Welcome to the 2020-2021 School Year!

Dear Wayne Thomas Families,

I am so excited to begin this new and exciting school year with you and your children.  This is going to be a year unlike any other, filled with new opportunities for learning and growth.

As you know, music classes are going to look a little different this year.  Music, along with other specials classes, will take place during the remote portion of your child's day.  I will be starting every lesson synchronously on Zoom.  That will give the students and me an opportunity to interact "live," we will go over their learning goals for the day, and then they will transition to working asynchronously.  I plan to keep my Zoom open in order to help troubleshoot as needed.

Last winter, the School Board approved the adoption of Quaver Music as the district's elementary music curricular resource.  This could not have come at a better time!  This online learning platform is interactive, and students really seemed to enjoy using it in the spring.  Like all new things, it may take some getting used to, but I am very excited to be able to share this fantastic resource with your children.  I will use additional books and materials throughout the year, but Quaver will remain the primary online resource for music.

I realize this is a new way of delivering instructional material to our students, but please know that we are all in this together.  Do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions or concerns.  This is the first time I will be teaching in this manner, and we are all going to be learning together.  There may be some hiccups, but we will get through them together.  If your child is struggling with any aspect of their music experience, please reach out to me.  I am here to help.

My primary goal is for students to have a safe, healthy, and enjoyable school year.  Music will look different, but we will learn and create together in this new environment.

Thank you for joining me on this journey!

Emily Crutchfield

Email: ecrutchfield@nssd112.org

Twitter: @ecrutchfield112

Update from Mrs. Crutchfield

Dear Wayne Thomas Families,

I wanted to touch base regarding a couple of special culminating activities that were scheduled for this spring.  

Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Arts in Action, which was scheduled for Wednesday, March 18, had to be canceled.  We are incredibly grateful to all of the fantastic presenters who were going to donate their time and talents for the event.  We hope they will consider joining us in 2022 when we hope to host the event again.

In addition, the 3rd & 4th Grade Spring Sing concert, which was scheduled to be performed on Monday, April 27 for the school, and Wednesday, April 29 for families, is also canceled.  I know students have worked incredibly hard to learn their songs for this performance.  If any 3rd or 4th grader would like to make a video of themselves performing any of the songs, I would love to see them!  Please feel free to email these to me, as I, too, am incredibly disappointed that we won't be able to share their awesome talents this year.

Next week, classroom teachers will be sharing information about how to access music lessons for all grade levels.  Students should be working on their specials assignments on Friday, April 10.  I have selected activities that I hope they will enjoy.  The music team worked hard this year on the adoption of a new curricular resource, called Quaver Music.  Some grade levels have used this during class times this year, but not all students will be familiar with it.  We will be using Quaver during this period of eLearning.  It is a fantastic resource that is used all throughout the world to enhance music education, and I am very excited to bring this to our Wayne Thomas students.  I have put together instructions for accessing Quaver, including several video tutorials, which classroom teachers will share on Thursday, prior to Friday's eLearning activities.  Each grade level will have one music lesson per week as we move forward into this new environment.

If you have any questions as we transition to eLearning for music (and all subject areas), please do not hesitate to reach out via email.  The goal is for students to interact with the resource and have a positive musical experience, but they should not be spending a huge amount of time in front of a screen.  They can pick and choose which parts of the lesson interest them the most and focus on those aspects of their learning.

I really miss our Wayne Thomas families.  I have thoroughly enjoyed visiting with students on Zoom calls, and I look forward to continue interacting with them in this new environment.

Musically Yours,

Mrs. Crutchfield
ecrutchfield@nssd112.org

Week of March 3

        Arts in Action is a biennial event that will take place at Wayne Thomas on the morning of Wednesday, March 18, in celebration of Music in Our Schools Month and Youth Art Month, which both take place in March. The day begins with an all-school assembly presented by the School of Rock. After the assembly, all students will attend three workshops that they have chosen ahead of time. The workshops feature all types of arts, including dance, music, drama, and visual arts. Examples of workshops that students will be attending include hip hop, poms, theatre games, ukulele, zen gardens, cupcake decorating, and drumming.

        We have fantastic volunteers from the community who are donating their time and resources for this event. Local participating organizations include: Soul 2 Sole Dance, The Performer's School, Rootz, Midwest Young Artists Conservatory, Music Institute of Chicago, School of Rock, Aloha City Ukes, Heller Nature Center, Botanic Garden, and Taste Buds. The 112 Education Foundation very generously provided a Foundation Grant for the ukuleles that will be used at Arts in Action.
        Students are very excited for this event!  Next week, we will have a schoolwide Art & Music themed spirit week as we lead up to Arts in Action.  We hope your child will enjoy this celebration of the arts at Wayne Thomas!

This week in music classes, Kindergarteners focused on distinguishing between high and low sounds in music.

First graders watched a movie version of Sergei Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf."  They really enjoyed identifying the different instruments that played the musical themes for each character.

Second graders sang a song called "Clapping Land."  This piece is in AB form, and they played several games with stationary and locomotor movements to help them feel the form of the song.

Third and fourth graders now know singing and movement to the first seven songs for their upcoming concert.  They will be filling out a sheet to tell me what parts they are interested in having for the concert next week in class.  Nobody is required to have an extra part, but all students are encouraged to sign up for special parts.  They will find out what their parts are after spring break.

Fifth graders are in the final few classes of their recorder unit.  Some students have earned their black belts, which is earned for successfully playing the ninth song.  Most students have really enjoyed this unit.

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

Week of February 24

Learn about what your child did this week in music by reading below!

Kindergarteners read two books in music this week.  They used It was So Quiet I Could Hear a Pin Drop to create a soundscape using unpitched percussion instruments.  They worked on playing one long crescendo throughout the course of the book.  They also read Good News, Bad News and selected percussion instruments that represented the good and bad situations in the book.  They used movement ribbons to move to the good and bad situations from the story.

First graders completed an instrument family worksheet to show what they learned about the families of instruments in the orchestra.  They enjoyed playing a couple of games to quiz their instrument knowledge, and they began learning about Sergei Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf."

Second graders sang a song called "I Will Pass This Shoe."  This piece helped them to feel the macrobeat, which feels slower than the microbeat.  They worked together as one large team to play a game, which required every student's complete concentration to be successful.  They enjoyed this activity!

Third and fourth graders are doing an excellent job with their concert music.  Most classes have begun singing and performing movements to their fifth song.  They should be practicing their songs at home in order to ensure they know the lyrics and movements.

Fifth graders did an excellent job with their recorder music this week.  One student even earned a black belt for recorder playing this week!  Most students are working on their orange or green belts.  They should continue to practice at home for a few minutes each day.

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

Week of February 18

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

Kindergarteners did a nice job playing the melody from Nellie Belle on the xylophones, metallophones, and glockenspiels this week.  They seemed to enjoy the challenge that this activity posed.

First graders learned about the final part of a symphony orchestra this week: the conductor!  They also enjoyed listening to a story called Tubby the Tuba, which reminded them of the part a tuba typically plays in the orchestra.

Second graders figured out the Solfege pitches in Bear's Loose Tooth, and performed them on the xylophones, metallophones, and glockenspiels.  They seemed to enjoy the activities they did with this book.

Third and fourth graders continued working on their concert music this week.  At this point, most classes have learned the singing and movements for their first four songs.  (Due to the recent days off, some classes will learn the movements next week.) Their evening concert will take place Wednesday, April 29.  A detailed information sheet will go home closer to the performance.

Fifth graders continued their work on the recorders this week.  They are doing a nice job with their music and should be continuing to practice at home.

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

Week of February 10

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

Kindergarteners read a book called Nellie Belle.  This book is sung, and they learned the words "ascending" and "descending" to describe the pitches of the song.  They began learning to play the tune on the Orff instruments.

First graders studied woodwind instruments this week.  They did an activity with J.S. Bach's "Little Fugue in G Minor" that helped them to visualize the interactions between each new instrument that entered.  They also did an experiment to find out what impact the amount of water in a glass bottle has on the pitch that comes out.

Second graders played a game that helped them to identify the Solfege pitches in the pentatonic scale (do, re, mi, sol, and la) on the treble clef staff.  They also read a book called Bear's Loose Tooth and played unpitched percussion instruments with the story.

Third and fourth graders learned movements for their third concert piece and began singing their fourth song this week.  They are doing a nice job with their songs so far.  Students should be practicing their music at home for a few minutes each evening.  All songs are accessible under the "Concert Music" section of this blog.

Fifth graders began their playing tests for recorder this week.  Most students have earned their white belt, which is the first recorder belt they can earn.  They should be practicing their recorders for a few minutes each evening.

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

Week of February 3

Learn about what your child experienced this week in music by reading below!

Kindergarteners studied the string and percussion instrument families this week.  They especially enjoyed using iPads to compose body percussion songs.  They worked very hard this week!

First graders listened to the percussion section of Benjamin Britten's "Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra."  They enjoyed looking at a snare drum up close, and they worked on being able to identify percussion instruments by the sound and look of the instrument.

Second graders sang a song called "One Small Musician" this week.  They performed a body percussion ostinato with this piece, and played a game that focused on short body percussion improvisations.

Third and fourth graders performed movements with their second concert piece and began learning to sing their third song.  Their second piece is a medley, and one of the songs in it is from a musical called "Meet Me In St. Louis."  They enjoyed watching a short clip of Judy Garland singing their song from the movie version of the musical.

Fifth graders played their first recorder piece this week.  It is a song called "The Snake Charmer," and it is not easy!  All recorder music is available on the "Recorder Music" section of this blog.  Songs are password protected, and students were given the password in class.  If they have forgotten it, they can email me.

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

Week of January 27

Find your child's grade level below to find out what your child learned in music this week!

Kindergarteners dug in deeper to the brass and woodwind families this week.  They were able to identify features of brass and woodwind instruments and to recognize them by sound.  They especially enjoyed composing movements to flute and trumpet sections of various pieces of music.

First graders enjoyed listening to Johann Strauss Jr's "Pizzicato Polka," which features the string instruments playing pizzicato, or plucking the strings.  They also began learning about the percussion instruments.

Second graders performed their compositions about pizza this week.  They made video recordings and then self-assessed their videos.  I plan to share these videos on Seesaw, so you can see what your child has been working on recently!

Third and fourth graders learned movements for their first concert song this week and began singing their second song.  They are doing a fantastic job with their music already!  They should be practicing at home.  All recordings and lyric sheets are available under the "Concert Music" section of this blog.

Fifth graders enjoyed playing Staff Wars to review the letter names of the notes on the treble clef staff.  They also began playing their recorders.  They reviewed the fingerings for B, A, G, C', and D'.  There are a couple of students who did not have recorders in class this week.  Recorders should be kept in the music room, so they either need to bring one in, or they can purchase a new one for $3.50.

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

Week of January 21

See below to find out what your child learned in music this week!

Kindergarteners continued learning about the instrument families of the orchestra.  They played games where they identified the instrument by its looks, sound, and clues about it.  They enjoyed doing several movement activities with songs featuring the different instrument families, as well.

First graders studied Aaron Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man," which features the brass instrument family.  They also began learning about the string instruments in the orchestra.

Second graders continued working on their pizza themed compositions this week.  Most groups are getting close to finishing their songs, so they will be polishing them and preparing for classroom performances next week.

Third graders listened to their own singing recordings this week.  I had a short conference with each student.  They graded their own recordings, we compared our ratings, and we set a goal for them to work toward.  They also began learning their first concert song.

Fourth graders concluded their recorder unit this week.  Students seemed to really enjoy this unit.  They also began learning their first concert song.

Fifth graders completed their body percussion compositions this week.  They were very excited to perform their songs for their classmates.  They did an excellent job with this activity!  Fifth graders will begin the recorder unit next week.  All students are asked to have two recorders.  One is kept at home so they can practice there, and the other is kept at school.  If your child needs to purchase a recorder, I have a few extras.  They can bring $3.50 to the music room, and I will get them a new instrument.

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

Week of January 13

Find your child's grade level below to learn about some of the highlights from their music classes this week!

Kindergarteners sang an Indonesian folk song called "Burung Kakatua" this week.  They enjoyed playing instruments with this song.  They also began learning about the instrument families of the orchestra.  The instruments they are focusing on include trumpet, violin, drum, and flute.

First graders played a singing game with a song called "Charlie Over the Ocean," which is in call and response form.  They also began learning about the brass family of instruments.  They learned that the four main brass instruments include the trumpet, French horn, trombone, and tuba.

Second graders began working in groups to compose songs about pizza.  This week is National Pizza Week, so they are working in teams to create their own pizza theme songs.  They will be playing these songs on the Orff instruments.

Third graders made recordings of themselves singing "Dance for the Nations" individually.  They will listen to their recordings next week and set singing goals to work towards while they are learning their concert music in the upcoming months.

Fourth graders in Mr. Bogie's class concluded their recorder unit this week.  Students in Ms. Hoffman's class will have their last class focused on recorder next Wednesday.  Fourth graders have worked hard during this unit.  A few students have earned their black belts, and many have worked all the way up to their blue belts.

Fifth graders worked in groups to compose body percussion songs.  They started with a basic outline and then achieved various levels in their compositions.  Some groups composed words, some added their own movements, some altered the form of the piece, and some composed instrument parts.  They will perform their songs for their classmates next week.

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

Week of January 6

We had a great first week back at Wayne Thomas!  All students signed up for "Arts in Action" during music classes this week.  This is a special event that we host every other year at Wayne Thomas to celebrate Music In Our Schools Month and Youth Art Month, which both take place in March.  This year's event will take place on the morning of Wednesday, March 18.  The morning will begin with an all-school assembly presented by the School of Rock, and then each student will attend three workshops focused on the arts: music, dance, visual arts, and drama.  Students selected six workshops that sounded interesting to them this week, and they will find out which three they will attend on the day of the event.

Kindergarteners read a book called Harold Finds a Voice this week.  They used unpitched percussion instruments to bring the story to life, and they used movement ribbons to help act out the story.  They also learned to read quarter notes and quarter rests.

First graders studied call and response form this week.  They played a singing game with a song called "Penny, Key, & Paper Clip," which is in call and response form.  They also listened to several other pieces in this form.  They particularly enjoyed "Tshotsholoza," which is from South Africa.

Second graders worked on feeling the difference between the microbeat and the macrobeat during music this week.  They played a singing game with a song called "Miss Sue," which also helped them to review the various dynamic levels.

Third graders reviewed the importance of vocal technique this week as they began singing a new song called "Dance for the Nations."  They learned a folk dance with this piece, as well.

Fourth graders are in their final couple of weeks of the recorder unit.  They have really expanded their musical skills during this unit, and many students have said they are excited to continue playing their recorders in fifth grade.

Fifth graders began learning a body percussion song this week.  They used various icons to represent complex rhythms and patterns of movements.  They began sharing ideas with their groups for how they can use these pieces to create their own compositions.

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

Week of December 16

I hope you have a fantastic winter break, filled with fun and relaxation.  I look forward to seeing your children back at Wayne Thomas on January 6, 2020!

Kindergarteners studied Antonio Vivaldi's composition called "Winter" this week.  This is from the "Four Seasons."  They also enjoyed playing Music Memory.

First graders learned about Antonio Vivaldi's life and music this week.  They also enjoyed exploring Chrome Music Lab on the iPads.

Second graders sang a song called "See the Stars."  They worked on holding their own parts while playing triangles, as well.

Third graders assessed their own performances of "March" from "The Nutcracker."  They also enjoyed exploring Chrome Music Lab.

Fourth graders have been doing a nice job playing their recorders.  At this point, most students have earned their white, yellow, orange, green, and purple belts.  Some students are even working on their blue, red, and brown belts!

Fifth graders enjoyed watching a performance of "Stomp Out Loud" this week.  This is based on a Broadway production that features percussionists using unusual objects to make music.

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

Week of December 9

Congratulations to the fifth graders, who performed a fantastic concert this week!

Kindergarteners sang a song called "The Snowman" this week.  They worked as a group to compose movements to the song.  Take a look at SeeSaw for the video of their performance!

First graders created two different soundscapes this week.  They read poems about winter and holidays, and then they worked in teams to use unpitched percussion instruments to bring the poems to life.

Second graders were excited to listen to their singing recordings this week.  Many students said they had never gotten to hear themselves sing before, so it was a very eye-opening experience!  They assessed their own recordings, and I conferenced with each student and helped them create singing goals to work towards for their next recordings.

Third graders made video recordings of themselves performing movements to Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker March."  They discovered that this song is in rondo form, and most students really enjoyed performing plate movements to the song.

Fourth graders continued their work on the recorders this week.  So far, they have learned fingerings for B, A, G, E, low D, high C, and high D.  The goal is for every student to test with me at least once per week.

Fifth graders did a fantastic job at both their assembly and evening performance of their concert.  I was really proud of their hard work, and I hope they enjoyed sharing their learning with their peers and families!

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

Week of December 2

We had a great week at Wayne Thomas.  See your child's grade level below to find out about what they learned in music.

Kindergarteners sang "John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt" this week.  This song helped them to learn that piano means soft, and forte means loud.  They sang and played instruments both piano and forte.

First graders performed a circle dance called "The Shoemaker's Dance" this week.  They also worked on singing with proper vocal technique while singing "Birdie, Birdie."  Students really enjoyed playing rhythms commonly found in rock and roll music, as well.

Second graders focused on singing with proper vocal technique this week as they sang "Rocky Mountain."  On Friday, each student made a recording of themselves singing this song.  Next week, they will be listening to their recordings and assessing their own performances.

Third graders began a study of Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker March" this week.  They discovered that it is in rondo form, and they began learning different movements for each section of the piece.

Fourth graders are doing a nice job with their recorder music.  Most students are working on the songs they will perform in order to earn their orange or green belts, although there are still some students working on their yellow belt songs.  Students should be practicing their recorders for a few minutes every night at home.

Fifth graders are looking forward to sharing their concert music with an audience next week.  They had their full grade level rehearsal this week, and they really enjoyed hearing the songs with all of the parts combined.  Their assembly will take place on Monday during the school day, and their evening performance is on Wednesday night at 6:00 at Wayne Thomas.  (Doors open at 5:40.)  See the note that was sent home for more information.  On Monday, students should wear either Wayne Thomas apparel, blue and white, or Disney apparel if they have it.  If you are unable to attend the evening performance and would like to attend Monday's assembly instead, please email me ASAP!

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

Week of November 12

Thank you to all of the guests who joined us for the 1st and 2nd grade Informances this week.  The students had a great time sharing their learning with you!

Kindergarteners studied Amy Beach's composition called "In Autumn" this week.  They figured out that this piece is performed on the piano.  Amy Beach wrote the song to sound like the leaves falling off the trees.  Students composed movements using ribbons to mimic the melody of the piece.

First and second graders were very excited to welcome guests into their music classes this week.  We hope you enjoyed getting a small glimpse into what your children experience in music each week!

Third graders played unpitched percussion instruments with a song called "When I First Came to This Land."  They also enjoyed learning some simple square dance moves along with a book called Barn Dance.

Fourth graders learned to play a new note on the recorder this week!  "E" is the first note that uses both their left and right hands, so it can be a major adjustment for students.  They should continue practicing their instruments for a few minutes each night at home.

Fifth graders are doing a nice job putting all of the final pieces of their concert music together.  They should continue practicing their songs at home in order to ensure they remember all of the lyrics.  Students who have special parts (speaking parts, singing solos, dance parts, instrument parts, etc.) should be practicing their extra parts at home, as well.

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

Week of November 4

If you have a 1st or 2nd grader, we hope you will be able to join us at our Informances next week!  Please see below for specific dates and times.

Kindergarteners read two books about clouds this week in music.  They enjoyed singing and moving to Little Cloud, and they had fun using unpitched percussion instruments to bring Cloud Dance to life.

First graders created a soundscape to a story this week, and they reviewed a folk dance that they will share during next week's Informances.  We hope you can join us for your child's upcoming Informances!

Wednesday, November 13

Mrs. Ruiz's Class: 12:45-1:15

Ms. Tepper's Class: 1:15-1:45

Thursday, November 14

Ms. Bond's Class: 12:45-1:15

Second graders learned a call and response song this week.  They worked with partners to compose rhythm stick movements to the response sections of the song.  You can see their final products at next week's Informances!  We hope you can join us for this special event!

Friday, November 15

Mrs. Elman's Class: 10:20-10:50

Mr. Meekhof's Class: 10:50-11:20

Mrs. Kenar's Class: 11:20-11:50

Third graders studied the music of the Maori people of New Zealand this week.  They especially enjoyed performing a traditional Maori stick game called Tititorea.

Fourth graders continued working on their recorder music featuring the notes B, A, and G this week.  The first three songs they will perform for playing tests use these same notes, so they should become very comfortable with them.

Fifth graders enjoyed putting all of the parts for their concert together this week.  They are working to put the singing, movements, instrument parts, speaking parts, and solos together, and they are doing a great job!

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

Week of October 28

If you have a child in 1st or 2nd grade, you should be receiving a sheet with details about their upcoming informances.  Please check your child's backpack for this today!

Kindergarteners used unpitched percussion instruments to create a soundscape to bring a book to life this week.  They really enjoyed the book, which was called If You're A Monster And You Know It.

First graders played a game that helped them to feel the steady beat in different ways.  They also enjoyed performing a couple of Halloween movement songs.  We hope you can join us for your child's upcoming Informances!

Wednesday, November 13

Mrs. Ruiz's Class: 12:45-1:15

Ms. Tepper's Class: 1:15-1:45

Thursday, November 14

Ms. Bond's Class: 12:45-1:15

Second graders played a couple of Halloween singing games and performed several songs in minor keys this week.  They seemed to enjoy these activities!  We hope you can join us for your child's upcoming Informances!

Friday, November 15

Mrs. Elman's Class: 10:20-10:50

Mr. Meekhof's Class: 10:50-11:20

Mrs. Kenar's Class: 11:20-11:50

Third graders enjoyed performing several spooky songs on the Boomwhackers this week.  These songs were in minor keys, and they had to follow the notes on the Promethean Board in order to know when to play their parts.

Fourth graders did a nice job playing their recorders this week.  Most students have now earned their white belts, which they earn for successfully playing "Hot Cross Buns."  Students are able to work at their own pace through this unit.  The goal is for each child to play for me at least once a week in order to get feedback and pointers for how to improve.

Fifth graders started recess rehearsals this week!  They were excited to learn what parts they will have in their winter concert, and they are already doing a great job of layering these parts in with the songs.

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

Week of October 21

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

Kindergarteners continued their work on the Orff instruments this week.  They also played a Halloween singing game and sang an echo song about pumpkins.

First graders used unpitched percussion instruments to create a soundscape with a book this week.  They also performed a rhythmic dictation activity with a Halloween song.

Second graders performed Halloween rhythms on the Boomwhackers this week.  They also worked in teams to complete a rhythmic dictation activity with a song about pumpkins.

Third graders played their second music card game this week.  They will play the third game next week.  They also sang two Halloween partner songs and focused on holding their own parts while people around them were singing something different.

Fourth graders began playing their first recorder song this week.  The song uses the notes B, A, and G.  Students should be practicing for about five minutes each day at home.  They have hard copies of the sheet music, or they can access the songs on the Recorder Music section of this blog.  They need a password to access the song electronically.  They were given the password in class, but if they do not remember it, they can always email me.

Fifth graders have started polishing their concert songs this week.  Many students took part in the "Test of Courage" this week during recess.  They did a fantastic job!  I hope to be able to share their parts with them next week.

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

Week of October 16

Find your child's grade level below to learn about some highlights from their music class this week.

Kindergarteners sang a fall song this week.  They discussed the melodic direction of the pitches in the song and used movement ribbons to show that it starts high and gradually gets lower.  They were excited to begin playing the Orff instruments, which include xylophones, metallophones, and glockenspiels.

First graders played a singing game with a Halloween song this week.  They also read a fall book and performed a song along with it.

Second graders began learning a partner folk dance this week.  They did a nice job working together during this activity.  They also sang a Halloween song and discovered that it is in a minor key.  They enjoyed playing this song on the Orff instruments.

Third graders learned to play three different music games this week: Instrument Family Go Fish, Composer Memory, and Fiddlesticks.  They liked working in groups to play these games.  Each group got to play one game this week, and they will play the other games in the future.

Fourth graders were very excited to begin playing their recorders this week!  They learned the fingerings for their first note, which is B.  Mrs. Hoffman's class also learned A and G.  They should be practicing their instruments for a few minutes each evening.

Fifth graders learned about the different instrument parts in their upcoming concert this week.  Students completed a questionnaire, letting me know which parts they are interested in having for their concert.  Any student interested in having a singing solo will complete a "Test of Courage" during recess next week on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.  This is their opportunity to test the solo out and make sure they are comfortable singing in front of a group.

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