Weekly Music Class

March 16, 2026

Mostly St. Patrick with a little bit of Spring Show.

PK and Kindergarten again danced to a St. Patrick's Day song and then did a circle dance to Irish Stew. First through third grade completed "The Dum Dum Song" and were rewarded with - dum dums! They also performed an "Irish Body Percussion" song and attempted an Irish refrain on their glockenspiels.

Kindergarten sang "There Was a Tree," which is kind of related to "The Rattlin' Bog," which the older grades listened to and sang along to. 

We are continuing to learn songs for the upcoming Spring Show!

March  2 and  9, 2026

I forgot to update last week!

March has finally arrived. PK and K danced to a St. Patrick's Day Scarf Activity and then started to learn a circle dance to "Irish Stew." First through third grade are adding more motions to "The Dum Dum Song" and enjoyed an "Irish Body Percussion." They also are continuing to play songs on their glockenspiels.

We have started learning songs for the Spring Show and are finishing up listening to Camille Saint-Saens "Carnival of the Animals."

Pup update: Twyla (one of my current pups) returned for training to The Seeing Eye in Morristown, NJ. Anna, one of my former pups, was matched with a blind person and is now residing in Minnesota. Good news for both of them. I thank your children for helping me raise both of them. Your children help by both ignoring them during class time and socializing them when it is appropriate.

February 25, 2026

PK and Kindergarten once again enjoyed playing "Tony Chestnut" at various tempos and dynamics. First through third grades added more motions to "The Dum Dum Song."

All grades enjoyed performng a scarf dance to either Vivaldi's "Winter" from the Four Seasons (PK, K) or TSOs "Wizard in Winter." Exhausting!

PK then reviewed a few of our favorite songs, while kindergarten danced to "Heel, Toe, on the Line." The older grades sang "The Drinking Gourd." The older grades also reviewed the glockenspiel and then played "Mary Had a Little Lamb.

Kindergarten listed to a few more animals from Saint Saens The Carnival of the Animals, while first through third grades investigated the Armonica, a musical instrument invented by Benjamin Franklin. I demonstrated how to make sounds using water and wine glasses to explain how the armonica worked. We then listened to "Aquarium" from The Carnival of the Animals. Originally Saint Saens used an armonica in this section, but now a glockenspiel plays the part.

Hopefully the snow goes away soon!

February 9, 2026

In PK we again started class with the "Olympic Fanfare" and march and then we skated around the room on our paper plate skates. In the other grades we sang "Tony Chestnut" and discussed the words as body parts and then changed the dynamics and the tempo as we repeatedly sang  the song. Kindergarten and first grade played body percussion to a "Valentine's Percussion Play Along." Second and third grade read and played random rhythms. First, second, and third grades also learned more actions for "The Dum Dum Song." Those grades also continued working with the glockenspiels. We reviewed the C Scale and then started learning the song "Pop Corn" via video.   It's harder than it looks.

The younger grades sang "This Little Light of Mine," while the older grades started learning "The Drinking Gourd."

Most grades ended by listening to another animal in Camille Saint- Saens "Carnival of the Animals."

The snow might start melting later this week! I can't wait.

February 4, 2026

In PK, Kindergarten,  and First Grade class started out with a discussion about the Olympics and winter sports. We then listened to the "Olympic Fanfare" and paraded around the classroom carrying our Olympic torches proudly, then marched around like the athletes in procession, and then mimed various winter sports. Each activity depended on the different melodies played in the theme. PK and Kindergarten then used paper plates to simulate ice skates and skated along to the song "Skating." First through third grade started learning "The Dum Dum Song" (think lollipops!). Very easy song but the hand/body motions change each time its sung. Funny and complicated.

PK and Kindergarten sang along with "The Groundhog Day Song" and also "This Little Light of Mine." Kindergarten sings "These Hands" amazingly.

First through third grades also enjoyed using our glockenspiels.  This was the first week so we basically concentrated on playing the C Scale in various rhythm patterns following a video.

Kindergarten continued listening to Camile Saint Saens' Carnival of the Animals. This week we heard the elephant and the kangaroo. In first through third grades we talked about enslaved people, the constellations, and a drinking gourd. We then heard the book Follow the Drinking Gourd read aloud in a portion of "The Reading Rainbow Series." Next week we will learn to sing "Follow the Drinking Gourd."

Busy day! Thank you for such great children.

January 21, 2026

This week in PK and Kindergarten we tried skating and keeping a steady beat with our winter friends. In First through Third Grades we continued our clapping game, "Head and Shoulders," and kept a steady beat to MLK Jr.'s favorite words. We then sang some winter songs and some songs about MLK Jr. 

We ended class by exploring 3 more animals in Camille Saint-Saens "Carnival of the Animals." Enjoy the snow!

Looking forward to Catholic Schools Week!

January 12, 2026

Snowball fights and sleigh rides again this week! It is amazing how much more coordinated and confident the children are the second week we do an activity. 

In first through third grades we added a clapping routine to "Head and Shoulders, Baby." That takes coordination, but they were up for the challenge. 

We reviewed some songs from last week in PK and started learning "These Hands" in kindergarten. In first through third grades we learned "Winter Fun." 

Our composer for the next few weeks will be Camille Saint-Saens. We started listening to his "Carnival of the Animals" this week. This work features many sections each of which focuses on trying to portray an animal. This week we listened to and watched "The March of the Lions," and then the children imitated the lions waking up, marching, and roaring while relistening. Great fun!

January 5, 2026

Happy New Year!

PK and Kindergarten started class by having a snowball fight! We listened to music from "A Charlie Brown Christmas" by the Vince Guaraldi Trio and did different actions for each musical section. First through third grades started class by singing "The Twelve Days of Christmas" with actions since tomorrow is the twelth day of Christmas, the feast of the Epiphany. In Kindergarten through third grade we then watched an orchestra play "Sleigh Ride" by Leroy Anderson. We then used percussion instruments to accompany this piece. The instrument and rhythm pattern changed for each section of the music. 

In First through third grades we then listened to followed by singing along to a medley of songs from Wicked. PK enjoyed a fingerplay about a snowman and a rabbit; Kindergarten sang our "Winter Warmup." Great beginning to the new year. 

December 10, 15, and 17, 2025

I forgot to update my website! Needless to say, we had a lot of fun these past two weeks in music class. Lots of singing, dancing, bell ringing and boom whacking. I hope you saw and heard the wonderful singing at the Christmas pageant and at the Christmas/Advent prayer service on the last day of school before the holidays. Merry Christmas to all and a Happy and Blessed New Year tool

Also I have a new puppy! Ebony arrived at my house on December 19th. She is 10 weeks old. She and Twyla are having great fun together. Twyla will probably be with me until around February when she will go back for training. Until then she will be a great help with her baby step sister.

December 1, 2025

The turkeys are gone! Replaced by reindeer, a mouse, a cat and also an angel,  Mary, a baby, a tiny town, and an Advent wreath. Grades 1, 2, and 3 learned a dance, while PK and Kindergarten pretended to be waltzing cat! Lots of practice today for the upcoming Christmas Pageant: Thursday, December 7, 7 pm, in church and for "Swish, Swish," Friday, December 18, 11 am in church. The children are very excited. 

November 24, 2025

Turkey, turkey, turkey! Lots of turkey songs and activities this week. 

We danced the "Turkey Tango," warmed up our voices with "Mr. Turkey Man," and clapped rhythms to "Turkey Gobble." Kindergarten students sang "Five Fat Turkeys" and accompanied it on our coffee can drums playing both a steady and then a rhythmic beat. We also helped a turkey get his feathers and then shooed him away before he could be caught and eaten! PK marched to a turkey beat while playing egg shakers. They introduced a turkey and a duck! And, of course, the most favorite turkey song of all time, "Super Turkey." He always gets away.

We also started learning/reviewing songs for both the Christmas Pageant and "Swish, Swish." Time seems to be accelerating lately!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

November 17, 2025

Getting ready for Thanksgiving! This week's program featured the most important "guest" of many Thanksgiving feasts! The turkey! PK, kindergarten, and first grade started out class by dancing the "Turkey Tango." The other grades started class with "Eight Count."

PK then marched around the room keeping a steady beat with maracas! Kindergarten and first grade kept a rhythmic beat using body percussion to Thanksgiving Dinner Play Along." Second and third grades read and played rhythms.

We then sang a variety of turkey songs according to grade level: "I'm a Little Turkey," One Day Turkey Went for a Walk," "Five Fat Turkeys," "A Turkey Knocked at My Back Door," "Mr. Turkey," and the all time favorite "Super Turkey." In the older grades we tried singing as a round and also adding percussion instruments as we sang.

Finally we listened to and watched an orchestra play a truly adrenaline raising song, "Short Ride in a Fast Machine" by John Adams. He created this piece to simulate a fast, although short, exciting ride in a sports car! Great use of percussion instruments. Generally the kids agreed he achieved his goal. Have a great week!

November 10, 2025

Veterans' Day is tomorrow. So some of our work today had that theme.

PK and Kindergarten started off with the "Skeleton Dance," because it is fun, but then PK proceeded to march around the room to "Marching and Drumming." We used scrapers (cut pool noodles) instead of rhythm sticks., while Kindergarten used rhythm sticks and marched to "Halloween March."

First, second, and third grades marched to "Fired Up," which is a parody of a  sergeant's  drill, and then did a body percussion activity to "The Stars and Stripes Forever."

PK also recited "One Day Turkey Went for a Walk" and "I'm a Little Turkey." Kindergarten sang "Five Fat Turkeys," then added a steady beat, then added a rhythmic beat. Then continued the rhythmic beat by singing the song in their heads. Wow!

First Grade also reviewed "Five Fat Turkeys," but they played the rhythms on our coffee can drums.

Second and third grades reviewed "Thank You, Soldiers."

Kindergarten through third grade also watched the U.S. Marine Band play "The Stars and Stripes forever. They also noticed that a band does not have any string instruments! String instruments are a part of an orchestra.

Great fun!

November 3, 2025

Finally after two week of dealing with "some kind of virus," I was back in school today. Unfortunately I missed Halloween- one of my favorite holidays, so today (even though the rest of the world is done with Halloween, we had Halloween in music class.

All grades started with dancing "The Skeleton Dance." Kindergarten and grade 1 then continued with "Halloween March" with rhythm sticks, while grades 2 and 3 did a choreographed dance to "Thriller." 

Grades 2 and 3 reviewed "I Love the Autumn"  and then enjoyed an exciting game of "Pass the Pumpkin." Kindergarten enjoyed playing "Gotta Find the Pumpkin." First and third grades also played a cup routine to "The Addams Family Theme." First grade pretended to be zombies waking up to "Pantomime" from Dmitri Kabalevsky's "The Comedians."

PK sang "Gray Squirrel" and "Falling Leaves." We did a scarf routine to "Bitty Bitty Bat" and changed from a kid, to a pumpkin, to a Jack O' Lantern for a fun activity.

A few grades ended by doing a hand jive to Edvard Grieg's "In the Hall of the Mountain King" from the Peer Gynt Suite. 

I am glad Halloween is over!

October 13, 2025

Class beginning was the same as last week. Repetition and familiarity brings a great feeling of a  success!

PK and kindergarten repeated all our familiar songs and then added a game: kid, pumpkin, or Jack O' Lantern. They are very hard to trick! Kindergarten also enjoyed our new song, "Itty Bitty Bat." I'm not sure that I convinced them that bats are good mammals though!

First, second, and third grades sang "I Love the Autumn" with great gusto! First grade played our "Fall Scale Song" on boom whackers and sang along too! Second and third grades started learning "The Ghost of John." Next week we'll try it as a round.

First and second grades started to learn the game, "Pass the Pumpkin;" third grade started learning  a cup routine based on "The Addams Family Theme."

Edvard Grieg composed a piece based on a Norwegian folk story. This week I told the children the folk story. Next week we will listen to "In the Hall of the Mountain King" and decide if he did a good job portraying Peer Gynt's escape from the trolls.

Stay dry!

October 6, 2025

All classes started with the familiar funny rhyme "A Sailor Goes to Sea. Most classes sang all the verses with motions, while second and third grades also learned the partneer clapping game. We then practiced rhythm patterns- either echoing or reading and playing depending on the grade.

PK enjoyed singing "Five Perfect Pumpkins," "Falling Leaves," and "Gray Squirrel." Kindergarten practice being dinosaurs while singing their scale song, reviewed "Autumn Is Here," and "Going to the Pumpkin Farm." They then learning the words and dance that go with "Five Little Pumpkins."

First, Second, and Third grades started learng a jazzy song called "I Love the Autumn" after they warmed up their voices to the "Fall Scale Song." They then practiced their various barn dances , "Old Brass Wagon' and "Alabama Gal." 

Finally we reviewed the string instruments.  Enjoyable day!

September 29, 2025

Happy feast day of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. Since they are archangels, we sang "Angels Watching Over Me." Thursday is also the feast of the Guardian Angels, so that would be a great song to sing then too.

We started class in kindergarten through third grade by using non-pitched percussion instruments to play along with Earth, Wind, and Fire's "September." The children chose the instrument they wanted, The younger grades kept a steady beat, while the older grades played designated rhythm patterns. All grades then either read or echoed rhythm patterns.

Kindergarten warmed up their singing voices by becoming dinosaurs; the older grades sang the traditional "Fall Scale Song."  Kindergarten reviewed "Autumn Is Here" and started learning "We're Going to a Pumpkin Farm."  First grade nailed "Applesauce Rock," and second and third grades enjoyed "I Sing a Song of the Saints of God."

A lot of dancing this week! First grade perfected "Old Brass Wagon!" You should see then do-si-doing!" Second and third grades started learning "Alabama Gal." That involves sashaying and peeling the banana. Great fun!

PK responded well to "Where Is _______?" I am getting better at remembering their names! They also enjoy singing "Five Green and Speckled Frogs, and "Grey Squirrel." We practiced clapping some fruit rhythms  and danced along to "Say Hello."

Happy October!

September 22, 2025

Great beginning in all grades! All grades did our opening activities "on the beat,"  which is really difficult sometimes. 

I introduced PK and kindergarten to the beginnings of fruit rhythms. First, second, and third grades clapped some notated rhythms which varied in difficulty according to the grade.

In PK and kindergarten we reviewed our songs from last week, especially "Angels Watching Over Me." Kindergarten also enjoyed "Autumn Is Here," while PK enjoyed a bean bag rhythm song. (Can you balance a bean bag on your head?)

First, second, and third grades reviewed "I Sing a Song of the Saints of God." First grade also enjoyed learning the rap song "Applesauce Rock." First grade then perfected the barn dance "My Old Brass Wagon." We really figured out the do-si-doing this week!

Second and third grades finally were ready to play the game that goes along with "Chili Go Go." Passing an object to the beat is not the easiest thing to do. A lot of fun.

Kindergarten also enjoyed watching some string instruments play a bit of Vivaldi's "Autumn" from The Four Seasons.

Happy Autumn!

September 15, 2025

PK 's and Kindergarten's classes started today with "Say Hello From Your Head to Your Toes" followed by Hickelty, Pickelty Bumble Bee." Great warm-up activities. First and second grade participated in a rousing "Up the Ladder, Down the Ladder," and third grade introduced themselves while singing "Jump In, Jump Out."  Phew!

Each grade then participated in a rhythmic activity: PK tapped some rhythms on a bean bag and then attempted to walk with it on their heads! Kindergarten echoed rhythms on our coffee can drums. First, second, and third grade read and played three rhythms on either drums, maracas, or claves. We then played the three rhythms together. Great fun!

PK and kindergarten enjoyed singing "Five Green and Speckled Frogs;" kindergarten also started learning "Angels Watching Over Me." (The feast of the Guardian Angels is on October 2nd.) First, Second, and Third Grades are learning "I Sing a Song of the Saint of God." (All Saints Day is November 1st.)

First grade started learning a barn dance to the tune "My Old Brass Wagon." They'll be do-si-doing in no time. Second and third grades are ready to play "Chili Go Go."

Leopold the Leopard explained to PK, Kindergarten, and First Grade in a video he wonders of a French Horn  in "The French Horn Song." 

Have a great week!

September 8, 2025

Great start to music class! Twyla (my Seeing Eye Puppy and I) welcomed all our new students and former students. Twyla is new to coming to school, so I introduced her to all classes, and each class watched a short video explaining what a Seeing Eye Puppy actually is. I have attached a linkto the videos in the section of this site called "Links." 

Each class then had an introductory name song. "Hickelty Pickelty Bumble Bee" for PK and Kindergarten; "Up the Ladder, Down the Ladder" in first and second grade; and "Jump In, Jump Out" in third grade. 

Then each grade practiced either echoing or reading rhythms.  Pk and Kindergarten then used egg shakers to accompany a song and then they sang "Five Green and Speckled Frogs." Second and third grades started learning a rhythm passing game, which requires a lot of concentration! Next week we hopefully can play the game. First through third grades also started to learn a song about Faith, "I Sing  a Song of the Saints of God;" PK and Kindergarten listened and joined in singing the refrain to a song called "KIND." Kindergarten and first grade also watched a video of Fanfare to the Common Man  by Aaron Copland and we discussed the instruments involved. Very busy and fun day!