MUSIC  

What's Happening in the Music Room? 

It's been a fantastic first month back to school! Take a look and see some of the musical fun we've been getting up to!

2nd & 3rd

Body Percussion Hello - an upbeat song to greet each other and get clapping, stomping, patting, and snapping to the beat. 

Up the Ladder, Down the Ladder - a rhythmic chant and name game. Students practice form (verse, chorus, verse, chorus) and take a turn to perform solo. 

Agua de Limones, a Colombian folk song - a "getting to know you" game. Students sing the melody and march to the steady beat. We practice our Spanish pronounciation and the solfege Mi, Re, and Do. 

4th & 5th

Body Percussion Hello - an upbeat song to greet each other and get clapping, stomping, patting, and snapping to the beat. 

The Dum Dum Song - a vocal warmup from the Minnesota Boys' Choir. Students sing a repetitive vocal melody and work their brain/body connection as they move through 13 different hand clap variations. This is a fun memory and beat-keeping challenge. Once we perform all 13 verses, we'll definitely all need a dum dum to celebrate!

King of the Mountain a rhythm review game - this is a fast-paced, competitive, rhythm call and response game. We're practicing rhythms using quarter, half, eighth, and sixteenth notes. 

How Does Music Class Benefit Kids? 

1.) Music Strengthens Your Brain

Music accelerates brain development in babies and kids, enhances fine and gross motor skills, executive function, and sensory development. 

The process of learning and playing an instrument increases brain power and functionality, resulting in a boosted IQ and improved concentration. 

Read more on: How Music Makes You Smarter

2.) Music Improves Success in School and Life

Children and teens who study music perform better in school. 

They get higher grades, have improved literacy, and are 24% more likely to graduate. 

Positive attributes learned through music-making, such as confidence, independence, perseverance, leadership, and personal responsibility, prepare students for life-long success. 

Music students also develop enhanced spatial-temporal skills, priming them for STEM careers that require advanced problem-solving skills. On average, 66% of music majors who apply to medical school are accepted!

3.) Music Nurtures Your Mind and Body

Does listening to music make you happy? Imagine how much creating it yourself can impact your mind!

Studying music nurtures creativity, builds empathy, and helps people better express their emotions and manage anxiety. 

Making music is also good for your body. You might not realize it, but when you play an instrument you are engaging your arm, core, and back muscles. 

Additionally, the deep breathing that voice, wind, and brass instruments require builds stronger lungs. And, music is a natural stress reliever, so it's good for our blood pressure and heart rate. 

Read more on: How Music Improves Your Health & Wellness

4.) Music Builds Community and Broadens Your Worldview

Making music brings us together. When making music with others, such as in Music Class or a band or ensemble, you're introduced to new experiences and points of view.

Music is a human experience. It connects different cultures and promotes equity, inclusion, and belonging. It truly is a universal language. 

Additionally, research shows that music students are more active in their school community and exhibit enhanced relationship-building and teamwork skills.