 1892.  Try planning a Nutcracker-themed party if you are interested!  Visit http://www.llemonade.com/nutcracker for ideas.

 

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