We have had a great start to our music classes this year! I have met
with each class twice and we are finishing our third cycle.
Beginner
students are getting comfortable in the music room with songs such as
"If You're Happy and You Know It" and "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and
Toes." We are trying some different drums as we sing our "Name Song"
and have had an introduction to rhythm sticks. We have marched to "Golliwog's Cakewalk" by our composer of
the month Claude Debussy. Beginner students began learning a new song "Little Turkey in the Woods." We also read a book called
If You're Happy and You Know It. Pre-K
students are also getting comfortable in the music classroom with
songs such as "Mr. Sun", "ABC Rock" and "Down By the Bay." We have
tried various percussion instruments with the "Name Song" and reviewed rhythm stick
activities. Pre-K students are singing a new song called "Let's Shake Hands."
Kindergarten
students are learning to match pitch and singing "I Want to Know." We are playing and
saying patterns with the rhythm sticks using quarter notes (tah), eighth
notes (ti ti) and rests (sh). Students
K-5 have had an
introduction to our composer of the month, Claude Debussy through his pieces "Claire de Lune," "Golliwog's Cakewalk," and "La Mer."
First Grade students
are singing "America" (My Country 'Tis of Thee) and played a xylophone
ostinato during "Sing Your Name." We are learning a new
song called "It's a Musical World."
Second grade students have added a second verse to
"America" and also played a xylophone ostinato during "Sing Your Name."
We explored the C Pentatonic scales on the alto and bass
xylophones. We are learning a new song "I'm An Original."
Third through fifth grade students
have
been reviewing "The Star-Spangled Banner" including its history and
traditions. Third grade is singing "Thanks;" they will
begin their recorders soon.
Fourth and fifth grade
students were excited to learn about our Lower School Musical "The Wizard of Oz" which will be performed at the end of April. I will
have a parent meeting in December and send home permission slips with
fourth and fifth graders. Fifth grade auditions will be at the
beginning of January and rehearsals for fourth and fifth graders will begin in January.
Fourth grade students began learning "Glad For Their Thanksgiving" and reviewing note values and pitches.
Fifth grade students
are singing "We the People" which includes some harmony notes during the chorus. We are also reviewing music time periods and composers in history. Fifth grade will have the
opportunity to perform in a Lower School Coffee House on November 6, I sent home permission slips for this and information is available in this blog. Lower School Chorus is sounding great
already; we are reviewing solfege exercises and beginning to learn
songs for our winter concert in January. After school singing clubs on Tuesday and Thursday are exploring musical theater and having fun singing and dancing. I am looking forward to a
great year of music making at Ranney Lower School! Mrs. Geene
