Grades K-2 do Jazz!

Grades K-2 are doing jazz lessons in April since April is National Jazz Appreciation Month.

1st graders are learning how to improvise a scat using different "nonsense" syllables. Improvising means you are making it up on the spot. Here are some students from Mrs. Ray's class improvising their scat for the class to echo:

1st Graders Play Glockenspiels

The 1st graders played the glockenspiels this week while learning about the sound opposites up and down. First, students played the glockenspiel up and down along to the poem "Hickory Dickory Dock." They were able to change different parts of the poem for each time of day.

Ms. Scott's class

Next, students learned a song called "The Sun is Rising." They learned how to play up the scale, notes "C, D, E, F, G." After they learned the song they worked in small groups to practice and then perform the song for the class.

Mrs. Greene's class

Ms. Scott's class

Kindergarteners Hatch out of Their Eggs!

Kindergarteners are learning about "Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks" this week by composers Mussorgsky and Ravel.
Here is the link to the youtube video students watched for their first listen to the piece: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAtAvF2cepg

Students discussed what it would be like to be a chick inside an egg ready to hatch. How would they feel? What might they do to try to break free?

Then students learned the story about Charli the chick and how he and his friends broke out of their eggs and then hid inside them again to surprise their mama and papa when they got back from the lake.

Here are some classes performing the cute version of this piece from "Fun with Composers Volume 2." We added instruments to part A and scarves to part B.

Words= 
PART A= "Let me out! Let me out! Icky sticky, icky sticky, I am feeling icky sticky!
Let me out! Let me out! Icky sticky, icky sticky, I am feeling icky sticky!
Peck, peck, peck, peck, peck, peck, peck, peck, PUSH! *Repeat*

PART B= Where is my mama, where is my papa? Where is my mama, my papa? Oh there!
Quickly, oh quickly, get back in the eggshell. Quickly, oh quickly, they'll love the surprise!"

FORM= AABA

 Mrs. MacDougall's class

Ms. McCluskey's class

3rd Grade Learns Ukulele!

3rd graders started learning the ukulele this week! They will play ukulele for the next month or so in music class, learning various different chords and many fun songs!
Here is Mrs. Wilson's class performing "Three Blind Mice" using the C chord:

Hopi Basket Dance Grade 3

3rd graders learned about Native American music this week since they will be doing a Native American unit soon in their classrooms.
Students learned a Hopi Basket Dance, which is a dance to celebrate the harvest used by the Navajo Native Americans.

Here is Ms. Lantz's class performing the Hopi Basket Dance with paper plates as their baskets.

Students also learned a song called Gitsigakomim, from the Blackfoot Nation. Gitsigakomim means "I love you" or "I honor you." And Na-a means mother. After learning the song students were able to substitute "Na-a" for the name of someone or something that they would like to honor.

Gitsigakomim Na-a

Gitsigakomim Na-a

Gitsigakomim Na-a

Gitsigakomim

Way ya, way ya

way ya, hey ya

way ya, hey ya

Gitsigakomim, Gitsigakomim

1st Grade Stick Compositions

1st graders learned how to make rhythms using popsicle sticks this week, inspired by listening to the book "Freddie the Frog and the Mysterious Wahooo!" Their rhythm choices were beat (quarter note), beat-t (eighth notes), Beat-e-t-a (sixteenth notes), and rest (quarter rest). They used the heart beat strips to help make 4 beats of rhythm. Then they clapped and said the beats and performed their composition for the class on the drum. Lastly, they made some more rhythms and played them on the egg shakers.

Students will use this skill again next week during their Valentine's Day lesson for our informances. We are excited to welcome parents into the music room soon! :-)

3rd Grade Note Naming

3rd graders have been learning note names on the treble staff in music. We have used many fun videos, games, activities, and stations to help us remember the note names. For the past two weeks students have been rotating through 7 different note naming stations. Enjoy some pictures of the fun!

Pirate Practice Note Naming

Swat the Note

Pirate Note Memory Match Up

Note Naming Worksheets

Staff Spelling Bee

Pirate Color by Note

Note Naming Beanbag Toss