Some happenings from the intermediate vocal music room:
ALL CLASSES: I have sort of a two-fold mantra or mission that drives my teaching: one, I want every child to become musically literate, particularly concerning what’s written on the page of music. The research to support music reading experiences and their relationship to higher test scores in math and other subjects, as well as overall school success, is overwhelming. I use recorders mainly to get to that end, although we certainly involve ourselves in a variety of other musical experiences. The second part is that music should be fun. If kids consistently leave my class and they’re not really enjoying the experiences, there needs to be changes, for sure. During December, all of the classes will be singing lots of holiday songs. What are the holidays without music?
MRS. ROBERTS’ SECOND GRADE:
Since October, we’ve been doing a lot of singing, listening, moving, and playing instruments. We’ve learned a variety of songs and focused on our musical elements, particularly rhythm and melody (pitch). We’ve learned to use our classroom computers and the program “Music Ace”. We’re making sure we know our notes on the treble staff, and we’ve also done some creative movement to some classical pieces such as “Anitra’s Dance” from Grieg’s Peer Gynt.
THIRD GRADE:
The third graders are beginning to show progress in their recorders, and hence, progress in music reading. We have been singing a lot, particularly singing patriotic songs from our “Get America Singing Again” books. We’ve done lots of movement, both creatively, as well as movements that help internalize the musical elements of pitch and rhythm. We particularly enjoyed the song “I Don’t Care if the Rain Comes Down”, a song which we learned a dance to as well. We’ve played our bells a few times to help us read music and learn about melodic direction. Lots of holiday singing to come.
FOURTH GRADE:
After clearing away some recorder “cobwebs” in the beginning of the year, we’ve made some progress, learning a couple of new notes (Low E and high C) as well as a few new songs. We’ve done a few rhythm charts to some popular pieces by Billy Joel and Mary Chapin Carpenter, using rhythm sticks to perform rhythm patterns that go with the song. We had two lessons about vocal timbre or tone color, and the kids really enjoyed hearing different examples of singing styles from around the world. We even heard a Tuvan throat singer who could sing two notes at one time! Pretty bizarre stuff. We have also learned about call and response form and sang a song in 6/8 meter.
FIFTH GRADE:
As part of the U.S. patriot program, the students are required to know all of the states and the capitals. I’m doing my part to help them by teaching them a song called “Wakko’s America” which came from the old show Animaniacs. We’re trying to learn the entire song from memory and as a result, learn all the states and their capitals. We’ll see when April rolls around….The fifth graders are working a little more independently this year with their recorders, mostly because the gap between ability levels is increasingly widening. I hope to have some of the kids use the other size recorders after the Christmas break. We’ve also sung Elvis’ “Blue Suede Shoes” as well as “You Raise Me Up”, a song made famous by Josh Groban. We’re developing a nice song repertoire by slowing working our way through the “Get America Singing” books, learning songs like “Both Sides Now”, “America, the Beautiful”, “Camptown Races”, and “Clementine”. We’re helping our aural discrimination skills through an occasional game of Melody Bingo and learning musical styles through Music Styles Bingo, two fun games that teach kids a lot.
CHORUS:
We are trying our best to get ready for the concert, but scheduling has not been our friend. Between early dismissals, Thanksgiving holiday, and two rehearsals with only half the group, our last month’s rehearsals have been pretty rough. I hope that we can pull things together! We have three performances of our Winter Program; first on December 17 at 1:00 p.m. at White Marsh Mall, second on December 19 at 9:15 in the YBES intermediate cafeteria/gym, and third on December 19 at 7:00 p.m. at Fallston High School. Proper dress (nice clothes, suitable for church, etc.) should be worn to all three concerts.
RECENT MUSICIANS OF THE MONTH:
Teacher September October
Roberts Alynne Abney Makenzie Beard
Battersby Sydney Crofton Benjamin Richardson
Bosk Nick Mudd Grace Jackson
Brown Nick Hinke Corey Altenburg
Harant Cina Makres Lisa Owens
Jarrett Andrew Solomon Lexi Roberts
Johnson Michael Eiler Jacob Rosenberger
Murray Lindsay Nichols Lia Alexandrou
Weigl Kendall Moriarty Jared Richard
Charitonuk Thomas Streett Gavin Brennan
Crockett Conrad Boyd Stephanie Cameron
Donnelly Katelyn Briguglio Emily Hill
Gentile Sarah Dohler Grant McGuire
Houck Katherine Lofland Alec Schenning
Kopp Jack Kelly Meredith Hannahs
Meehling Quinn Burke Todd Bucsok
Taylor Devin Hyman Chloe Foster
Cox Lauren Grusczecki Meghan Nichols
Eller Andrew Wood Austin Hancock
Mace Hayley Cassed Dustin Kissner
McGinnis Katherine Magtanong Taylor Molite
Myers Logan Gasior Lizzie Irlbacher
Parks Tommy Bracken Sean Jordan
Roettger Melissa Card Cierra Siemasko
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