UPDATE - MAY 20, 2008
We have come to the end of the school year. Have a great summer vacation. Be careful and safe.
See you in September.
UPDATE - MARCH 14
When we get back from Spring Break we will be reviewing the instruments of the orchestra in catagories.
WOODWIND
BRASS
STRINGS
PERCUSSION
There will be the real instruments in the classroom to see and hear. Have a great Easter and Spring Break.
Have fun and be safe.
UPDATE - MARCH 1
Congragulations to the Fourth Grade for a job well done on Wednesday, February 27. The music performance for the whole school was a big success. We will now continue to work on Karate Recorder and earning the next few belts. This month there will be demonstrations of Orchestral Instruments in the catagories of Woodwind, Brass, Strings and Percussion. A list of instruments will be posted each week on this web-page.
UPDATE - FEB 11
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!
The fourth grade is working on songs that will be played for the music performance for the whole school. On Wednesday, February 27, 1:30PM, the 4th - 5th - 6th - and 7th Grades will perform fo a Music Assembly that will be held in the gym. Parents of students performing are invited. Watch the Wednesday Newsletter for the time.
UPDATE - JANUARY 15
We are now into the new year and back to Karate Recorder. Each new song is a new belt. The Goal is to get to the Black Belt. The Black Belt song is "Ode to joy." We will be working in the blue recorder book also.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
2008
MUSIC NOTES - MR. WINN
UPDATE - NOV 2
The 4th grade is now playing "Jingle Bells." We will work in the Blue Recorder Book for the next few weeks, learning new notes and Christmas Songs. Starting in December the Fourth Grade will Christmas Carol in the halls using recorders. The Karate Recorder will still be used and it will be the goal after Christmas to achieve the BLACK BELT! This will give some time for some students to catch up to the PURPLE BELT of Old MacDonald.
The ABCs of a GREAT Year
A - All ideas count.
B - Be polite to others.
C - Cooperate with your peers.
D - Do your best.
E - Enjoy learning.
F - Finish your work.
G - Give a helping hand.
H - Have fun.
I - Invite others to play with you.
J - Just do your best.
K - Keep trying.
L - Listen carefully.
M - Make the most of your time.
N - Name and date all papers.
O - Obey school & classroom rules.
P - Practice makes perfect.
Q - Quiet in the halls.
R - Respect yourself and others.
S - Smile
T - Think before you act.
U - Use your time wisely.
V - Volunteer to help others.
W - Wait your turn.
X - eXpect success.
Y - You can achieve your dreams.
Z - Zero in on your goals |
MUSIC NOTES - MR. WINN
UPDATE - OCT 22
Karate Recorder has now progressed to working on the purple belt for "Old Mac Donald Had a Farm". The notes of B A G are now easy and the newest notes are low D & E. We will be working in the Blue music book to learn some additional notes.
UPDATE - SEPTEMBER 24
Many students have already reached the first WHITE BELT by playing Hot Cross Buns. Each student must play the song with all the correct notes, correct rhythms, and maintain a steady rhythm. The next song for this Friday is Gently Sleep. The notes are still B - A - G. This will be for the Yellow Belt. You must achieve the White before you can go for the Yellow or next belt. Students should remember to practice at home.
Good Luck.
UPDATE - SEPTEMBER 15
The Recorder is an invaluable instrument for improving all aspects of musicality and is an excellent pre-band instrument. We have learned our first notes B - A - G. Now that we have started Karate Recorder the first goals are earning a color band. Each week a new song will be given to the students. The schedule of the belts are as follows:
Color Song Notes used
White - Hot Cross Buns B A G
Yellow - Gently Sleep B A G
Orange - Merrily We Roll Along B A G
Green - It's Raining E G A
Purple - Old MacDonald Had A Farm D E B A G
Blue - When The Saints go Marching In C' D' B A G
Red - Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star D E F# B A G
Brown - Amazing Grace D E B A G D'
Black - Ode To Joy D B A G C' D'
Each song sheet has prompts that show what is new for each song. Each student mus be able to play the song with correct fingerings, correct notes, correct rhythms, with a good tone the instrument. The belts are all attainable by each student. The goal here is to have fun and learn to play music correctly. There is enough to challange but each student can be sucessful. Keep watching this page for updates and a progress report.
UPDATE - SEPTEMBER 1, 2007
We have had our first recorder class and all students now have a recorder. If anyone still needs a recorder I have extras available. The cost is $5.
We learned how to assemble, hold, clean, blow, and play our first three notes. B - A - G. Students will get their books during the next class on Friday. The newest addition to the recorder curriculum will be KARATE RECORDER. Students will receive a different color ribbon for learning to play different melodies. The White Belt is first and the program progresses all the way through to a Black Belt. I will give them all the details this coming week.
August 23, 2007
Dear Fourth Grade Parents,
It is hard to believe that the summer vacation is over and we are starting a new school year.
Part of the Fourth Grade music program is learning to play the recorder. Each Fourth Grade Student needs to have his or her own recorder and book. The recorders are in colors so each student should indicate which color they would prefer. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choice.
All students need a recorder book. The book is “SUZUKI MODERN CLASSROOM RECORDER.” (Blue color book)
If your family already has a recorder or book, your child is certainly welcome to use the recorder or book that is already in your family. It is suggested that the recorder be washed in warm, soapy water.
Books and recorders have already been ordered, and the recorders are here, so there will be no waiting. Recorders and books will be distributed on the first day of music class. Please use the form below and indicate you choice for the color of recorder.
Hope this is a great year and God Bless all of you.
Sincerely,
Ralph Winn
Music Teacher
STUDENTS NAME____________________________________________
_____I WISH TO BUY A RECORDER. ($5.00)
Please indicate 1st 2nd 3rd choice for the color of the recorder.
_____Orange ______Lime Green _____Pink _____Purple
_____Recorder Book ($3.00) Every student needs a book.
_____I have enclosed ___________to cover the cost of my order.
THIS FORM MUST BE RETURNED ON OR BEFORE THE FIRST MUSIC CLASS.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2007
Enclose form and payment in a envelope and return to your homeroom teacher. Be sure to mark your name on the envelope.
Method of payment can be cash or check. If paying with a check make it out to Mr. Ralph Winn. I have personally paid for the recorders and books.
WELCOME TO THE MUSICAL WORLD OF RECORDER
RECORDER CLASS REQUIREMENTS
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
History of the Recorder
How to care for the Recorder.
How to hold the recorder
How to play your first notes.
BAG notes.
How notes are named.
Basic music notation and terms.
Musical symbols, staff, treble clef, lines, spaces, bar lines, measure
Double bar, time signature, etc.
Basic rudiments of music and note values.
Whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, eighth notes, sixteenth notes, rests,
How to count time.
Play and read notes on the recorder.
Play melodies and songs.
Make music alone and with others.
Good practice techniques.
Learn Karate Recorder.
To receive an A+/A (Very Good) the teacher will be looking for the following:
Plays correct notes.
Uses correct fingerings.
Plays correct rhythms.
Keeps a steady tempo.
Observes Rests.
Appears to be thoroughly familiar with the piece of music.
Plays through the selected piece of music without stopping.
In order to receive a B/C (Satisfactory) the teacher will be looking for the following:
Plays mostly correct notes.
Uses correct fingerings most of the time.
Plays with only slight rhythmic discrepancies.
Breaks tempo only one time to correct notes.
Appears to adequately familiar with the piece of music.
Plays through the piece without stopping.
In order to receive a D/F (Needs Improvement) the teacher will be looking for the following:
Plays many incorrect notes.
Uses incorrect fingerings.
Plays with many heswitations.
Fails to maintain a steady beat.
Fails to observe rests.
Appears to be unfamiliar with the piece of music.
Is unable to get through the piece of music.
The Fourth Grade has completed the Red Belt son in Karate Recorder. We are now practicing the BROWN BELT which is "Amazing Grace. All students have the music and a couple of weeks to practice. We missed some days because of snow but we are on schedule with the lesson plan. We will not meet for a couple of weeks because of Easter and Spring Break.
Have a great Easter and Spring Break. See you three weeks from today.
