Grades K-5 General Music

Week of 6/15/2020

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 focusing on world vocal music. Choose one or two of these activities to explore throughout the week:

  • SING - Let's sing a song from Japan! In this song, we sing about animals. In Japanese, the names and the words for the sound they make are different than in English. Can you sing and move along? Click HERE for a guide of the different animals in the song.
  • SING - Let's sing a song from Ghana! This song is called Kye Kye Kule (pronounced che che koo-lay). Many songs from Africa are call and response songs, which means the leader sings a line and the group echos them. Can you try to sing along with both parts? You can learn more about this song and find the translation HERE.
  • LISTEN - Let’s listen to a song from Puerto Rico! This song tells of going to the mangroves to catch crabs, fish, and eels. How does the music make you feel?

Happy exploring!

Grade 1

Music:

This week we will be focusing on world vocal music. Choose one or two of these activities to explore throughout the week:

  • SING - Let's sing a song from Japan! In this song, we sing about animals. In Japanese, the names and the words for the sound they make are different than in English. Can you sing and move along? Click HERE for a guide of the different animals in the song.
  • SING - Let's sing a song from Ghana! This song is called Kye Kye Kule (pronounced che che koo-lay). Many songs from Africa are call and response songs, which means the leader sings a line and the group echos them. Can you try to sing along with both parts? You can learn more about this song and find the translation HERE.
  • LISTEN - Let’s listen to a song from Puerto Rico! This song tells of going to the mangroves to catch crabs, fish, and eels. How does the music make you feel?

Happy exploring!

Grade 2

Music:

This week we will be focusing on world vocal music. Choose one or two of these activities to explore throughout the week:

  • SING - Let's sing a song from Ghana! This song is called Kye Kye Kule (pronounced che che koo-lay). Many songs from Africa are call and response songs, which means the leader sings a line and the group echos them. Can you try to sing along with both parts? You can learn more about this song and find the translation HERE.
  • SING - Let’s sing a song from New Zealand! This song is called Oma Rapeti meaning “Rabbit Run.” Can you follow the motions in the video while you sing along? You can find the lyrics to the song HERE.
  • LISTEN - Every culture in the world has their own singing style. Let’s listen to some singing from around the world! Choose two or more of the styles below to listen to. Some styles of singing you may like, and others you may not like as much. Think about how different people in the world find different sounds beautiful.
    • Yodeling from Switzerland was used by sheep herders in the Alps to communicate over long distances.
    • Throat Singing from Mongolia involves singing two pitches at the same time! It is meant to imitate sounds and shapes from nature.
    • Scat Singing from the United States is used in Jazz music. A singer will improvise (make up) a solo using nonsense syllables. Scat singers often use their voices to copy the sounds of instruments.
    • Bel Canto from Italy. Bel Canto means “beautiful singing.” It was started in the 1600s and is still used in opera today.
    • Puirt-a-Beul comes from Scotland. It is also known as mouth music. This singing style is traditionally performed with simple percussion instruments. The music is very fast and rhythmic!


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!

  • Click HERE to view video demonstrations of the violin, viola, and cello from the Cranford string teachers!
  • 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!


We hope you will sign up to play a string instrument next year!

Grade 3

Music:

This week we will be focusing on world vocal music. Choose one or two of these activities to explore throughout the week:

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!

  • Click HERE to view video demonstrations of the flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, baritone horn, trombone, or percussion from the Cranford band directors.
  • 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!


We hope you will sign up to play a band or string instrument next year!

Grade 4

Music:

This week we will be focusing on world vocal music. Choose one or two of these activities to explore throughout the week:

  • Let’s explore vocal music from Greece, Turkey and Israel. As you listen to these examples, you will notice that the rhythm is very complex and different from the music that we are used to listening to here in the United States. Music from these countries are a combination of modern and ancient musical styles. You will also notice that the music from these three countries sound very similar to each other.
  • LISTEN:
  • MISERLOU: This last song is a folk song from the Eastern Mediterranean region, with origins in the Ottoman Empire. The original author of the song is not known, but Arabic, Greek and Jewish musicians were playing it by the 1920s. The earliest known recording of the song is a 1927 Greek rebetiko/tsifteteli composition influenced by Middle Eastern music. This song also became popular in the 1960’s and has been used as background music for movies.

Miserlou Original: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fcL5ns0elo

Happy exploring!

Grade 5

Music:

This week we will be focusing on world vocal music. Choose one or two of these activities to explore throughout the week:

  • Let’s explore vocal music from Greece, Turkey and Israel. As you listen to these examples, you will notice that the rhythm is very complex and different from the music that we are used to listening to here in the United States. Music from these countries are a combination of modern and ancient musical styles. You will also notice that the music from these three countries sound very similar to each other.
  • LISTEN:
  • MISERLOU: This last song is a folk song from the Eastern Mediterranean region, with origins in the Ottoman Empire. The original author of the song is not known, but Arabic, Greek and Jewish musicians were playing it by the 1920s. The earliest known recording of the song is a 1927 Greek rebetiko/tsifteteli composition influenced by Middle Eastern music. This song also became popular in the 1960’s and has been used as background music for movies.

Miserlou Original: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fcL5ns0elo

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.