Week of February 16

Keep reading to learn about some of the highlights from your child's Music class this week!

Kindergarteners read a story called Engine, Engine, Number Nine and learned a song of the same name.  They worked on differentiating between the rhythm and the steady beat in the song, and they played unpitched percussion instruments.

First graders began to wrap up their instrument family unit this week.  They did an experiment with pop bottles to see how the bottles would sound with different amounts of water inside.  This helped them to see how a flute mouthpiece works because you blow over the top of it instead of blowing directly in the hole, similar to the way you blow into a pop bottle to make a sound.  They read a book called The Remarkable Farkle McBride, which gave a kind of funny review of some of the instruments.  They also played a couple of instrument review games.

Second graders learned a song called "One Small Musician" this week.  They found the macrobeat and microbeat and worked on improvising 4-beat body percussion rhythms.

Third and fourth graders are doing a nice job with their Spring Sing music so far.  At this point, they should have the lyrics and movements for their first two songs completely memorized.  They should be working on their music at home.  Their third song should be memorized by next week.

Fifth graders continued working on their recorder music this week.  At this point, most students have earned their first recorder belt.  A couple students have worked so hard that they have already earned their third belts!

As always, please free to contact me with any questions or concerns: ecrutchfield@nssd112.org