This week in music...

At the beginning of each class (2nd-6th) we review pitch and rhythms then sing the Song of the week -- "Make New Friends" for the younger set( 1st- 3rd) "I Love the Mountains" for 4th-6th. The K and 1st grade opening song is "Good Morning" or Good Afternoon as the case may be.  I sing some questions and the students sing the answer while putting the beat on their body. Although I tire of this song by mid-year, the children want to sing it all year long!

Then...

K/1st grade -- we are working on the beat that holds music together. We are also talking a lot about listening and how important that is to be a good musician.  We went on a "listening walk" and read books about sound.  Now we are practicing. This week we will again practice saying the beat, playing it on our bodies and on instruments and then drawing it.

2nd grade--We're playing cluster tones on barred instruments.  This requires learning how to take care of the instruments and how we rotate to different instruments in an efficient manner.

3rd grade -- This week we will have a scavenger hunt to discover all the many things in the music room and where things are kept.  Everything really does have a place! We are also listening to specific pitches and learning to identify them and then find them and play them on the instruments -- so good for developing the ear which is beneficial in all areas!

4th-6th grade - Students should have all completed their rap song.  We are now beginning to perform.  We've talked about making the music room a "safe place" to be ourselves and to encourage each other as we venture outside our comfort zones for some. Go to the very bottom of this page to hear some podcasts of the first students to perform their rap song.

Overview of music teaching method

    In all grades I use the Orff-Schulwerk process that includes singing, movement, speech work and instrument playing. Students learn to read pitch and rhythms.

While foundations are built in the early grades, each year we progress further in rhythm and melody. Thank you for your support - if your child misses a class, they will fall behind because each class builds upon another.

CHOIR ( In the future, look at choir page to the left)

3rd-6thgrade Choir will meet Tuesday mornings from 7:25 until 8:10.  The costof $20 will cover music, instruction and a party.  We will meet fromSept. 14 until December 7th.

We will perform 4:00  Tuesday afternoon December 7th.

DistrictHonor Choir is for 6th grade only. Students need to audtion and haveexcellent grades and character in order to take one day to rehearsewith other students in the district and perform in the evening.  Moreinformation will be coming.

For questions regarding district band and orchestra, please check the following website.

http://www.douglascountyyouthorchestra.org/

Music class objectives

1.  For children to love music, have it enrich their souls and minds and carry it with them throughout life. Music can lift our spirits and make our days so much brighter.

2.  Every class to be one in which children not only learn about music but where they make music. I want them to be engaged and feel very good about themselves and successful in their efforts.

3.  Challenge and strengthen each brain by our work.  Because of their work in music class, students will be more efficient and productive in the rest of their work that day.  They will also be able to remember more of what they learned because of the work they did in music class.  This is because many of our activities have us "crossing the midline" in our bodies and enables our brains to be more productive - cool stuff!

4.  More confident and able to speak in front of others -- a life-skill we can all use!

5.  Better listening skills - not just in my direction music listening challenges but also listening to directions and listening to others.  Music class is a great place to practice listening!

6.  Literacy, history and math enrichment - not to mention music!

I am so privileged to work with your children -- I learn as much from them and our music lessons and I'm grateful for the growth!

 Quotes

Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.

A day without music is like eating and not being fed.

 
Music is a language that kindles the human spirit, sharpens the mind, fuels the body, and fills the heart.

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