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!