We have had a great start to our music classes this year! I met with each class three times so far. 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 marched to "Stars and Stripes Forever" by our composer of the month John Philip Sousa. Beginner students began learning a new song "Hello/Thank You." We also read a book called I’ve Got the Rhythm. 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 tried various percussion instruments with the "Name Song" and reviewed rhythm stick activities. Pre-K students are singing a new song called "I’m So Glad to Be Here." Kindergarten students are learning to match pitch and singing "We Give Thanks." We are playing and saying patterns with the rhythm sticks using quarter notes (tah), eighth notes (ti ti) and rests (sh). Students K-5 had an introduction to our composer of the month John Philip Sousa, “The March King” and began to learn about his life as a director of the Marine Band who wrote many marches including “Stars and Stripes Forever.” All students explored music of Indonesia during September as our featured World Music of the Month. 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 are learning a new song "Catch the Rhythm." Second 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 in December. Fourth and fifth grade students were excited to learn about our Lower School Musical "Madagascar, Jr." which will be performed at the end of April. There will be a parent meeting in December and permission slips posted for 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 learning "My Shot" from the musical “Hamilton.” We are also reviewing music time periods and composers in history. Fifth grade students will have the opportunity to perform in a Lower School Coffee House on November 3, we posted permission slips for this and information is available in a previous blog posting. 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!
Upcoming events: Friday, November 3 Commons Stage 7pm - Lower School Coffee House; Tuesday, November 21 - Grandparents and Friends Day.
