Week of April 17

Find out about what your child learned in music this week by reading below!

Kindergarteners in Ms. Tepper's morning class watched a movie that featured musicians from the percussion group called "Stomp."  The musicians interacted with characters from "Sesame Street," and the students really enjoyed this.  Students in Ms. Tepper's afternoon class read a book called Up, Down, and Around, which talked all about how various vegetables grow in gardens.  They then used their voices, bodies, movement ribbons, and Orff instruments to perform the "ups" and "downs."

First graders performed their nursery rhyme compositions, which featured movement, speaking or singing, and instruments.  They also created soundscapes to a couple of different images.  To do this, they selected instruments that they thought would bring the picture to life.

Second graders performed "Ducks in the Millpond" using xylophones, metallophones, and woodblocks.  They also learned a partner dance with this song.  They then read a book called The Pout-Pout Fish, and performed this story with singing and Orff instruments.  The song they sang with this book is extremely catchy, so you may hear your child singing it this weekend!

Third and fourth graders are getting very close to their Spring Sing performance!  They have been working on putting the finishing touches on their performance.  If you need an extra copy of the Spring Sing information sheet that was sent home last week, you may access it here: 3rd-4th Grade Concert Info  You can also ask your child to pick up an extra copy of the paper version, which can be found on the table right outside the music room.

Fifth graders continue to do a nice job playing the ukuleles.  Most students have completed testing for their first song, the theme from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.  They focused on plucking the strings in this first piece.  They will be strumming chords in all of their subsequent songs.  The first chords they are working on include C and G7.  Just a reminder that ukuleles are available for free check-out from the Highland Park Public Library!

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