Fiske’s Fifth Graders have developed very strong musical skills during their previous years in music class. This year, they will be working independently on creating musical compositions alone and with small groups. They will study how to combine various typed of instruments to create intent in their compositions. Students are learning how to work in a small group which requires skills in communication and cooperation. Students also study the Star-Spangled Banner’s history, and vocal techniques required to sing it.
Composition
Students will compose various types of compositions including:
Body Percussion Rondo
Review how to create a rondo
Students learn how to use a grid to notate their composition
Study of time signature and rhythms through sixteenth notes
How to create a body percussion piece
Intent Compositions
Describe a rollercoaster ride using xylophones
Mystery Compositions - each group creates a composition based on a photograph. The other groups then try to guess which photo the composition is based on.
Recorder composition
Utilizes a time and key signature
Rhythms from quarter notes to sixteenth notes
Utilize various musical symbols in traditional notation
Current range that they can play on recorder
Drumming
Pass the beat - students work to pass the beat around the drum circle without slowing or speeding up the tempo.
Improvisation
Use of Question and Answer
How long is four beats during improvisation?
Study of the Star-Spangled Banner
History of our National Anthem and the flag
Interval and range study
Vocal techniques necessary to sing it well
Class will perform the Star-Spangled Banner