November and December
have been busy months in our music classes! Fifth grade students showed off
their
individual talents at the 3
rd annual Lower School Coffee House
on Friday night, November 6 and students Beginner through Fifth Grade performed
during our Grandparents and Special Friends Day presentations on November 24. Pictures
and video are posted on this blog. Our composer of the month for November was Aaron
Copland. Through “Appalachian Spring, “Rodeo”, and Fanfare for the Common Man
we explored American 20
th Century music. For December I chose to
feature a popular songwriter/musician who has had a large impact on commercial
and theater music, Elton John.
Beginner
and Pre-K students continue to explore percussion instruments including
the maracas, egg shakers, tambourines, and jingle bells. They reviewed various
instruments of the orchestra in the book “Musical Max.” In December we learned
the winter songs “Jingle Bells” and “Frosty the Snowman.”
Other
favorite songs are “Down By the Bay” and “Something in My Shoe.”
Kindergarten students are continuing
to match pitch and review patterns with the rhythm sticks using quarter notes
(tah), eighth notes (ti ti), half notes (tah-ah) and rests (sh). Students
K-5 have enjoyed singing winter and
holiday songs throughout December. A template of the holiday song book is
available in the right hand column under “song lyrics” as some students
expressed interest in making their own song book. At the Lower School gathering
on December 18 the Lower School Chorus will present “Showbiz Snowman” and lead “Jingle
Bells”.
Fourth and fifth grade
students continue to discuss the Lower School Musical "The Wizard of Oz"
which will be performed at the end of April. Permission slips are due by
December 18. Fifth grade auditions will be January 5
th and 7
th;
rehearsals begin in January. Chorus students are preparing for their winter
concert on January 14.
Happy Holidays,
enjoy the winter break!
Upcoming events: Thursday, January
14 Lower School Winter Concert 6pm
Panther Hall.
November and December
have been busy months in our music classes! Fifth grade students showed off
their