September Notes

Main Street Music Notes

 September 2025

TK-1st Grade 

Students are learning songs that weave in language arts, math, and nature. These songs have simple melodies and a game-like quality or activity. They are also learning to take turns, adding to songs with vocal and body percussion, to help build musicality with their first instruments: their voice and body. 

• Ask your child to show the letters they can spell using their arms as they sound out the letter or to show you the Bubble Gum song where they are counting up to five. If they go over five ask how many fingers on one hand as a reminder. 

2nd Grade 

Students started out by reviewing some of what was learned last year with rhythm and vocal percussion using a song about a train, starting with the engine sound to give the song a steady beat. That steady beat became the drone, which students take turns playing on the bass bars, while the class has been building their skills on the xylophones and metalophones. 

• Ask your child if they can sing the train song or the xylophone song about going up and down the scale. 

3rd Grade 

Students started by reviewing some of what they learned on xylophones last year. They are now practicing how to count and keep a steady 4/4 beat. They started with  the same fun train song as the 2nd graders, but with a few twists for their age and skill levels. They start with the simple engine sound, then build on the song with various instruments, vocal percussion, and a little bit of improvisation using the pentatonic scale. They have been enthusiastic and seem to be having a lot of fun playing the various parts in our ensemble. 

• Ask your child to show you how to play the drone or how many notes are in a standard scale and/or a pentatonic scale. My hint when needed is asking “how many sides are there on a pentagon?” 

4th & 5th Grade

Students started off by working on rhythm, keeping time, and looking for musical cues through a musical spin on an old Yugaslavian game. They take turns being the conductor so they can be on both sides of that activity in order to gain understanding and appreciation for how all the parts come together. 

They have also been revisiting and expanding on a song from last year to build on their body & vocal percussion skills as well as strengthening their sense of rhythm and timing/counting beats. They are also able to flex their creative muscle and have come up with some unique and wonderful ideas. They work as a whole group, in small groups, and practice performing in front of the class with their small group.  

Open Mic

If time allows toward the end of their class time, upper grade students enjoy Open Mic.  They take turns as MCs and perform songs, playing instruments, or telling jokes. Performances must be school-appropriate and within a reasonable time-frame (1–2 jokes, max).

Thanks to a new mic, mic stand, and amp, this has become a favorite activity—students often request encores from their classmates! Open Mic helps students build confidence, leadership, and stage presence, while also learning to be a respectful audience.

Students may bring instruments from home on music days (with family permission); I can store them safely in the music room storage closet.

• Ask your child to show you the Son Macaron song/game or if there is something special they would like to perform for Open Mi

🎶Students are always welcome to explore the music room before the school day begins 🎶