October has been a great month in our music classes! Our composer of the month is Franz Joseph
Haydn, “Father of the Symphony”; students began to learn about his life as a Classical
period composer who wrote over 100 symphonies and especially enjoyed the “Surprise”
symphony. We reviewed the Ranney Fight
Song “Go, Panthers, Go!” and sang it at the pep rally during Ranney Spirit
Week. All students explored music of
India during October including the Sitar and Tablas. Beginner students continue to play different percussion instruments
and explore movement as we greet each other with our “Name Song.” They have
continued learning the song “Little Turkey in the Woods” that we will share
during Grandparents and Special Friends Day on November 24. We also learned some new songs with movements
for the fall season. Beginner and Pre-K students explored many
instruments including the steel drum through our book “Creepy Crawly
Calypso.” Pre-K students have
explored movement through the songs “Simon Says” and “Just Like Me.” They are
preparing the song “Let’s Shake Hands” for Grandparents Day in
November. Pre-K students have also learned some new songs with movements for
the fall season. Kindergarten students are continuing to match
pitch and sing "I Want to Know." We are playing and saying
patterns with the rhythm sticks using quarter notes (tah), eighth notes (ti
ti), half notes (tah-ah) and rests (sh). They have learned new songs
including “Brush Your Teeth,” “The Ants Go Marching” and “I’ve Been Working on
the Railroad.” Kindergarten students also read a book called “Goldie Rocks.”
Students K-5 had fun singing the John Jacobson ‘50’s rock and roll style
song “One Hundred Ghosts” as we approached Halloween. First Grade students are reviewing
the treble clef/introduction to notes through the book and puppets “Freddie the
Frog and the Thump in the Night, First Adventure: Treble Clef Island.” We
are continuing to prepare the song "It’s a Musical World" for
Grandparents and Special Friends Day in November. Second grade music classes have
continued to explore treble clef notes through the book and puppets “Freddie
the Frog and the Secret of Crater Island.”
We are preparing the song "I’m an Original" for Grandparents
Day. Second through fifth grades have
been reviewing rhythms and exploring the drum circle using various African and
South American drums. Third grade is preparing "Thanks”
for November 24; they have been reviewing note values and treble clef pitches
to prepare for playing the recorder. Fourth and fifth grade
students continue to discuss 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
will begin in January. Fourth grade students will sing "Glad
for Their Thanksgiving" for Grandparents Day and have also been reviewing
note values and pitches. Fifth grade students
are preparing "We the People" for the Grandparents Day performance
and have been reviewing music terms, time periods, composers, and note values. Many
fifth grade students have been hard at work preparing their pieces for the upcoming
Lower School Coffee House. The Lower School Chorus and Fourth/Fifth Grade
Singing Club led the national anthem at the October gathering and performed the
three part canon “One Bottle of Pop” and the “Ranney Special Subject Song.” Lower School chorus members are continuing
solfege exercises and songs for our winter concert in January.
Upcoming events: Friday, November 6 Commons Stage 7pm - Lower School Coffee House;
Tuesday, November 24 - Grandparents and Special Friends Day.
