October Music Notes

October Music Notes    

October has been a great month in our music classes!  Our composer of the month is Johann Sebastian Bach; students began to learn about his life as a Baroque period composer who composed the famous Toccata and Fugue in D Minor.  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 songs “Hello”  and “Thank You” that we will share during Grandparents and Special Friends Day on November 22.  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 “We Love Our Grandparents” 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 "There is No Time Like the Autumn/Don’t Forget to be Thankful."  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 songs "I’m Grateful/I Want Some Pumpkin Pie" 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 songs "Funga Alafia/Do the Good You Know" 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 "A Song for Grandparents’ Day/Thanks, Thanksgiving” for November 22; 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 "Willy Wonka, Jr." which will be performed at the end of April.  I will have a parent meeting in December and will post permission slips for 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 "A World of Thanks" for Grandparents Day and have also been reviewing note values and pitches.  Fifth grade students are preparing "Jambo Bwana" 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.  Lower School Chorus and the Tuesday After School Singing Club shared thoughts about Trustworthiness and performed "Funga Alafia" at the October 28 Lower School Gathering. "Funga Alafia" is a traditional song of welcome sung and danced throughout many parts of Africa. "Funga" is a welcome dance and "Alafia" is a greeting meaning "hello" or "peace be with you" similar to the greetings of "Shalom" or "Namaste". "Ashay" means "so be it". In the traditional "Funga Alafia" dance, colorful scarves and percussion instruments can be used to enhance the welcome greeting. Lower School chorus members are continuing solfege exercises and songs for our winter concert in January. Upcoming events: Friday, November 4 Commons Stage 7pm - Lower School Coffee House; Tuesday, November 22 - Grandparents and Special Friends Day.