Come participate in a snapshot of actual curriculum your students are learning in music, art, and P.E.
Flier will go home with more details as we get closer!
*Please see the right of the page for other important dates! *Most grade level performances are determined by the classroom teachers. If you have questions about an event not listed here please e-mail your child's teacher.
February Musician, Culture, and Composer of the Month!
1st Grade Musicians: Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington
*In honor of Black History Month*
Here is first grade learning "A Tisket A Tasket" which we then listened to Ella Fitzgerald sing.
Mrs. Arnold's First Grade Class
A great book we read!
Fun fact: Mo Willems and Mrs. Mac have the same favorite singer!
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2011
Q: If Elephant's name is Gerald, why doesn't Piggie have a name?
A: Piggie does have a name. Her name is "Piggie". She was named that because when she was born she looked just like a little Piggie. Also, Madonna, Beyonce, and Cher were taken. "Elephant Gerald" is named after my favorite singer (say it fast). (Grown ups, you can see more about my naming decisions for these characters in this interview)
2nd Grade Culture: India
This month we sang a traditional children's song from Bengal called "Ahg-doom Bahg-doom", we looked at Indian drumming, played instruments along to "Jai Ho" and finally watched the world famous Anoushka Shankar perform on the sitar!
Fun fact: Anoushka Shankar and Norah Jones (American singer, songwriter and pianist) are half sisters!
3rd Grade Composer: John Williams
Fun Fact: He has been nominated for more Academy Awards than anyone alive!
We watched some of John Williams conducting the orchestra playing Star Wars in class. Here is another student favorite of his! In one lesson this month students composed rhythms in triple meter to accompany the beginning of this piece.
Other snapshots of Music in February!
Below are pictures and videos of different activities and concepts we explored in music. I plan to feature every class that I teach at JFK and Parmenter by the end of the year. Stay tuned!
Also follow me on twitter @MrsMacMusic1
Kindergarten
In kindergarten as we continue to explore the beat, we talk about how dancing is closely tied to the music and the beat. Here is a chant called "Valentine Rap". Check out these moves!
1st Grade
First grade has been working on not only feeling the beat but also differentiating between duple and triple meter. Many of us adults did not learn these words as kids but it is basically hearing if a song is in two or three. This is an important step in performing, reading, creating and improvising their own music! We do very little written work in first grade because I want to spend most of our time making music but once in a while I like to check in on paper. Here are two papers you'll see come home.
*The answer is triple meter but even if students picked duple meter if they had a good reason for picking it I was happy with their thinking!
Students explored triple rhythms through the popular nursery rhyme "Humpty Dumpty". We listened for Du da di's to determine whether this rhyme is in duple or triple meter. Here Mrs. Emord's class practicing the rhythm and then playing the rhythm on an instrument of their choice. You might also notice that students were 100 years old this day!
Now listen to them audiate the rhythm or say it in their head.
2nd Grade
Second grade is working on adding solfege syllables in major and minor tonality. This develops their ears so they can perform, read, write and improvise. Here is a fun game we played for Valentine's Day!
Mrs. Wilmarth's Class
3rd Grade
Students from Mrs. Lussier's Class
Students at JFK and Parmenter are preparing for their field trip on May 21st (Parmenter) and May 24th (JFK) to see the RI Philharmonic Orchestra. More information coming home in April! Students have been learning about the different instrument families. Today at JFK some students brought in their string instruments!
*Dress as your favorite book character added to the fun!:)
4th Grade
Recorder Karate is going so well! Please help encourage your children to practice 5 times a day for 10 minutes. It will build their confidence and help them feel success! Students should be working on blue belt, "When the Saints Go Marching In." Only two more songs until black belt! All songs will be performed at our end of the year concert.
