1st Grade Informances Week of May 2-6

April 2016

Dear Parents,

The 1^st graders have been busy this school year singing, dancing, playing instruments, clapping rhythms, learning about sound opposites, and much more in the music classroom! Mitchell School would like to invite you to the First Grade Informances, the week of May 2-6 during your child’s normal music time.

An informance is a chance for parents to see what a typical music class is like. It is process based rather than product based. Unlike a performance where parents see a concert that has been taught and rehearsed for months (product-based), an informance informs parents what kind of activities students do in music class every week (process-based). J Students do not practice for an informance; they just show up and participate normally as they do in music. You are invited and welcome to come during your child’s first grade music time the week of May 2-6; parents can sit and watch the class in action! (Aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc. are ok too). Adults only please.

Below are the times our informances will take place:

Monday, May 2:

Mrs. Down’s Class: 9:00-9:45 am

Mrs. Dorazio’s Class: 2:00-2:45 PM

Tuesday, May 3:

Mrs. Sallade’s Class: 9:00-9:45 am

Thursday, May 5:

Mrs. Jagentenfl’s Class: 9:00-9:45 am

Ms. Nealey’s Class: 2:00-2:45 PM

Friday, May 6:

Mrs. Greer’s Class: 9:00-9:45 am

Let me know if you have any questions. I hope you can join us!

Chicken on a Fence Post- Improvisation

April is jazz appreciation month so 3rd graders learned about jazz history and a song that involves improvising (making music up on the spot that fits the song). The song is called "Chicken on a Fence Post" and teaches students the quick "beat-e-t-a" 16th note rhythm. There is a part A and part B. During part B the xylophones improvise on the words "fence post yeah!"

I got the lesson idea and notation from the wonderful blog: bethsmusicnotesplus.com. 

Mrs. Perry's Class

Mrs. Wilson's Class

'Galop' Ribbon Dance

Grade 3 has been learning about form. In this video students perform a ribbon dance routine to 'Galop' from The Comedians by Composer Kabalevsky .

Mrs. Perry's Class

Mrs. Wilson's Class

Ms. Lantz's Class

2nd Grade Learns Ukulele!

The 2nd graders got to learn ukulele for a 45 minute class period as a kind of 'sneak peak' for learning the ukulele more in depth next fall. They had just finished learning about the string family in the orchestra. In 45 minutes students learned how to hold, strum, and play a C chord on the ukulele!

Mrs. Howe's 2nd grade class

Grade K draws to the Music

This week Grade K students did a lesson on Dr. Seuss' book "My Many Colored Days." At the end of the lesson students got to draw like the music sounded and pick what color they think the music sounded like.

Land of the Silver Birch- Native American Song

3rd graders learned about Native American music last week to correlate with learning about Native Americans in their classrooms. They learned a Native American folk song called "Land of the Silver Birch". The lyrics are:

"Land of the Silver Birch. Home of the beaver.

Where still the mighty moose wanders at will.

Blue lake and rocky shore, I will return once more.

Boom-di-dee boom boom, boom di-dee boom boom,

Boom-di-dee boom boom, boom."

Students played the xylophones, drums, and bells. Bells and xylophones used a "Beat, rest" rhythm while the drums played on the steady beat. After each time singing the song students rotated to a new instrument.

Instrument set-up around the music circle.

I got the Orff arrangement from here. :-)

High/Low Songs on the Stretchy Band

1st graders learn about sound opposites throughout the year. They just learned about the opposites high and low. In the two videos below students perform the song "High Low Song" by MusicK8. View the video here!

Students were excited to use the music room's new stretchy band! We were able to purchase this awesome new stretchy band through our Best Seat in the House Raffle at our Winter Concert. 

Ms. Nealey's Class

Mrs. Jagentenfl's Class

The song below called "bounce high, bounce low" showed the high, middle, and low notes using the stretchy band.

Mrs. Greer's Class