Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
Greeley Tribune article
We made the front page of the paper! On Friday, a reporter came to cover the sing along events I began last school year. Click here to read the article! It's great to get some positive exposure for our school.
http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20120304/NEWS/703049987
http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20120304/NEWS/703049987
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
This week (2/27-3/2)
This week in....
Kindergarten- we are marching to "March of the Toys" in 3 groups to correspond with the A, B, and C sections of the piece. We are continuing to perfect our skills of performing our 4 foot motions with music- walking, jogging, skipping, and galloping. Students also began learning about rhythm versus steady beat, which means patting along with the words of a song.
1st/2nd grade- we reviewed songs like "Tingalayo" and "You Are My Sunshine" and continued working on the sign language to go with them. We reviewed our fun group dance, "The Pawpaw Patch" and also performed for the class with music buddies to show the movements we came up with to go with the song "La raspa." Students played Rhythm Tic Tac Toe and read rhythms on flashcards.
3rd/4th grade- we continued to work on the song "Old MacDonald" and students graded their own progress in 4 categories- tone, rhythm, fingerings/posture, and tonguing. We learned the game "Closet Key", which involves singing, recorders, and secretly passing a key around the circle. We continued to work on singing and signing the song "True Colors" while striving for matching pitch.
5th grade- we continued to work on songs on recorders, including "Old MacDonald." We learned to sing a partner song, which pairs "When the Saints Go Marching In" with "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" with the class divided into 2 groups. We also learned about the composer from the Romantic era Franz Liszt, a virtuoso pianist and performer.
There will be a sing along this Friday at 2:45pm in the auditorium. Feel welcome to stop in and sing with us!
Kindergarten- we are marching to "March of the Toys" in 3 groups to correspond with the A, B, and C sections of the piece. We are continuing to perfect our skills of performing our 4 foot motions with music- walking, jogging, skipping, and galloping. Students also began learning about rhythm versus steady beat, which means patting along with the words of a song.
1st/2nd grade- we reviewed songs like "Tingalayo" and "You Are My Sunshine" and continued working on the sign language to go with them. We reviewed our fun group dance, "The Pawpaw Patch" and also performed for the class with music buddies to show the movements we came up with to go with the song "La raspa." Students played Rhythm Tic Tac Toe and read rhythms on flashcards.
3rd/4th grade- we continued to work on the song "Old MacDonald" and students graded their own progress in 4 categories- tone, rhythm, fingerings/posture, and tonguing. We learned the game "Closet Key", which involves singing, recorders, and secretly passing a key around the circle. We continued to work on singing and signing the song "True Colors" while striving for matching pitch.
5th grade- we continued to work on songs on recorders, including "Old MacDonald." We learned to sing a partner song, which pairs "When the Saints Go Marching In" with "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" with the class divided into 2 groups. We also learned about the composer from the Romantic era Franz Liszt, a virtuoso pianist and performer.
There will be a sing along this Friday at 2:45pm in the auditorium. Feel welcome to stop in and sing with us!
Saturday, February 18, 2012
This week (2/13/2/17)
This was quite a busy week at school! Getting ready to finish the trimester is always a busy time. A little bit about report cards for all to read:
Music students are graded on the same 1-4 scale used in the rest of the elementary school. I grade each student in four areas: singing, playing instruments, class work, and participation/attitude. The singing grade is based a bit on participation in terms of singing, but mostly based on the student's ability to match pitch. The instrument grade applies to all times we use instruments in class, including percussion instruments, mallet instruments, and recorders for grades 3, 4, and 5. The class work grade is usually based on all the paper assignments we do in class, and the amount of class work increases for higher grade levels. Finally, the participation/attitude grade is a culmination of what I have seen in terms of those two things from each student throughout the trimester. A 1 is this area means a student is always following directions and has a positive attitude. A 2 means a student is consistently doing those things. A 3 means a student is sometimes doing those things, and 4 means a student is seldom following directions and/or has a poor attitude consistently. If questions arise when report cards come out you may always contact me.
Informational letters regarding the spring concert have just been sent out, as well, so be sure to mark the date on your calendar. The performance will be May 9th for K, 1, and 2, and May 10th for 3, 4, and 5. I'm so looking forward to this event!
Now, to break down what we did this week:
Kindergarten- we did activities for Valentine's day! We played a game with "Messenger Song" in which students sit in a circle, sing the song, and pass around an envelope to the steady beat. At the end of the song, the child holding the envelope closes their eyes, reaches in, and pull out a name of someone in their class. The person who is called gets to go and choose a percussion instrument and play the steady beat with the song for the rest of the game. This continues until there is only one person left in the circle and all students have instruments.
1st/2nd grade- we learned some songs that are appropriate for Valentine's day, including the classic "You Are My Sunshine." We played metal instruments that ring during the long notes of the song. We also review our game "Bow, Wow, Wow" and learned to write the pitch 're' on our erasable white boards.
3rd/4th grade- we learned a Valentine song that involves movements with a partner. We also learned an ostinato (a repeating musical pattern) to accompany the song and played it on hand bells and boomwhackers. We reviewed our new song "True Colors" that we are learning to sing and sign. Look forward to hearing this one at the concert!
5th grade- students reviewed the song "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" by singing (some students even did solos) and playing recorders for the sections that are made up of notes we know how to play. We also continue to hone note reading skills with Mad Minutes.
Have a great long weekend, everyone!
Music students are graded on the same 1-4 scale used in the rest of the elementary school. I grade each student in four areas: singing, playing instruments, class work, and participation/attitude. The singing grade is based a bit on participation in terms of singing, but mostly based on the student's ability to match pitch. The instrument grade applies to all times we use instruments in class, including percussion instruments, mallet instruments, and recorders for grades 3, 4, and 5. The class work grade is usually based on all the paper assignments we do in class, and the amount of class work increases for higher grade levels. Finally, the participation/attitude grade is a culmination of what I have seen in terms of those two things from each student throughout the trimester. A 1 is this area means a student is always following directions and has a positive attitude. A 2 means a student is consistently doing those things. A 3 means a student is sometimes doing those things, and 4 means a student is seldom following directions and/or has a poor attitude consistently. If questions arise when report cards come out you may always contact me.
Informational letters regarding the spring concert have just been sent out, as well, so be sure to mark the date on your calendar. The performance will be May 9th for K, 1, and 2, and May 10th for 3, 4, and 5. I'm so looking forward to this event!
Now, to break down what we did this week:
Kindergarten- we did activities for Valentine's day! We played a game with "Messenger Song" in which students sit in a circle, sing the song, and pass around an envelope to the steady beat. At the end of the song, the child holding the envelope closes their eyes, reaches in, and pull out a name of someone in their class. The person who is called gets to go and choose a percussion instrument and play the steady beat with the song for the rest of the game. This continues until there is only one person left in the circle and all students have instruments.
1st/2nd grade- we learned some songs that are appropriate for Valentine's day, including the classic "You Are My Sunshine." We played metal instruments that ring during the long notes of the song. We also review our game "Bow, Wow, Wow" and learned to write the pitch 're' on our erasable white boards.
3rd/4th grade- we learned a Valentine song that involves movements with a partner. We also learned an ostinato (a repeating musical pattern) to accompany the song and played it on hand bells and boomwhackers. We reviewed our new song "True Colors" that we are learning to sing and sign. Look forward to hearing this one at the concert!
5th grade- students reviewed the song "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" by singing (some students even did solos) and playing recorders for the sections that are made up of notes we know how to play. We also continue to hone note reading skills with Mad Minutes.
Have a great long weekend, everyone!
Friday, February 10, 2012
This week (2/6-2/10)
This week in...
Kindergarten- students continued to learn about and move to music with walking, jogging, and galloping sounds. We began to learn a new song which we will perform in our spring concert called "Oh, A-Hunting We Will Go." We also listened to a musical story called "Abu Ali Counts His Donkeys."
1st/2nd grade- students played Rhythm Tic Tac Toe and began learning to song "Tingalayo", which will be performed at our spring concert. We also learned the song "Bow, Wow, Wow" and performed movements to go along with the song with many different partners.
3rd/4th grade- students moved to the song "Down the Road", which was a lot of fun. The song has two contrasting sections. During the A section of the song, we did a step-touch pattern. During the B section, students go to pick (from a list we made together) one way to move and one adverb (such as skip sleepily) and perform in with a partner.
5th grade- students learned about the composer Chopin and performed their response compositions on tubano drums. We also discussed choir- what is it, where did it come from, what does a good choir do, etc. Students watched a virtual choir video put together by composer Eric Whitacre.
It's almost the end of trimester 2! Time flies. Lots of this next week will be spent completing grades! Happy weekend to all.
Kindergarten- students continued to learn about and move to music with walking, jogging, and galloping sounds. We began to learn a new song which we will perform in our spring concert called "Oh, A-Hunting We Will Go." We also listened to a musical story called "Abu Ali Counts His Donkeys."
1st/2nd grade- students played Rhythm Tic Tac Toe and began learning to song "Tingalayo", which will be performed at our spring concert. We also learned the song "Bow, Wow, Wow" and performed movements to go along with the song with many different partners.
3rd/4th grade- students moved to the song "Down the Road", which was a lot of fun. The song has two contrasting sections. During the A section of the song, we did a step-touch pattern. During the B section, students go to pick (from a list we made together) one way to move and one adverb (such as skip sleepily) and perform in with a partner.
5th grade- students learned about the composer Chopin and performed their response compositions on tubano drums. We also discussed choir- what is it, where did it come from, what does a good choir do, etc. Students watched a virtual choir video put together by composer Eric Whitacre.
It's almost the end of trimester 2! Time flies. Lots of this next week will be spent completing grades! Happy weekend to all.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
This week (1/23-1/27)
This week in...
Kindergarten- we played the steady beat AND learned to play the melody of the song "Star Light, Star Bright" on mallet instruments. This was a difficult but fun challenge! We also took a listening quiz about music moving upward and downward, as well as identifying walking and jogging music.
1st/2nd grade- students took a quiz that assessed their ability to hear pitch and rhythm patterns similar to those we have been studying in class. We also learned to play the melody of the song "Tinker, Tailor" on mallet instruments.
3rd/4th grade- we learned about major scales and played a C major scale on mallet instruments. We also played the song "Do Re Mi" on mallet instruments and sang. We continued to practice playing songs on recorders and note reading skills, and also began to learn the song "True Colors."
5th grade- students learned a new note, D, on recorders and began to learn the song "Old MacDonald." We also began learning to sing "Start Your Day With a Song", an upbeat, swing style tune. We continued to improve our ability to identify notes on the staff by spelling out words using music note cards and we also did some music Mad Minutes.
Kindergarten- we played the steady beat AND learned to play the melody of the song "Star Light, Star Bright" on mallet instruments. This was a difficult but fun challenge! We also took a listening quiz about music moving upward and downward, as well as identifying walking and jogging music.
1st/2nd grade- students took a quiz that assessed their ability to hear pitch and rhythm patterns similar to those we have been studying in class. We also learned to play the melody of the song "Tinker, Tailor" on mallet instruments.
3rd/4th grade- we learned about major scales and played a C major scale on mallet instruments. We also played the song "Do Re Mi" on mallet instruments and sang. We continued to practice playing songs on recorders and note reading skills, and also began to learn the song "True Colors."
5th grade- students learned a new note, D, on recorders and began to learn the song "Old MacDonald." We also began learning to sing "Start Your Day With a Song", an upbeat, swing style tune. We continued to improve our ability to identify notes on the staff by spelling out words using music note cards and we also did some music Mad Minutes.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
This week (1/17-1/20)
This week in...
Kindergarten- students continued to learn about foot motions to match music, including walking, jogging, and galloping. They learned the song "Star Light, Star Bright" and helped me draw a picture on the board to match the melodic shape of the song. We also played some listening games with music moving upward and downward.
1st/2nd grade- students echo sang patterns using so, mi, and do. Students learned the song "Mother, Mother" and worked with their music buddies to create a 4-beat pattern (using so, mi, and do) to perform for the class. Students also decoded patterns that I sang to them using the syllable "oo" and showed me if I was singing so, mi, or do.
3rd/4th grade- we continued to work on the songs "Do Re Mi" from The Sound of Music and "Trail to Mexico", both of which include 2 parts going on at the same time. Students assessed their progress on playing recorders with the song "It's Raining." We also learned about music stepping, skipping, or leaping from note to note and about how long different notes and rests last.
5th grade- we had a drum circle! Students reviewed known rhythms and learned a brand new rhythm: eighth note triplets, which is three sounds equally distributed on one beat. This is one of the rhythms used in the beginning of the song "Wavin' Flag." We learned to play that rhythm on drums and did some call and response improvisation. We also reviewed the Spanish sections of "Wavin' Flag."
There will be a sing along tomorrow morning at 10am in the auditorium. Hope to see you there!
Kindergarten- students continued to learn about foot motions to match music, including walking, jogging, and galloping. They learned the song "Star Light, Star Bright" and helped me draw a picture on the board to match the melodic shape of the song. We also played some listening games with music moving upward and downward.
1st/2nd grade- students echo sang patterns using so, mi, and do. Students learned the song "Mother, Mother" and worked with their music buddies to create a 4-beat pattern (using so, mi, and do) to perform for the class. Students also decoded patterns that I sang to them using the syllable "oo" and showed me if I was singing so, mi, or do.
3rd/4th grade- we continued to work on the songs "Do Re Mi" from The Sound of Music and "Trail to Mexico", both of which include 2 parts going on at the same time. Students assessed their progress on playing recorders with the song "It's Raining." We also learned about music stepping, skipping, or leaping from note to note and about how long different notes and rests last.
5th grade- we had a drum circle! Students reviewed known rhythms and learned a brand new rhythm: eighth note triplets, which is three sounds equally distributed on one beat. This is one of the rhythms used in the beginning of the song "Wavin' Flag." We learned to play that rhythm on drums and did some call and response improvisation. We also reviewed the Spanish sections of "Wavin' Flag."
There will be a sing along tomorrow morning at 10am in the auditorium. Hope to see you there!
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