Week of May 13

We had a great week in music!  Keep reading to find out about some of the highlights.

This week, the Kindergarteners read a story called So-me and the Dance, which taught them a new pitch: la.  This pitch is higher than sol or mi.  They also learned a song with rhythm sticks and played a singing game called "Sounds on the Farm."

First graders studied Bach's "Little Minuet" this week.  They learned that this song is in 3/4 time and that the first beat in each measure is the strong beat.  They also learned about Bach in preparation for the 3rd-4th grade Spring Sing next week.  They did a movement and instrument composition activity with nursery rhymes, too.

Second graders watched a movie about George Frideric Handel called "Handel's Last Chance."  They watched this and discussed Handel's life and music in preparation for the 3rd-4th grade Spring Sing next week, which is about composers.  They really enjoyed this movie!

Third and fourth graders had their full-grade rehearsals for their Spring Sing this week.  On Monday for their assembly and Thursday evening for their performance, 3rd and 4th graders who play COMPOSERS should wear BLACK and WHITE.  3rd and 4th graders who play STUDENTS should wear BRIGHT COLORS.  (They should still dress nicely for the evening performance, but they should try to incorporate these colors as much as possible.)  If you need an extra copy of the information sheet that was sent home, you may access it here:  3rd-4th Spring Sing Info

Fifth graders continued African drumming this week.  They began learning a drumming ensemble that used the tubanos, djembes, gathering drum, cowbell, gankogui, agogo bell, and shekere.  They have learned the drum parts and bell parts so far.

 

Music Activity of the Week

 Take a look at this game called Isle of Tune:  http://www.isleoftune.com/ This site lets you create musical journeys out of street layouts.  The objects that you can add create different sounds.  You can alter the sounds to form various melodies.  Then you add cars, which move through the streets to play the music.  It is best suited for intermediate students and above because it is fairly complex.  Some people have created really intricate layouts using popular songs.