March/April Message

Spring Concert

Citadel Park School is hosting a Spring Concert on Thursday, May 25th! There will be performances at 1:30pm and 6:30pm. All students K-4, as well as ukulele club will be performing. Students will be dismissed at the regular time that Thursday, go home to have dinner, then return to school no later than 6:15pm to participate in the evening concert. If you know that your child will not be attending due to a trip or prior commitment, please email me at jimtowill@cbe.ab.ca.

Grade 1

Students in grade 1 have been doing lots of movement to music, and are learning many spring songs as the weather gets nicer! Using our Wild Symphony book, we are learning about form in music. Different sections of songs are labelled the letters of the alphabet, for example ABABA. We have added non-pitched percussion instruments to many songs and have learned two songs for the spring concert.

Grade 2

Students have continued learning about instruments of the orchestra through our Wild Symphony stories. The classes worked hard to make up their own actions for our spring concert songs! Students added 're' to their solfege repertoire. To practice melodies, we learned the song I See the Moon. We added xylophones and different percussion instruments to play each part of the song.

Grade 3

Students have had fun learning recorder in music class! We first learned the notes B, A, G, and once we could play those successfully, we added low E to our repertoire. Ask your child about correct recorder technique. Students have practiced playing recorder independently, in partners, and as an ensemble. We have added xylophone playing to recorder songs for our spring concert material.

Grade 4

Through March and April, students have learned to play the recorder. They have learned proper recorder technique such as keeping your left hand on top, blowing softly, and completely covering the holes. We have learned notes G, A, B and low E. Students have practiced playing individually, in partners, and as an ensemble.  correct technique on Recorder G A B E. After we learned to play the notes successfully, we could play more complicated rhythms. Playing recorder also helps students read music on the treble clef scale. We have started combining other instruments, such as xylophones, with recorders.

February Message

Ukulele Club has begun!

Who: Grade 3 and 4 students
When: Tuesdays and Thursdays 12:10-12:35
Where: Music room (room 12)
Why: To have fun, play more ukulele, and practice for performances.

Ukulele club will run until the end of May.

Recorders

Students in grade 3 and 4 have started learning recorder. Please scroll down on this blog to find the recorder order form. Call Antonia in the office with any questions about online ordering.

Grade 1

Students in grade 1 have continued learning about orchestra instruments through our study of Wild Symphony. So far we have learned about the timpani, double bass, trumpet and triangle. We have also learned about form in music; how often, sections of orchestra music repeat. Through opera study, students have learned about different types of singing voices. Singing games Tommy Tiddlemouse and Doggie Doggie have helped us learn our new solfege note: la. We now know 'mi', 'sol' and 'la'. Ask your child how to sing these songs!

Grade 2 

Students enjoyed learning about the opera through our study of Cinderella. We learned about different types of singing voice such as soprano, alto, and bass, and listened to how actors express their emotions through music. We also learned about how music can tell a story. Singing games Closet Key and Tommy Tiddlemouse have helped us learn our new solfege notes: la and do. We now know 'do', 're', 'mi', 'sol' and 'la'. The Wild Symphony story has helped us learn about how instruments can be used to represent animals. Through movement activities we have bounced like kangaroos, glided like manta rays, and stomped like hippos. Students have studied the timpani, double bass, trumpet, and triangle. Ask your child what 'form' means in music!

Grade 3

During our ukulele unit, students had opportunities to work in small groups and independently to strengthen their skills. As a whole group, each class worked on a 3-chord song - either the Campfire Song Song or The Bare Necessities. Over the unit, students learned chords C, G7, F, and Am. After learning to read a chord chart, many students taught themselves more challenging chords! Students were recorded playing along to the song Sunflower for their final assessment. We are now moving on to our recorder unit. Instrument units are a great chance to deepen our growth mindset, as it takes practice to get better at playing these instruments!

Grade 4

Grade 4 students played ukulele for eight weeks. They learned chords C, F, Am, G7, G and Em. Students enjoyed working on their final group project. They formed bands and each band performed at our class Jam Session. This was an opportunity for students to showcase all they have learned throughout the unit. We heard some creative songs! We are now moving on to recorder. Ukulele and recorder are a perfect opportunity to practice our 'growth mindset' as they are challenging instruments, and we need to practice to get better.

Pink Shirt Day & Recorders

 Pink Shirt Day 

Grade 1 students will be performing a song about kindness for our Pink Shirt Day assembly on Wednesday, February 22nd @ 1:30pm. Families are invited to attend. Students should use the following video to practice their song over the long weekend:

Recorders

Students in grades 3-4 will be starting to learn recorder soon! The following form was sent home with students, and should be completed and returned to Ms. Towill as soon as possible.

January Message

 

Music Sharing Days

From January-June, music class on Fridays will be Music Sharing Days! Students have the choice to perform something musical for their class if they would like. This could be something they've learned in music class, or something they have learned in music lessons, or from a family member. We have already seen some creative performances in January! Students are allowed to bring instruments from home, if they know a song that they would like to play. Performances can include singing, playing piano, guitar, dancing, etc. I will let each class know in advance when their Music Sharing Day is that month, as homerooms have music on alternating Fridays. Music Sharing is an excellent opportunity for students to share their musical abilities in a special way! 

Grade 1 

Grade one students have begun a Listening unit using the story Wild Symphony by Dan Brown. The poems in the book will help us learn about the instruments on the orchestra, as well as common themes in symphony music. Everyone had lots of fun learning and practicing the conducting patterns for 3/4 and 4/4 time! Students will be able to identify the four instrument families, and name some instruments in each family. We have learned 'sol' and 'mi' on the solfege scale. Students have repeated many sol-mi patterns, have created their own, and are starting to identify which songs we already know that follow a 'sol-mi' vocal pattern. Students are enjoying learning an action song about addition! 

Grade 2

Students in grade two are also using Wild Symphony to learn about the instruments of the orchestra. They will respond to dynamics in music. We have been learning songs that contain 'so', 'mi', and low 'do' on the solfege scale. Everyone has enjoyed echoing 'do-mi-so' patterns, and creating their own patterns with the accompanying hand signs. During the last week of January, we learned a Chinese song with an accompanying game. We played the game and sang the song to celebrate Chinese New Year.

Grade 3

Grade three students have begun learning ukulele. They have been taught how to hold the instrument while playing and while resting, and are practicing correct playing technique. We have also identified the different parts of the ukulele. Students first learned a C chord, and have now moved on to learn G7 and Am. We put these chords together to play many 2- and 3-chord songs. Learning ukulele is challenging, yet everyone is persevering and trying their best! 

Grade 4

Students have been expanding their knowledge of ukulele from last year. We have reviewed chords C, G7, F, and Am. With the ability to read a chord chart, students have been teaching themselves new chords such as Em, Dm, and G. Using more advanced strumming patterns, students have been enjoying ukulele play-alongs. In the next few weeks, students will use choose their own songs they'd like to practice. Students will play ukulele for 3-4 more weeks; then our ukulele unit will end with a Ukulele Jam Session in class!

November Message

 Virtual Winter Celebration

Due to the impact that respiratory illness has had on student and staff absenteeism at Citadel Park School, the leadership team has made a decision to plan for a virtual winter celebration instead of in-person. In collaboration with classroom teachers, I will video record student performances – to be shared with the school community on December 15^th. We intend to share the video(s) with families via a private YouTube link. Only students whose parents have provided ‘consent for CBE use of student information’ will be recorded for video sharing.

Additionally, if you know in advance that your child will be absent during the week of December 12-16, please send me an email at jimtowill@cbe.ab.ca.

Students in grades 1-4 have been working hard on their songs in music class, and are excited to share their talents with you!

Grade 1

Students in grade one have used the xylophones for the first time at school! We started by learning about the instrument and proper playing technique. We learned how to hold the mallets, and how to hit the bars of the xylophone. Students have improvised melodies on the C pentatonic scale. We also practice how to keep the beat on the xylophone while we sing.

Grade 2

Grade two students have practiced improvising melodies on the xylophone. For an extra challenge, their improvised melodies had to start and end on a low C. Students have learned about the sounds of all of the different barred instruments, and have learned what part the glockenspiels play in a song. Playing the barred instruments helps solidify our knowledge of beat and rhythm.

Grade 3

In November, grade three students have been extending their skills on the barred instruments. Students have improvised melodies, learned bordun patterns, and have learned complicated melodies. Playing in pairs and groups helps students correct mistakes and play in a synchronized fashion. We also add instruments like drums and shakers to xylophone patterns to create an accompaniment.

Grade 4

Students in grade four are learning melodies on the xylophones. They are extending their skills to include faster tempos. We have been layering different melodies and rhythms on the bass, alto and soprano xylophones. Glockenspiels add colour to Orff songs. More complicated songs challenge students in grade four to count music as their playing.

October Message

Remembrance Day

Families are welcome to attend our Remembrance Day ceremony at Citadel Park School at 11:00am on November 10, 2022. In planning for the ceremony, we are inviting families to send in photos of relatives who are either veterans or currently serving in the Canadian Armed Forces. Photos in uniform will be appreciated. Please send the photo to our Music teacher Jillian Towill at jiMTowill@cbe.ab.ca. A brief explanation of the relative and their relation to your child will be appreciated. Even if you sent a photo last year, please re-send the photo to Ms. Towill so that our assembly committee can create a new photo collection for 2022. Students who are members of Girl Guides or Boy Scouts are invited to wear their uniforms to school on November 10th.

Choir

Choir has started and many grade 3 and 4 students are proud members of our club! Students in choir club are making a commitment to spend two lunch recesses per week in the music room practicing. They have been working hard on their first performance, which will be our Remembrance Day assembly.

Grade 1 

Students in grade one have been learning about the difference between beat and rhythm. Students can explain the difference between beat and rhythm. They can also identify when the teacher is keeping the beat of the song, and when she is playing the rhythm. We can keep the beat using body percussion (patting, clapping, stomping), and using instruments such as rhythm sticks, egg shakers and drums. Students have kept the beat while singing many songs including Cree songs. Moving on to rhythm, students can identify quarter notes, eighth notes and quarter rests by using their rhythm names 'ta', 'ti-ti', and 'shh'. We used the song Hop Old Squirrel to play accompaniment with non-pitched percussion instruments such as sand blocks and wooden spoons. Students have been writing their own 4-beat rhythms.

Grade 2

After reviewing beat and keeping the beat to many different songs, students have been diving into rhythm. Students can recognize a quarter note, eighth note, half note and whole note. We have practiced clapping out these notes, saying their rhythm names, and playing them with instruments. Students have explored with non-pitched percussion instruments. We have also practiced rhythmically speaking by chanting to the beat. 

Grade 3

Grade three students have reviewed quarter notes, half notes and whole notes from last year, and have moved on to learn sixteenth notes (four sounds on one beat). We have practiced rhythms on djembes and other non-pitched percussion instruments. We have also layered rhythms using non-pitched percussion instruments to create an instrumental song. Students are starting to practice vocal and movement canons (when one group starts singing/moving before another). Reading the stories Jingle Dancer and Firedancers introduced us to Powwows, and students learned some Powwow intertribal dance moved.

Grade 4

This month, we have learned about ostinatos and canons. An ostinato is a rhythm that repeats underneath a song. We have practiced body percussion ostinatos. Students have also used the classic French song Frere Jaques to study rhythm. Students can sing and do the actions to the song in canon. At the end of the month, students used the rhythm and tune of Frere Jaques to complete a songwriting project. Projects will go home this week. 

Welcome to Music!

Welcome to Music!

I am so excited to start another year of teaching music at Citadel Park School! It has been a great first month as we review rules and routines in the music room. Below is some important information about music for the 2022-2023 school year.

Choir Club for grades 3 and 4 will start on Tuesday, October 4th. Choir club practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays during lunch recess. Choir will run from October-December. Choir will perform during the Remembrance Day ceremony, all assemblies, and will have extra songs to perform during the winter celebration.

Any musical parents interested in volunteer or guest speaking opportunities, please reach out to me! I am always looking to expose my students to musical folks in the community.

Students have been learning about beat and rhythm: keeping the beat of many songs, and reviewing note values. We have been singing and drumming along to many Cree songs and listening to Intertribal Powwow music.

In September, all grades work on the following 'I can' statements at different levels: 

                                                                I can keep the beat.

I can sing in a group. 

I can play rhythms with body percussion.

Please reach out to me at jimtowill@cbe.ab.ca if you have any questions about the music program. I'm also hoping this blog is mobile-phone friendly, so please let me know if it is difficult to read when you pull it up on your smartphone. 

Ms. Towill