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Our Kindergarten class had a fantastic performance this week. After a group reflection about the experience of sharing their work with you all, we ventured outside for some bubbles and chalk time together to celebrate their success! It's been an absolute joy to work with these students each week in music class. I look forward to seeing them again in 1st grade!
2nd grade classes have been exploring traditional Japanese music. They have listened to the koto, a cousin to the Guzheng from China. They read the book "Natsumi" and watched a taiko performance in preparation for an in-school Taiko performance that will take place next week! They also learned a singing game called "Suzume No Gakko" about sparrows in a singing school. Students formed small groups and created their own hand clapping patterns to compliment the song. They really enjoyed the creativity of this work. Even though group dynamics can sometimes be a challenge, they all persevered and cooperated to perform their final creations.
Our 5th graders have been very busy learning a digital composition program called Noteflight. This program allows them to compose music, play it back, edit and revise, and ultimately share their final result in a printed score. Today as I worked with students, I heard a project in which a student was recreating a piano piece they are learning. Another student was composing for a brass quintet. Another student was experimenting with a Jazz drum kit and how to create a percussion accompaniment that complimented their vocal line. This type of individualized and personal music making can be hard to manage in a tradition general music class setting, but Noteflight makes this possible. Our PTO helped make this possible too! They generously funded a set of 24 new headphones for my classroom. These headphones allow our students to tune out the world around them and drop into the musical one they are working to create. Thank you Pierce PTO!!!
3rd graders continue to work hard on their music literacy skills and their recorder playing skills. They have mastered our newest note and are working through a few new songs that feature low D. They are also practicing improvisation as we warm up each day and they are getting more comfortable and more creative with the patterns they choose. For the past few classes, they have had the opportunity to transfer this knowledge onto the xylophone! They have been working in pairs to play recorder and xylophone at the same time. It's harder than it looks!
1st graders have been loving this traditional dance called "The Noble Duke of York". Students can practice finding a partner, remembering the sequence of the dance steps, moving to a steady beat, following the musical cues and working with a partner. It also gets them moving, singing and giggling!
Kindergarteners love to dance and they love the surprise of a new partner in each turn of this dance called "Heel and Toe". I love watching them practice being flexible and inclusive as they welcome each new friend for a turn. These kids are such a delight to teach each day! |
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