February 4, 2022

Kinder

The kindergarten students have continued exploring with movement and rhythm sticks. We learned the 'Toolbox Song', and brainstormed many tools that our rhythm sticks can be. This week, we started listening activities with Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saens. The first movement we listened to was March of the Lions. We heard the piano simulate the roar of a lion, and moved like lions throughout the classroom!

Grade 1

Grade one students finished their sound songs and performed them for the class. It was a great opportunity for students to help each other learn rhythms and body percussion sounds. We are moving on to a listening unit based on Camille Saint-Saens symphony Carnival of the Animals. Students will learn about orchestra instruments, their sounds, and why Saint-Saens chose certain instruments to sound like certain animals. Colouring in Carnival of the Animal workbooks will help us learn the instruments.

Grade 2

Students have learned notes middle C, D, and E, and have learned to read them on the treble clef scale. We practiced how to draw each note. Once we could confidently draw all three notes, everyone started working on their own song using C, D and E. Students are writing their own music, reading it, and playing the songs on the xylophones and glockenspiels.

Grade 3 and 4

Grade three and four students have enjoyed learning the ukulele. They have learned how to play a melody on the open strings (Rain Rain Go Away), a one-string melody (Twinkle Twinkle), how to read a chord chart, two different strumming patterns, and two chords (C and G7). The most important thing students have learned is how to properly hold the ukulele while playing and while resting. We have also practiced how to hold the string down against the frets with our 'clamp'. Grade four students are completing a playing quiz this week, where they have to play Twinkle Twinkle for me.

Welcome Back!

 Welcome back, Citadel Park students and families!

We are diving right back into music learning after the winter holidays. Here is what each grade has started working on:

Kinder

Kindergarten students are using Pete the Cat stories to practice keeping the beat. We are continuing to play rhythm instrument to the beat of songs.

Grade 1

Students are working on a Sound Song. Using all of the body percussion sounds we've learned so far this year, each student gets to write their own song using symbols to represent each sound. They will create a legend with their song so that others will be able to play it.

Grade 2

Grade 2 students have begun to notate middle C on the treble clef. They practiced writing C correctly on the treble clef. Once we practice drawing D and E, students will write their own song on the treble clef.

Grade 3

Grade 3 students have begun ukulele lessons. They first learned playing position and resting position, how to pluck a melody on the open strings, and how to play a one-string melody while holding down frets.

Grade 4

Students are picking up where they left off last year with ukulele. Everyone quickly remembered how to hold the instrument, began learning melodies on the open strings, how to hold down frets, and how to play a C chord.

Citadel Park Winter Carolling

Citadel Park Virtual Carolling

Students at Citadel shared in virtual carolling every day leading up to our winter break! Leadership Club has done an excellent job leading carolling this week. They took jingle bells, tambourines, and egg shakers to each classroom to play and sing along with our carolling songs. Leadership did a great job of getting the whole school in the holiday spirit! Everyone enjoyed singing along virtually as an entire school. Some students have requested that the carolling songs be posted, so I've attached a slideshow with all of our carols below. Enjoy singing the carolling songs over the holidays!

Have a restful, musical holiday, and I can't wait to make more music in the new year!

CPS Winter Carolling

Winter Concert

 Winter Fun! 

December 16, 2021

The theme of this year's winter concert is Winter Fun! Our winter celebration will include music, a door decorating competition, an art slideshow, winter pictures, virtual carolling, a snowy story, and maybe even Santa. The grade 1 and 2 students have been working hard on some winter fun songs in music class. Their performances will be filmed, and the whole school will tune into our winter celebration on Thursday, December 16th @ 1:05pm. Unfortunately due to CBE privacy policies, we are not able to stream the event for families at home. The winter celebration will remain a Citadel Park School event and boost our community spirit within the school. 

Grade 1 students

• Filming in the afternoon on Monday, December 13th. 
• Please have your child wear red and green on Monday. Elf hats and elf costumes are also welcome.
• If students would like to practice their songs at home over the weekend, they can use these videos:

I Want to be an Elf

Nutcracker Russian Dance

Grade 2 Students

• Filming in the afternoon on Tuesday, December 14th.
• Students in Ms. Hubbs' and Ms. Murchison's class must wear white winter clothes (white sweaters, white dresses, mittens, etc.). 
• Students in Ms. Teeple's and Ms. Sterling's class must wear red winter clothes, and outdoor winter clothes (mittens, scarves).
• Since we are filming during school Spirit Days, your student can choose to wear their costume to school, or they can bring their costume to school and change into it at lunch time.
• If students would like to practice over the weekend, they can use these videos:

If I could Fly like a Snowflake

My Red Sled

November 2021

Kinder

Kindergarten went on many bear hunts in November! We used the story Going on a Bear Hunt to practice keeping the beat and learning patterns in music. First we read the story, then we listened to instrument that make the different sounds in the book. Finally, we went on our own bear hunt, going over and under instruments all around the classroom. Students have also starting learning about 'ta' and 'ti-ti' rhythms. We have clapped many rhythms, and made our own rhythms as a class. Going into December, we are learning many winter songs and poems.

Grade 1

Grade one students have been very excited to start using the xylophones. First we learned the technique about how to get the best sound from our instrument. Student have played some fun warm ups exploring the C major scale. Using the story The Very Busy Spider, students have learned to improvise music on a C pentatonic scale. Choosing between notes C, D, E, they chant the phrase and follow the rhythm.

Grade 2

The grade two students did an excellent job performing in the Remembrance Day ceremony. They worked so hard on learning the words and using their most beautiful singing voices! Grade two students have also been using xylophones. After learning the proper technique, students have used the story The Very Busy Spider to improvise on a C pentatonic scale. Using the notes C, D, E, G, A, everyone chanted the phrase while choosing the notes and following the rhythm. They have come up with some very nice melodies.

Grade 3

The grade three students have been very excited to start using the xylophones. While exploring the C major scale, we have been learning songs with an A B A C form. Students also wrote a time signature quiz this month. Using our knowledge of time signatures and rhythm, we are starting to read percussion scores. Students have started learning a winter song on the xylophone. They have also had a challenge to play a known winter song by ear! The classes have especially enjoyed learning the A and B section to this fun winter song and playing along as a class: To the Top

Grade 4 

Grade four students have been working on layering bass and melody sections on the xylophones. They have learned about bass, alto, and soprano xylophones and the different pitches they make. Students have worked in partners, groups, and individually to practice learning songs. We have been putting our rhythm reading skills to the test while reading xylophone scores in order to play the songs correctly. Students have also participated in challenges to play a known song by ear. In December, the classes have started learning some winter songs. The grade four students have been enjoying learning this funny winter song on the xylophones: Sandman

Parent Conferences

If you're curious about how your child has been doing in music class, please don't hesitate to book a parent conference with me! Times are available on the School Conferences website. 

Remembrance Day Ceremony

Citadel Park School students have been preparing for our virtual Remembrance Day Ceremony to be held on November 10th at 10:50am. Grade four students are MCing the event, grade three students are reading poems, the grade two classes are performing a song, and grade one is sharing Remembrance Day art. The whole school is working together to honour veterans and those currently serving in the military. We are also fortunate to have a live bagpiper joining us for our Remembrance Day event. The students will be able to listen and watch the music over our Google Meet assembly.

Grade 2 Families: On Monday, I will be recording the grade 2 classes performing the song A Wish for Peace. Please have your child dress their best for school on Monday. Our ceremony is not until Wednesday, however what they wear on Monday is what will be seen during the ceremony on Wednesday. Dresses, white shirts, black pants, and poppies are all appropriate.

Grade 4 Families: The grade 4 students will be speaking live over Google Meet for the event, therefore they may want to wear something a little nicer than normal school clothes.

All students are invited to wear Boy Scout or Girl Guides uniforms to school on Wednesday, November 10th. If you have pictures of veterans or current service members (preferably in uniform) who are relatives of students, please continue to send them to me at jimtowill@cbe.ab.ca. If you have a photo, please send it by Monday, November 8th to be included in the ceremony.