Rhythm: September and December (4 Lessons)

4th graders are exploring beat and rhythm through singing, moving, and playing instruments. They read rhythms that include quarter notes, eighth notes, sixteenth notes, and quarter rests. They are using their ears to analyze rhythms and melodies. The 4th graders then play the melodies on percussion instruments like xylophones, metallophones and glockenspiels. The 4th graders are working as an ensemble to make a beautiful sound while they play the instruments.

Concert: Mid September-Mid November (8 Lessons)

Theme: Colorado History

The 4th grade concert is on Thursday, November 14, at 6:00 pm. At the concert, the 4th graders will be singing songs that represent the different groups from Colorado’s history that make Colorado what it is today. They will work on good vocal production, good performance practices, listening, blending, and singing with harmony. The 4th graders will sing songs in English and Spanish. After the concert, the students will have one more day to reflect on their performance and celebrate their hard work.

Melody: January-Late February (4 Lessons)

The 4th graders are playing recorders for their melody unit. They will learn the new pitches E and D and combine them with the notes they learned last year (B A and G). The 4th graders will use these pitches to play the song “Star Light, Star Bright,” and improvise a B section using the pitches they know and the rhythm of the poem “Wee Willie Winkie.” They will then notate their melodies on staff paper.

Form: Late February-March (4 Lessons)

The 4th graders are learning about Theme and Variation for their form unit. Students will play “Merrily We Roll Along” on their recorders, along with several variations which change the meter, pitch, or rhythms. Then students will create their own variations using recorders or keyboard percussion instruments. They will notate their compositions and share them with each other.

Texture: Late March-April (4 Lessons)

4th graders will be exploring how adding different parts to a song can create a thin or thick texture. They are playing a song called Rainforest Song on their recorders and will have the opportunity to add hand drums, xylophones, and other small percussion instruments.

Harmony: Late April-May (4 Lessons)

4th graders are studying harmony by building chords. They learn how to build chords I IV and V in the key of C. They will use the chords to play songs on Boomwhackers. Some of the songs will be notated and read, while other songs will be learned aurally. Students will discover that I IV and V are the building blocks for many of the songs they hear every day.