2nd Trimester

Reading the Staff

By the end of the first trimester, Beginning Band musicians had a good handle on basic instrument technique and could play songs with three notes. In the second trimester, we were ready to add reading music to our growing skills.

We began by translating the three notes we already knew onto a music staff. Students practiced reading them with a variety of games and drills throughout the trimester. Some favorites included using the dry erase music staff boards and a dice to compose and play a simple melody, and the "mad minute" note naming speed quiz.

As our comfort and flexibility with music reading grew, we gradually added a fourth and fifth note to our repertoire. For the first time, we started learning brand new songs by reading them from the staff!

BB Portfolio- Note Reading.mp4

BB Portfolio- T2 Pathways Share.mp4

Pathways Showcase

For the second trimester Pathways Showcase, students were excited to show off their new notes and music reading skills! They chose to play a Scottish folk song called Aiken Drum to demonstrate their ability to read and play a song with four notes, and Ode to Joy by Ludwig van Beethoven to demonstrate a song with the fifth note.

Student Reflections

REFLECT: What has been your favorite song in band this trimester?

"Aiken Drum, because it was a challenge, but also it was a good song."

"I liked Can Mali Can because the way it sounded. It was like you could feel it. It was beautiful."

"Hop Old Squirrel because it is our first reading the staff song."

"Koo Koo Koo Loo because of the call and response in two groups."

"Ode to Joy because it is awesome that we get to play one of the most famous musical pieces in the world."

"O Trem Maluco because I feel like I played it very well."

"Havia Um Pastorzinho because it pushed me with its speed and difficulty."

"Ode to Joy because my grandpa loved Beethoven and had a whole bookshelf full of CDs, and he loved Ode to Joy."

"O Trem Maluco. I like this song because it challenges you to play faster, but still accurate notes. I like how it sounds."

ENGAGE & PERSIST: What skill or song has challenged you this trimester?

"Switching notes."

"Havia Um Pastorzinho was challenging because it was very long and took a lot of air to play."

"Switching from my 5th note to other notes was hardest to me because it was hard to switch pitches and notes at the same time."

"Note reading."

"Getting my buzz high enough on the 5th note."

"Reading notes at the beginning of the trimester was hard because it was hard to switch from the letters to figuring them out on the staff."

ENVISION: What do you want to improve on in band during the third trimester?

"Note reading."

"Switching from note 4-5."

"Not puffing my cheeks and just knowing the notes on my line and not having to think."

"I want to improve my note reading and be more precise."

"Being better at sight-reading music and knowing the song right away."

"Learning more notes."

Using the Studio Habits of Mind

Develop Craft: I can identify and read eighth, quarter, half, and whole notes and their corresponding rests in rhythm patterns.

Develop Craft: I can play 5 notes on my instrument with appropriate technique.

Develop Craft: I can identify, read, and write the first 5 notes on a music staff.

Engage & Persist: I can demonstrate grit, determination, and willingness to work through challenges in learning a new skill.

Understand the Art World: I can demonstrate engaged participation in band classes and can conduct myself in a way that contributes to the good of the group.

Express: I can apply the skills and knowledge I have acquired during class to my performance.

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