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This week's activities are listed below by grade level.
Questions? Email your child’s teacher directly.
Preschool and Kindergarten
Music:
This week we will be exploring sounds around us. Choose one or two of these activities to explore throughout the week:
- LISTEN - Let’s go on a listening walk! A listening walk is a great way to practice our listening skills, which are important to use both at home and at school. Choose a place to take your walk (in your house, in your backyard, or down your street).
- Before you go on your walk, think about what sounds you expect to hear. You may want to write them down so you can check them off after your walk.
- Be a careful listener. Stop often and in different places to see if the sounds change. Closing your eyes may help you focus on the sounds around you.
- Notice sounds, both near and far away. How loud are the sounds? What’s making the sounds? Are any of the sounds musical?
- For an extra challenge, try to copy some of the sounds you hear!
- SING & MOVE - Watch Drive My Car and move along! What sounds does a car make? Can you make those sounds too?
- SING & MOVE - Watch When I Woke Up Today. Sing and move along to the music! In the song, we wake up and shout “hooray!” Why? How did you feel when you woke up today? What would you shout when you wake up?
Happy exploring!
Grade 1
Music:
This week we will be exploring sounds around us. Choose one or two of these activities to explore throughout the week:
- LISTEN - Let’s go on a listening walk! A listening walk is a great way to practice our listening skills, which are important to use both at home and at school. Choose a place to take your walk (in your house, in your backyard, or down your street).
- Before you go on your walk, think about what sounds you expect to hear. You may want to write them down so you can check them off after your walk.
- Be a careful listener. Stop often and in different places to see if the sounds change. Closing your eyes may help you focus on the sounds around you.
- Notice sounds, both near and far away. How loud are the sounds? What’s making the sounds? Are any of the sounds musical?
- For an extra challenge, try to copy some of the sounds you hear!
- SING - Listen and sing along to The Cat Came Back. Why do you think Mr. Johnson wanted to get rid of the cat? He tried giving the cat away many times, but it kept coming back! How would you have gotten rid of the cat? You can make up your own verse to this song once you know the melody!
- MOVE - Listen to the Viennese Musical Clock by Zoltan Kodaly. Why do you think the music has this title? Think about these movements as you listen: March, tiptoe, stomp, sway. How would you choose to move to the music? Listen again and move along!
Happy exploring!
Grade 2
Music:
This week you will be participating in the “Second Grade: Strings Virtual Instrument Demonstration!”
Next year, as a third grade student in Cranford, you have the option to play the violin, viola, or cello. While you may know that you definitely want to play an instrument, it can be tough deciding. We are here to help! Please click the link below to participate in our “Second Grade: Strings Virtual Instrument Demonstration!” This Google Form is designed to help you decide which string instrument you would like to play next school year!
For our second grade students:
- Click HERE to view video demonstrations of the violin, viola, and cello from the Cranford string teachers!
For our second grade parents/guardians:
- Click HERE to view the letter regarding string instrument registration for next school year.
- Click HERE to complete the third grade 2020-2021 string registration form for your child.
Questions? Contact your child's future director below!
- BPS Strings - Ms. Lee - lee@cranfordschools.org
- HAS Strings - Mr. Topielski - topielski@cranfordschools.org
- LAS Strings - Ms. Lee - lee@cranfordschools.org
- OAS Strings - Mr. Jackson - jackson.jonathan@cranfordschools.org
We hope you will sign up to play a string instrument next year!
Grade 3
Music:
This week you will be participating in the “Third Grade: Band Virtual Instrument Demonstration!”
Next year, as a fourth grade student in Cranford, you have the option to play the flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, baritone horn, trombone, or percussion, or continue with your string instrument. While you may know that you definitely want to play a band or string instrument, it can be tough deciding. We are here to help! Please click the link below to participate in our “Third Grade: Band Virtual Instrument Demonstration!” This Google Form is designed to help you decide which band instrument you would like to play next school year!
For our third grade students:
- Click HERE to view video demonstrations of the flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, baritone horn, trombone, or percussion from the Cranford band directors.
For our third grade parents/guardians:
- Click HERE to view the letter regarding band instrument registration for next school year.
- Click HERE to complete the fourth grade 2020-2021 band registration form for your child.
Questions? Contact your child's future director below!
- BPS Band - Mr. DiFabio - alex.difabio@cranfordschools.org
- HAS Band - Mr. Falisi - falisi@cranfordschools.org
- LAS Band - Ms. McDonald - mcdonald@cranfordschools.org
- OAS Band - Mrs. Holodak - holodak@cranfordschools.org
We hope you will sign up to play a band or string instrument next year!
Grade 4
Music:
This week we will be exploring musical theater. Choose one or two of these activities to explore throughout the week:
- LEARN - Musicals can be very interesting because they combine many arts into one production. Music is a key component of musical theater. You may know and love several songs that come from a musical theater production. In addition to music, musicals also feature multiple dance scenes and sets for the stage that can be simple or very elaborate.
- Here are some terms you should become familiar with: Music Theatre Vocabulary.
- WATCH - Here is a brief video clip on The History of Musical Theater.
- WATCH - Take a look at some of the cast from Aladdin. Watch and see how a Broadway show prepares with lights, sound, costumes, makeup and pre-show routines.
- Choreography
- Set Design/Costumes/Effects
- LISTEN - You may recognize several songs that come from the musical theatre tradition. How many of these do you recognize?
- The Sound of Music: Do Re Mi
- The Sound of Music: My Favorite Things
- Oliver: Food Glorious Food
- Newsies: Once and For All/ Seize the Day
- THINK - Do you have a favorite song from a musical? What is it? Do you have a favorite musical? Have you seen a live musical performance? Have you had an opportunity to see a musical on Broadway?
- Perhaps you’ve had an opportunity to watch a musical performed locally at Cranford High School, Orange Avenue School or Hillside Avenue School. You may even know some NJ Theatres: NJPAC, The Papermill Playhouse, The State Theatre in New Brunswick, or the outdoor theatre in Edison. Share your local musical theater experiences with a family, friend or your teacher.
Happy exploring!
Grade 5
Music:
This week we will be exploring musical theater. Choose one or two of these activities to explore throughout the week:
- LEARN - Musicals can be very interesting because they combine many arts into one production. Music is a key component of musical theater. You may know and love several songs that come from a musical theater production. In addition to music, musicals also feature multiple dance scenes and sets for the stage that can be simple or very elaborate.
- Here are some terms you should become familiar with: Music Theatre Vocabulary.
- WATCH - Here is a brief video clip on The History of Musical Theater.
- WATCH - Take a look at some of the cast from Aladdin. Watch and see how a Broadway show prepares with lights, sound, costumes, makeup and pre-show routines.
- Choreography
- Set Design/Costumes/Effects
- LISTEN - You may recognize several songs that come from the musical theatre tradition. How many of these do you recognize?
- The Sound of Music: Do Re Mi
- The Sound of Music: My Favorite Things
- Oliver: Food Glorious Food
- Newsies: Once and For All/ Seize the Day
- Matilda: When I Grow Up
- THINK - Do you have a favorite song from a musical? What is it? Do you have a favorite musical? Have you seen a live musical performance? Have you had an opportunity to see a musical on Broadway?
- Perhaps you’ve had an opportunity to watch a musical performed locally at Cranford High School, Orange Avenue School or Hillside Avenue School. You may even know some NJ Theatres: NJPAC, The Papermill Playhouse, The State Theatre in New Brunswick, or the outdoor theatre in Edison. Share your local musical theater experiences with a family, friend or your teacher.
Happy exploring!
Resources for All Grades
Take your music learning further with these great resources:
- TED ED - [LINK] Here’s a playlist of all the TED ED talks about music on YouTube. These are best used by upper elementary and high school students.
- Mario Paint Composer - [LINK] This site enables students to create their own 8-bit music that sounds like it’s from an actual Super Nintendo video game. Students can also download their song as an mp3 to keep or to share. A great music writing site for all ages.
- Folk Ways - [LINK] A great site for upper elementary to high school students interested in world music!
- DSO Kids - [LINK] Dallas Symphony Orchestra website for students of all ages. It has pages for different composers and instruments including video and audio clips. Also has activities for students including coloring pages, practice tips, and ideas for making your own instrument.
- Classics for Kids - [LINK] Classical music for elementary music. Site includes music and information on composers, quizzes, games, and activities students can do at home.
- Brain Pop - [LINK] Great video resources about musical genres, making music, and MORE! Great for elementary - middle school.
- Teoria - [LINK] Ear training and theory resources for more advanced students.
- Rhythm Randomizer - [LINK] Here students can practice reading rhythms. Students can choose different note and rest values and the site will randomly generate new sight-reading exercises.
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