This week in...
3rd, 4th, and 5th grade, we have been DANCING! We have traditional folk dances and singing games from the United States, England, Africa, Russia, Spain, and Puerto Rico. We have had tons of fun and the students have done a lovely job!
In kindergarten, we learned "Snowman Song"- ask your child to perform it for you! We have also done some winter freeze dances and enjoyed some "Peter and the Wolf."
In 1st and 2nd grade, we learned how to draw so and mi on the music staff! We turned our winter rhythms into winter melodies by singing them and writing them on the staff.
This week has been tons of fun! I am looking forward to flying home after school today to travel to Minnesota to spend the holidays with my family. Have a happy, musical break!
Friday, December 20, 2013
Friday, November 22, 2013
This week (11/18-11/22)
This week in...
Kindergarten- we finished up our unit on high and low with a quiz! We listened to some examples of high and low sounds; we circled a mountain picture for high and a submarine picture for low. We also began our next unit on loud and soft! We listened and play egg shakers with "Surprise Symphony" by Franz Haydn and also learned a fun game called "Grizzly Bear."
1st/2nd grade- we did some call and response with winter rhythms that we composed last week. Our plan is to turn our winter rhythms into winter songs after Thanksgiving break! We also continued to run through and practice songs for our winter concert which is coming up quickly!
3rd grade- this week we brought in our found sounds that we made at home and had a fun show and tell. I was so impressed by all the different instruments that students created. It was fun to see the variety and hear the sounds that each instrument made.
4th grade- we have been continuing to work on our note reading skills for the notes B, A, and G. We have been learning new songs on recorders and improvising (making up our own music) as well. This week we learned about singing and doing hand signs with the notes do, re, and mi. We also learned a fun singing and recorder game called "Closet Key."
5th grade- we began working on our note reading skills with the notes B, A, G, and E, which are also the notes we have been playing on recorders. We have been using a Thanksgiving poem to help us improvise on recorders and we put together a performance alternating between the whole group and some improvised solos.
Happy Thanksgiving break!
Kindergarten- we finished up our unit on high and low with a quiz! We listened to some examples of high and low sounds; we circled a mountain picture for high and a submarine picture for low. We also began our next unit on loud and soft! We listened and play egg shakers with "Surprise Symphony" by Franz Haydn and also learned a fun game called "Grizzly Bear."
1st/2nd grade- we did some call and response with winter rhythms that we composed last week. Our plan is to turn our winter rhythms into winter songs after Thanksgiving break! We also continued to run through and practice songs for our winter concert which is coming up quickly!
3rd grade- this week we brought in our found sounds that we made at home and had a fun show and tell. I was so impressed by all the different instruments that students created. It was fun to see the variety and hear the sounds that each instrument made.
4th grade- we have been continuing to work on our note reading skills for the notes B, A, and G. We have been learning new songs on recorders and improvising (making up our own music) as well. This week we learned about singing and doing hand signs with the notes do, re, and mi. We also learned a fun singing and recorder game called "Closet Key."
5th grade- we began working on our note reading skills with the notes B, A, G, and E, which are also the notes we have been playing on recorders. We have been using a Thanksgiving poem to help us improvise on recorders and we put together a performance alternating between the whole group and some improvised solos.
Happy Thanksgiving break!
Friday, November 1, 2013
Congratulations
HUGE congrats to all talent show participants! You totally rocked! I'm so proud of all the performances from Wednesday night. It was a great display of the many talents of Park Hill students. Thanks to those who participated, and also those who came out to support!
This week in...
Kindergarten- we made our own ghost vocal pathways to practice moving our voices high and low. We tiptoed to and sang some spooky Halloween music. We also learned a chant to go with the book Shake Dem Halloween Bones.
1st/2nd grade- we worked on several pieces for the winter concert, including "Mittens and Gloves" and "We Will Jingle". The latter is based on the popular Queen song, "We Will Rock You." So much fun! We are learning how to stand while we sing so that we can look our best at the concert coming up in December!
3rd grade- we watched a spooky episode of "The Magic School Bus" that focused on how sounds are created and homemade musical instruments. This theme ties in perfectly with our found sounds project! Remember, students must bring in their instruments the week before Thanksgiving break.
4th grade- we worked on rhythm writing this week. We took pictures of pie (quarter note), pumpkin (eighth notes) and jack-o-lantern (sixteenth notes) and wrote out rhythms. Students also created their own 4 beat rhythm and learned how to play it on their recorders.
5th grade- we continued to have fun with the chant "Double, Double" for Halloween, and we also started recorders! (Ash's class will not do this until Monday.) Students have a classroom recorder that is theirs for the year and it must stay in the music room. Students will be able to purchase a recorder from Ms. Buckley if they want to have one at home.
Happy weekend!
This week in...
Kindergarten- we made our own ghost vocal pathways to practice moving our voices high and low. We tiptoed to and sang some spooky Halloween music. We also learned a chant to go with the book Shake Dem Halloween Bones.
1st/2nd grade- we worked on several pieces for the winter concert, including "Mittens and Gloves" and "We Will Jingle". The latter is based on the popular Queen song, "We Will Rock You." So much fun! We are learning how to stand while we sing so that we can look our best at the concert coming up in December!
3rd grade- we watched a spooky episode of "The Magic School Bus" that focused on how sounds are created and homemade musical instruments. This theme ties in perfectly with our found sounds project! Remember, students must bring in their instruments the week before Thanksgiving break.
4th grade- we worked on rhythm writing this week. We took pictures of pie (quarter note), pumpkin (eighth notes) and jack-o-lantern (sixteenth notes) and wrote out rhythms. Students also created their own 4 beat rhythm and learned how to play it on their recorders.
5th grade- we continued to have fun with the chant "Double, Double" for Halloween, and we also started recorders! (Ash's class will not do this until Monday.) Students have a classroom recorder that is theirs for the year and it must stay in the music room. Students will be able to purchase a recorder from Ms. Buckley if they want to have one at home.
Happy weekend!
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
This week...
Hello!
This week we are BUSY with talent show preparations! 4th and 5th graders participating in the talent show should come to one of the open auditorium practice times this week. They are as follows:
Tuesday after school
Wednesday during lunch recess
Thursday after school
Friday during lunch recess
Be there!
Also, our dress rehearsal to run through the show will be Monday during school. Have everything you need with you that day please!
What have we been up to in class?
Kindergarten- we've been working on high and low lots! We have been making many high and low sounds with our voices. We even learned a song that talks about high and low called "Do Your Ears Hang Low?" We got to make our drawings to go with the story "Wiggle and Waggle."
1st/2nd grade- we are still working hard to prepare for the winter concert, which will be Thursday, December 12. We have been singing the song "Mittens and Gloves" and learning all about quarter notes, eighth notes, and quarter rests. We even got to practice writing some rhythms on erasable music white boards.
3rd grade- we have been practicing our skills at writing rhythms on erasable music white boards. We also received a super challenge: Ms. Buckley would say a 2 measure rhythm, and we had to figure out how to write it using music notes. It was tricky!
4th grade- we have been working hard to play the notes B, A, and G on recorders. We have even learned our first song, "Hot Cross Buns." We are sounding fabulous! Students will have the opportunity to order a recorder from Ms. Buckley for $3 in a couple of weeks so they can practice their recorder music at home.
5th grade- we used 4 lines from the play MacBeth by Shakespeare to have a fun Halloween-y lesson.
Double, double
Toil and Trouble
Fire burn and
Cauldron bubble
We practiced saying this slow, regular, and fast with a pat/clap ostinato pattern. We tried it in canon (like a round) and with whispering voices. We got into groups and decided on a performance order and shared our performances with the class!
This week we are BUSY with talent show preparations! 4th and 5th graders participating in the talent show should come to one of the open auditorium practice times this week. They are as follows:
Tuesday after school
Wednesday during lunch recess
Thursday after school
Friday during lunch recess
Be there!
Also, our dress rehearsal to run through the show will be Monday during school. Have everything you need with you that day please!
What have we been up to in class?
Kindergarten- we've been working on high and low lots! We have been making many high and low sounds with our voices. We even learned a song that talks about high and low called "Do Your Ears Hang Low?" We got to make our drawings to go with the story "Wiggle and Waggle."
1st/2nd grade- we are still working hard to prepare for the winter concert, which will be Thursday, December 12. We have been singing the song "Mittens and Gloves" and learning all about quarter notes, eighth notes, and quarter rests. We even got to practice writing some rhythms on erasable music white boards.
3rd grade- we have been practicing our skills at writing rhythms on erasable music white boards. We also received a super challenge: Ms. Buckley would say a 2 measure rhythm, and we had to figure out how to write it using music notes. It was tricky!
4th grade- we have been working hard to play the notes B, A, and G on recorders. We have even learned our first song, "Hot Cross Buns." We are sounding fabulous! Students will have the opportunity to order a recorder from Ms. Buckley for $3 in a couple of weeks so they can practice their recorder music at home.
5th grade- we used 4 lines from the play MacBeth by Shakespeare to have a fun Halloween-y lesson.
Double, double
Toil and Trouble
Fire burn and
Cauldron bubble
We practiced saying this slow, regular, and fast with a pat/clap ostinato pattern. We tried it in canon (like a round) and with whispering voices. We got into groups and decided on a performance order and shared our performances with the class!
Friday, October 11, 2013
This week (10-7-10/11)
This week in...
Kindergarten- we worked on hearing the difference between high and low sounds. We made high and low sounds with our voices and moved our bodies to show high and low. We also played some silly music games with rhythm sticks.
1st/2nd grade- we are working hard for our winter concert! We continued learning the song "Mittens and Gloves" and added some fancy movements to go with the song. We learned how to read our first music notes! We can now identify and draw quarter notes (which match with walking feet) and eighth notes (which match with jogging feet.
3rd grade- we got the details about the "found sounds" project. See the tab off to the left hand side of this page. Students will have the next month or so to make their instruments from items at home.
4th grade- we learned to play G on our recorders! We can now play 3 notes. We used a silly poem about a bee to help up get familiar with playing B, A, and G on the recorder.
5th grade- we made our own cup accompaniment parts to the African song, "Tue, Tue."Each group got to share their performance with the class.
Kindergarten- we worked on hearing the difference between high and low sounds. We made high and low sounds with our voices and moved our bodies to show high and low. We also played some silly music games with rhythm sticks.
1st/2nd grade- we are working hard for our winter concert! We continued learning the song "Mittens and Gloves" and added some fancy movements to go with the song. We learned how to read our first music notes! We can now identify and draw quarter notes (which match with walking feet) and eighth notes (which match with jogging feet.
3rd grade- we got the details about the "found sounds" project. See the tab off to the left hand side of this page. Students will have the next month or so to make their instruments from items at home.
4th grade- we learned to play G on our recorders! We can now play 3 notes. We used a silly poem about a bee to help up get familiar with playing B, A, and G on the recorder.
5th grade- we made our own cup accompaniment parts to the African song, "Tue, Tue."Each group got to share their performance with the class.
Friday, October 4, 2013
What we've been up to!
Hello!
Life has been pretty busy with talent show preparations. The kids did an amazing job on their auditions and I had a lot of fun watching/listening.
In kindergarten, we've been working on steady beat, ways to use our voices, and learning to sing a few simple songs. We are also working on sharing and moving through a common space.
In first and second grade, we have been working on some pieces for our winter concert on Thursday, December 12. It's a bit early to be singing winter songs, but we want to be our best for the concert!
In 3rd grade, we've been composing! In groups of 4, students have created their own "jam rhythms" to jam out to. We have learned to say and clap our jam rhythms, and also play the rhythms on "found sounds" in the room.
In 4th grade, we've been working hard with our recorders. We can play the notes B and A so far, and we can read the notes B, A, and G on the music staff. We are working on making a good sound on the recorder by using gentle air.
In 5th grade, we learned an African song called "Tue, Tue" with a cup accompaniment part. We have also been working through some tough sixteenth note rhythms!
Life has been pretty busy with talent show preparations. The kids did an amazing job on their auditions and I had a lot of fun watching/listening.
In kindergarten, we've been working on steady beat, ways to use our voices, and learning to sing a few simple songs. We are also working on sharing and moving through a common space.
In first and second grade, we have been working on some pieces for our winter concert on Thursday, December 12. It's a bit early to be singing winter songs, but we want to be our best for the concert!
In 3rd grade, we've been composing! In groups of 4, students have created their own "jam rhythms" to jam out to. We have learned to say and clap our jam rhythms, and also play the rhythms on "found sounds" in the room.
In 4th grade, we've been working hard with our recorders. We can play the notes B and A so far, and we can read the notes B, A, and G on the music staff. We are working on making a good sound on the recorder by using gentle air.
In 5th grade, we learned an African song called "Tue, Tue" with a cup accompaniment part. We have also been working through some tough sixteenth note rhythms!
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Week of 9/16-9/20
This week in...
Kindergarten- we played drums! We read the story Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb by Dr. Seuss and learned to play drums while doing a chant with our voices. We also learned a silly dance called "Seven Jumps" where we used an imaginary rubber brand to stretch our arms out for the long sounds in the music.
1st/2nd grade- we learned to say and clap our rhythm patterns. We learned a rhyme about fall colored leaves and colored in our own leaf patterns. We then learned to speak and clap our leaf patterns that we drew and performed them for the class.
3rd grade- we played a football bean bag passing game to reinforce the steady beat, and we also got to play some instruments. We played "jam rhythms" on drums, triangles, wood blocks, and tambourines.
4th grade- we have begun recorders! Each student has a recorder in the music classroom that is theirs to use for the year. We learned how to properly hold the recorder (left hand on top, right hand on bottom) and how to use our gentle air to make sounds. We learned a funny tongue twister with lots of T's in it to learn how to say "too" in our mouths when playing recorders.
5th grade- we created our own arrangements of a song we learned in class, "Let's Play a Game." In groups of 6 or 7, students got to create a performance that had an introduction, a body, and a coda (a short ending.) We used speaking and singing voices, body percussion, drums, and mallet instruments. We then performed the pieces for the class.
Talent show entry forms are due Friday, September 20th by 3:00pm!!!
Kindergarten- we played drums! We read the story Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb by Dr. Seuss and learned to play drums while doing a chant with our voices. We also learned a silly dance called "Seven Jumps" where we used an imaginary rubber brand to stretch our arms out for the long sounds in the music.
1st/2nd grade- we learned to say and clap our rhythm patterns. We learned a rhyme about fall colored leaves and colored in our own leaf patterns. We then learned to speak and clap our leaf patterns that we drew and performed them for the class.
3rd grade- we played a football bean bag passing game to reinforce the steady beat, and we also got to play some instruments. We played "jam rhythms" on drums, triangles, wood blocks, and tambourines.
4th grade- we have begun recorders! Each student has a recorder in the music classroom that is theirs to use for the year. We learned how to properly hold the recorder (left hand on top, right hand on bottom) and how to use our gentle air to make sounds. We learned a funny tongue twister with lots of T's in it to learn how to say "too" in our mouths when playing recorders.
5th grade- we created our own arrangements of a song we learned in class, "Let's Play a Game." In groups of 6 or 7, students got to create a performance that had an introduction, a body, and a coda (a short ending.) We used speaking and singing voices, body percussion, drums, and mallet instruments. We then performed the pieces for the class.
Talent show entry forms are due Friday, September 20th by 3:00pm!!!
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Beginning of the year!
What have we been up to, you ask?!?!
In kindergarten....
We have been learning about this amazing thing called the STEADY BEAT! We have shown the steady beat in our bodies in many ways. We have learned to sing our hello song called "Hello, Everybody"We have also been exploring the 4 ways to use our voices, including whispering, speaking, singing, and shouting. We chose our favorite animals from the story Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
In first and second grade...
We have moved to the steady beat using our bodies and instruments. We have also started to learn about the rhythm of song, which always matches with the words of the song. We even got to play the xylophones! We learned to sing "Circle Song" and also "Rig a Jig Jig."
In third grade...
We composed our own piece of music in class using body percussion sounds (stomp, pat, clap, and snap.) This piece had two parts, an A section and a B section. We have explored the many percussion instruments in the room and categorized them by the way they are played- tap, shake, and scrape. We learned a fun song that has movements to go with it called "Wind Up the Apple Tree."
In fourth grade...
We are learning about jazz! We have moved to jazz music and begun exploring the world of scat singing. We got to improvise on a drum and also improvise using scat words. We got into groups and composed a call and response using our scat words. We also learned more about jazz instruments from the story The Jazz Fly.
In fifth grade...
We have used the chant/song "Let's Play a Game" to fuel all of our classes so far. We got to come up with a unique way to perform our name and then added a movement to go with our name. We learned how to perform some body percussion (we used claps, pats, and stomps) to go with the chant. We then transferred the chant onto hand and djembe drums and played it in canon (in a round.) It sounded so cool! We then learned that the chant is actually a song, so we learned the melody on the mallet instruments.
We have certainly been busy!
***REMINDER*** Talent show entry forms are due to Ms. Buckley by Friday, September 20th at 3pm, no exceptions!!!!! When you turn in the form, talk to Ms. Buckley to sign up for an audition time.
Thanks for reading!
In kindergarten....
We have been learning about this amazing thing called the STEADY BEAT! We have shown the steady beat in our bodies in many ways. We have learned to sing our hello song called "Hello, Everybody"We have also been exploring the 4 ways to use our voices, including whispering, speaking, singing, and shouting. We chose our favorite animals from the story Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
In first and second grade...
We have moved to the steady beat using our bodies and instruments. We have also started to learn about the rhythm of song, which always matches with the words of the song. We even got to play the xylophones! We learned to sing "Circle Song" and also "Rig a Jig Jig."
In third grade...
We composed our own piece of music in class using body percussion sounds (stomp, pat, clap, and snap.) This piece had two parts, an A section and a B section. We have explored the many percussion instruments in the room and categorized them by the way they are played- tap, shake, and scrape. We learned a fun song that has movements to go with it called "Wind Up the Apple Tree."
In fourth grade...
We are learning about jazz! We have moved to jazz music and begun exploring the world of scat singing. We got to improvise on a drum and also improvise using scat words. We got into groups and composed a call and response using our scat words. We also learned more about jazz instruments from the story The Jazz Fly.
In fifth grade...
We have used the chant/song "Let's Play a Game" to fuel all of our classes so far. We got to come up with a unique way to perform our name and then added a movement to go with our name. We learned how to perform some body percussion (we used claps, pats, and stomps) to go with the chant. We then transferred the chant onto hand and djembe drums and played it in canon (in a round.) It sounded so cool! We then learned that the chant is actually a song, so we learned the melody on the mallet instruments.
We have certainly been busy!
***REMINDER*** Talent show entry forms are due to Ms. Buckley by Friday, September 20th at 3pm, no exceptions!!!!! When you turn in the form, talk to Ms. Buckley to sign up for an audition time.
Thanks for reading!
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Welcome!
Welcome to the new blog for music at Park Hill Elementary!
I hope that this will be a valuable resource for parents, families, and students throughout the school year. In our attempt to go paperless, this blog will be the main place for you to find any and all information about music class, including concert information, updates about what we are working on, and fun photos/videos. Students can also find recorder music, fun quizzes/games, and more!
Please enter your email address in the white bar on the top of the page to receive an email when the blog is updated. You may also join the blog and become a follower to be notified of all updates.
Para leer el blog en español, usar el traductor en la parte superior de la página.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions and leave comments on blog posts. I look forward to a wonderful year in music!
I hope that this will be a valuable resource for parents, families, and students throughout the school year. In our attempt to go paperless, this blog will be the main place for you to find any and all information about music class, including concert information, updates about what we are working on, and fun photos/videos. Students can also find recorder music, fun quizzes/games, and more!
Please enter your email address in the white bar on the top of the page to receive an email when the blog is updated. You may also join the blog and become a follower to be notified of all updates.
Para leer el blog en español, usar el traductor en la parte superior de la página.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions and leave comments on blog posts. I look forward to a wonderful year in music!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)