Music

Christmas Concert!

Our annual Christmas Concert was a wonderful display of tradition & meaning!

February: Mr. Mason's Monthly Music Moment

Kindergarten: We are learning about the differences between melody, harmony, bass, and rhythm in regard to music.

1st Grade: Our 1st grade class is learning how to put a music stand together and how to play boom-whackers as an ensemble.

2nd Grade: In 2nd grade, our students are beginning to play through "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" on the glockenspiels. They are learning practice techniques to help them improve each step of the way!

3rd Grade: We are learning different songs that incorporate G, A, B, and C on the recorder!

4th Grade: Our 4th graders are getting proficient at tuning their ukuleles. Just this last week they began to play through their first song ("Stand by me") on the ukuleles.

5th Grade: In 5th grade music we are learning how to sing, clap, and count different rhythms to different time signatures.

6th Grade: Our 6th graders also played through "Stand by Me" on the ukuleles. Soon, we will be looking at their Spring Concert piece and practicing the chords to that!

7th Grade: In 7th grade, the students are getting quite good at tuning the guitars on their own. They are also becoming more familiar with switching to/from different chords, and being able to play those chords on sight.

8th Grade: To round out our last music history lesson on how electricity and film transformed the music industry, we are watching the 1961 film "West-Side Story." The 8th graders also recently voted on their class song for the Spring Concert and Graduation. They will be singing and playing "Yesterday" by The Beatles.

January: Mr. Mason's Monthly Music Moment

Coming off of Christmas break, students are getting back into the tempo and rhythms established before the concert season.

Kindergarten: We are learning a bit more about what it is like to sing and play music as an ensemble.

1st Grade: Our 1st graders have been learning the concepts of quiet and loud, singing on pitch, and standing with good posture while singing.

2nd Grade: In 2nd grade, we are learning about the different notes on the treble clef to prepare us for glockenspiels next month.

3rd Grade: We are learning about how to put music stands together and about the different parts of the recorder.

4th Grade: Right now we are learning how to tune our ukuleles and just starting to grasp what playing a chord looks and feels like.

5th Grade: We just finished our final music history lesson for the year! The Students just learned about the Baroque Period.

6th Grade: Our sixth graders are learning how to tune the ukuleles and learning about playing their first chords on the ukuleles.

7th Grade: In 7th grade, we are learning how to tune the guitars on our own. At the same time, we are also learning about how to play basic strumming patterns and chords.

8th Grade: We just finished a music history lesson on the impact electricity had on the music industry.

December: Mr. Mason's Monthly Music Moment

We had our Christmas Concert at St. Gertrude Catholic Church on Wednesday, December 17th. The students were very excited to be able to sing with all the grades from Kindergarten through 8th grade represented. Every grade did such a wonderful job at the concert.

November: Mr. Mason's Monthly Music Moment

With our upcoming Christmas concert around the corner, we are focusing on our Christmas pieces for the concert. The Concert pieces are centered on two themes; the traditions of Christmas, and the meaning of Christmas. I am listing the songs each grade is singing below:

Christmas Traditions

Kindergarten: Jingle Bells

1st Grade: Up On The Housetop

2nd Grade: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

3rd Grade: Frosty The Snowman

4th Grade: White Christmas

Meaning of Christmas

5th Grade: The Holly And The Ivy

6th Grade: The Little Drummer Boy

7th Grade: In The Bleak Midwinter

8th Grade: Adeste Fideles

October: Mr. Mason's Monthly Music Moment

With fall arriving, we are moving away from our introductory lessons and moving into learning music history, theory, and music practicum.

Kindergarten: Just finished learning about the different Latin percussion instruments. Now we are learning about the different instrument classes (Brass, Woodwinds, Strings, and Percussion)

1st Grade: In 1st grade we are learning how to move to music, and how to sing as an ensemble.

2nd Grade: This week we had our first sectionals. Students got to take their music and instruments and began the process of practicing on their own!

3rd Grade: Our 3rd graders just learned the G, A, and B notes on the recorder. They played through their first song "Hot Cross Buns" this week.

4th Grade: Our 4th graders are learning how to tune their ukuleles and how to play their first chord progression on the instruments. They are also learning about the different intervals in music.

5th Grade: This week, the 5th graders learned about music of the middle ages. We are also looking at counting, singing, and clapping rhythms in 2/4 time.

6th Grade: Our 6th grade class is also learning how to tune ukuleles and play their first chord progression. They are very excited to be given the opportunity to learn the instruments and music theory!

7th Grade: After spending last year playing ukuleles, the 7th grade class is now upgrading to the guitar! We are still figuring out how to tune the guitar and how to finger-pick our first chord progression.

8th Grade: We have a large 8th grade class this year! Our two classes are learning the guitar and piano- as well as how to play the two instruments together while singing. This class is turning into a band!

September: Mr. Mason's Monthly Music Moment

The music room is back in order and the students are loving their time in music this year!

After a summer hiatus, the students are back to playing instruments, reviewing lessons from last year, and learning new ones for the year to come. Here is a breakdown of what each class is going to be learning throughout the year:

Kindergarten: learning about the different percussion instruments as well as how to play them while singing

1st Grade: Learning how to read music using our boomwhackers

2nd Grade: Learning how to read music notes and rhythms while playing the glockenspiels

3rd Grade: 3rd grade is currently busy learning how to play the first notes on the recorder

4th Grade: 4th Grade is learning how to audiate intervals on the piano. In a few weeks we will be starting to learn a few things on the baritone ukulele

5th Grade: Learning about ancient music as well as music in the church through the middle ages

6th Grade: reviewing key terms from last year, learning about the Romantic-20th Century in music. In a few weeks we will also begin playing the baritone ukuleles

7th Grade: 7th grade will be beginning the process of learning how to play chords on the classical guitar in the coming weeks

8th Grade: 8th graders are learning about music history, some piano, and will be learning more chords on the guitar in the coming weeks

Monthly Listen

I have loved the Tron soundtracks- from Wendy Carlos' classic original soundtrack recording to Daft Punk's "Tron Legacy" soundtrack. Now, Nine Inch Nails has added their name as artists in charge of the most recent Tron iteration. Give it a listen!

What I'm reading

M.T. Andersons "Symphony for the City of the Dead" is an interesting read for those wanting to learn more about how one composer helped galvanize the Allies to victory through the beauty of music. Find it on Amazon.com

"Mr. Mason Recommends"

I can't give this book enough thumbs up! This is the perfect music gift for your child. Every page is packed with amazing visuals and excellent historical facts. Right now it is on sale on Amazon.com

If you are interested in learning more about our class values and philosophy, or, if you would like to see how our 3rd through 8th graders are graded in music class, please feel free to email me at emason@ncaschools.com if you have any questions!

Page updated

Report abuse