February Music 2020!

February Celebrity Singers in Chorus!

JFK 3rd Grade

JFK 4th Grade

 JFK 5th Grade

 Parmenter 3rd Grade

February Musician, Culture, and Composer of the Month!

1st Grade Musicians: Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington

*In honor of Black History Month*

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)

POSTED BY MO AT 6:25 AM

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!

Here is one of John Williams' pieces  you might recognize. Just this week students used this song to read new triple meter rhythms.

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 we take time every class to play instruments. I do this activity frequently where I play music by different songwriters and in different styles and have students come in in small groups to play different instruments of their choice. This is Mrs. Trockman's class.

1st Grade

Here is 1st grade learning "Tisket a Tasket". They played this game and then watched Ella Fitzgerald perform the same song!

Mrs. Sanford's Class

Mrs. Zarrella's Class

2nd Grade and 3rd Grade

Second grade and third grade played this new game incorporating their syllables in major tonality. 

Mrs. Lussier's Class

Mrs. Carnaroli's class did the dragon dance again incorporating a dragon that one of their friends brought in!

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! The term 2 goal is that all students will be done with purple belt, "Old MacDonald Had a Farm". All songs will be performed at our end of the year concert.

Here is a sneak preview of one of our songs we have begun working on for the concert!

Mrs. A. Williams' Class

5th Grade

JFK Chorus, Ukulele and Recorder Concert!

Friday, March 13th 9:00

You won't want to miss it!

Here is Mrs. Lyons and Mrs. Lacerda's classes working on their C, Am and F chords using "Best Day of My Life".

January Music 2020!

January Celebrity Singers in Chorus!

JFK 3rd Grade

JFK 4th Grade

 JFK 5th Grade

 Parmenter 3rd Grade

January Musician, Culture, and Composer of the Month!

Mrs. Henault's Class

Mrs. Maiato's Class

Mrs. Grinley's Class

2nd Grade Culture: China
*We compared the Chinese Lion Dance to the Dragon dance and then created a dance of our own!

1st and 3rd Grade Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
*Students loved seeing a modern day Mozart along with some other present day prodigies.

Other snapshots of Music in January!

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

Here are students in Mrs. Bradley's class moving like a train. We talked about the connection between trains moving together and music moving together on the beat. 

Excuse my loud singing! But here are students in Mrs. Forde's class moving to the beat with my stretchy band. 

1st Grade

Ms. Fitzgerald's Class was given the choice of what activity and they chose Doggie Doggie Where's My Bone. This is a great game to hear students individually singing patterns.

2nd Grade

*See videos under culture of the month.

3rd Grade

These compositions were inspired by the famous Gustav Holst and his "Planet Suite". Students created the rhythm, melody, instrumentation, form and so on. This was quite the project! An exciting tie in is that the students will be seeing "Mars" performed on their field trip in May! The Enjoy!

Mrs. Henneberry's Planet of Nature

Mrs. Schreiber's Planet of Candy

Mrs. Lussier's Planet of Fire and Lava

Mrs. McMullen's Planet of Music

Here is another 2nd and 3rd grade activity, "Snaps" that reinforces singing and rhythms in duple meter but also the concept of using different levels in movement such as high, medium and low.

4th Grade

Recorder Karate has begun! Please help encourage your children to practice 5 times a day for 10 minutes. It will build their confidence and help them feel success!

Ms. Hefler's Class performing "Merrily We Roll Along"

5th Grade

Fifth grade has been focusing on their F, Am and C chords. Here is a really fun video we use in class.

Here are some JFK parents at their PCC meeting attempting it on the ukulele after a short FIVE minute lesson! They rock!