Music classes got off to a great start this year! All classes, K-5, began with a Summertime themed Freeze Dance, then did a warm-up rhythmic exercise appropriate to their grade level, and played mini djembe drums. Gr. 1-5 watched a mini biography of George Gershwin, American composer and son of Ukrainian immigrants who's birthday was in September. 

Mar. 27

Gr. K-5 will have some students auditioning for the Spring Show! They will also warm up with a Spring-Themed Freeze Dance. As time allows, students will continue learning and practicing music from last week, and play music games.

Mar. 20 It's Spring!!

Gr. K-2 and Gr. 4-5 will warm up with a Spring- themed Freeze Dance. 

K will continue practicing Solfege syllables and hand symbols through songs. Gr. 1-2 will continue learning to read music in the treble clef and play it on their flutophones. Gr. 3 will  practice their music for the Spring Show. Gr. 4 and Gr. 5 will continue learning to read music in the treble clef and play the soprano recorder. They will also practice their music for the Spring Show. 

Mar. 13

Gr. K-5 will warm up with a St. Patrick's Day themed Freeze Dance. 

K will begin to learn a song from "The Wizard of Oz" and continue to learn  Solfege syllables and their accompanying hand symbols. Gr. 1-2 will continue learning to read music in the treble clef and play it on their flutophones. Gr. 3 will  practice their music for the Spring Show. Gr. 4 and Gr. 5 will continue learning to read music in the treble clef and play the soprano recorder. They will also practice their music for the Spring Show. 

Feb. 14: Gr. K-5 will warm up with a Valentine-themed Freeze Dance. K will continue to sing songs which use the solfege syllables and hand symbols. Gr. 1-5 will continue learning to read music in the treble clef and play it on their flutophones  (Gr. 1-3) or recorders (Gr. 4 and 5). Gr. 4 and 5 will practice their music for the Spring Show.

Jan. 31:  Gr. K-3 and Gr. 5 will warm up with a Winter-themed Freeze Dance. K will continue practicing their 2 solfege songs, then play a musical game - "It's" choice. Gr. 2, Gr. 3 and Gr. 5 will review Time Signatures, learn the significance of  the Treble Clef  sign (aka G clef), and practice reading & playing Treble G on their flutophones and recorders. Gr. 3 and 5 will practice their music for the Spring Show. Gr. 4 will listen to several songs, the final list of possibilities for the Spring Show.

Jan. 24 - Gr. 2 and Gr. 3 will not have music this week, as the entire school will be meeting in cross-age groups to plan our upcoming Big Event!

Jan. 10, Jan. 17 and Jan. 24, 2024

As usual, all grades will warm up with a fun freeze dance. K will continue playing musical games and will begin learning 2 songs which involve solfege and the solfege hand motions (Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti Do)

Gr. 1-3 will continue learning to play songs on the flutophone.

 Gr. 4 and Gr. 5 will continue to learn songs on the soprano recorder. 

Jan. 3, 2024

Happy New Year! In Music class, all grades K-5 will warm up with a fun dance and rhythm practice. Gr. K will play  music games to support their learning.  Gr. 1-3 will continue their study of flutophone, focusing on good playing techniques and learning to play songs. Gr. 4-5 will continue their study of soprano recorder, focusing on good playing techniques and learning to play songs.

Dec. 13

As winter break approaches, students Gr. K-5 will continue to practice singing songs of the season as a  preparation for our all-family community sing-along on Dec. 15. Season's Greetings to all!

Dec. 6

As winter break approaches, students Gr. K-5 will continue to practice singing songs of the season as a  preparation for our community sing-along on Dec. 15. 

Gr. K will be continuing to sing, dance and play more music games.

Gr. 1-3 will sing, dance, learn to play the flutophone, and play more music games with focus on reading rhythms and music notation.

Gr. 4 and 5 will sing, dance, learn to play the soprano recorder, and play more music games, with focus on reading rhythms and music notation.

Nov. 29

As winter break approaches, students Gr. K-5 will practice singing songs of the season as a  preparation for our community sing-along on Dec. 15. 

Gr. K will be continuing to sing, dance and play more music games.

Gr. 1-3 will sing, dance, learn to play the flutophone, and play more music games with focus on reading rhythms and music notation.

Gr. 4 and 5 will sing, dance, learn to play the soprano recorder, and play more music games, with focus on reading rhythms and music notation.

Nov. 8 and Nov. 15

Having begun the the new month of November with learning 2 songs of thanks in preparation for our upcoming feast, all students, K-5, will continue singing them. 

Gr. K will be continuing to sing, dance and play more music games.

Gr. 1-3 will sing, dance, learn to play the flutophone, and play more music games.

Gr. 4 and 5 will sing, dance, learn to play the soprano recorder, and play more music games. 

Oct. 25

K, Gr. 1 and Gr. 2 will start out with a fun and not-too-scary Halloween-themed Freeze Dance. They will play a few more rounds of "Pumpkin, Pumpkin, 'Round you go", then  imagine they are aboard a ship and as shipmates follow cardinal directions (with musical accompaniment from the baroque period).

Gr. 3 will be on a field trip, so will not be coming to music class this week. Have a great time, 3rd Grade!

Gr. 4 and Gr. 5 will begin by celebrating the birthday of Robert Trujillo - bass player for the band Metallica. They will dance to a new Halloween-themed Freeze Dance, and practice their reading and clapping rhythms to a  fun Halloween-themed  rhythm exercise.

Oct. 18

K will do a fun Halloween-themed freeze dance, then  play a rhythm game called "Pumpkin, Pumpkin 'Round You Go". They will finish with a song called "Five Little Pumpkins", complete with child-made sound affects and hand movements!

Gr. 1 -3 will celebrate the birthday of American singer-songwriter and dancer, Usher, then do a fun Halloween Freeze Dance.  They will play and sing the music game, "Pumpkin, Pumpkin, 'Round you go", then begin learning to play music on their own flutophones. 

Gr. 4- 5 will celebrate the birthday of American singer-songwriter and dancer, Usher, then do a fun Halloween Freeze Dance.  They will play and sing the music game, "Pumpkin, Pumpkin, 'Round you go", then begin learning to play music on the recorder.

Oct. 11

K will warm up with a Halloween themed dance called "The Monster Shuffle", then play a rhythm game called "Pumpkin, Pumpkin 'Round You Go". They will finish with a song called "Five Little Pumpkins", complete with child-made sound affects and hand movements!

Gr. 1 will celebrate the birthday of Romantic composer Johann Strauss, and learn the feel of 3-4 time by dancing the waltz. They will do a Harry Potter themed rhythm clapping exercise in 3-4 time, then play a rhythm game called "Pumpkin, Pumpkin, 'Round You Go".

Gr. 2-5 will celebrate the birthday of Romantic composer Johann Strauss, and learn the feel of 3-4 time by learning the waltz. They will do a Harry Potter themed rhythm clapping exercise in 3-4 time, then get into their drum groups to continue working on their drum compositions. 

Oct. 4

K will warm up with a freeze dance which allows the children to practice letter recognition and sounds. In honor of Bruno Mars' birthday, they will watch an adorable animal video to Bruno singing his sweet song, "Count On Me". They will also play a game called "Lucy Locket" which focuses on singing, listening and dynamics (the louds and softs and everything in between in music).

Gr. 1-5

In honor of Bruno Mars's birthday, Oct. 8, students will listen to and/or dance to the school-appropriate version of "Uptown Funk"  They will do a rhythm warm up, reading and clapping or playing the rhythms on a drum. Then, they will divide into groups to create a drum composition, which will include an introduction, whole group playing, solos, and a finish. 

Sept. 27

Grades K-5 will continue learning about the origins of several drums - the djembe, doumbek, conga, singing drum and bongos- and a chance to play each one, and try out different rhythms. 

Grades 1-5 will work in small groups to create their own drum pieces and continue their study of George Gershwin.

September 20  

K will warm up with a Freeze Dance, then play the game, "Lucy Locket".  They will continue learning to play the African djembe and learn about it's history.

Gr. 1 - 5 will learn more about George Gershwin and his music, focus on volume and tempo, play another rhythm-reading activity on drums, then work in small groups to create their own drum pieces. 

Sept. 13

K will begin with a fun warm-up movement activity, then learn a singing game called Lucy Locket, which teaches about volume. They will continue learning to play the African djembe and learn about it's history. They will also watch a classic Disney cartoon from the Silly Symphony series called "Music Land".

Gr. 1 - 5 After a warm-up movement activity, they will learn more about George Gershwin and listen to some of his his music. They will also watch a classic Disney cartoon from the Silly Symphony series called "Music Land".