Music: May 2012

Primary:

This month is concert month and all primary students are focusing on their performance.  Kindergarteners are working on sound effects to the story “Where the Wild Things Are”, while first graders are learning choreography to a lively dance piece, and 2^nd graders are using improvisation skills to perform a percussion ensemble piece.  All students will also sing a popular gospel song.

Intermediate:

Intermediate students are also working hard on their concert performance pieces.  3^rd graders are working on a complex dance piece, 4^th graders are using a code song from the times of slavery to develop a xylophone, recorder and drum arrangement, and 5^th graders who recently performed at our annual Gala, will perform a xylophone piece with melody and 2 harmonic lines.  All students will sing a latino song.

Middle School:

Middle school students are working on group percussion ensemble pieces, in 7^th and 8^th grade, body percussion step pieces in 8^th grade, a combined xylophone, drum and body percussion piece in 6^th grade and a complex xylophone piece with several overlaying parts in 7^th grade.  The concert promises to be quite eclectic and exciting!  The middle school girls are also singing one spiritual song as a choir.

Important Information:

Spring Concert on Tuesday, May 22 at 7:00 pm Holy Name Church!

Music in April!

Here is what we are up to in music class this month!

Primary:

Grades K,1,2 are continuing to work on steady beat, singing voices, and rhythm reading in duple and triple meter.  The children are also focusing on rhyming words, song with repetition, and speech pieces to improve vocabulary and musicianship.  Kindergarten students are using speech specifically to learn new rhythms and perform them on a variety of instruments.  First and second grade students are using rhythm manipulatives to create their own music phrases while continuing to use play, song and dance to enhance their skills.  The students have chosen concert performance pieces and will start rehearsing for this event this month.


Intermediate:

Grades 3,4,& 5 are continuing to review rhythm and note reading, through recorder practice, and rhythm flash cards.  All intermediate grades are working with dance for musical interpretation.  Intermediate students are also working on singing in both English and Spanish.  3rd grade students are continuing to work on difficult dances and small compositions.  4th and 5th grade students are advancing their recorder skills by learning new notes and rhythms and attempting to read and perform more difficult music.  They are also performing difficult dances and learning to sing in two parts.  Students have selected concert pieces and begin rehearsals this month.  The 5th grade students are quite busy preparing for their performance at our annual Gala which involves learning a broadway musical song, singing in Spanish and difficult choreography.

Middle School:

Middle school students continue to learn advanced xylophone and percussion pieces that involve note and rhythm reading.  Our 6th grade students are working to review rhythm reading in several parts.  7th and 8th grade students will be reading and performing 3-5 part percussion ensemble pieces.   This month, the students have chosen concert performance pieces which range from singing in 1 or 2 parts, xylophone work, stepping, dancing and percussion ensemble.  They will begin work for our May 24th performance.

February 2012

 Hello Families!  Here is an update of what is happening in music class this month!  

Primary:

Grades K,1,2 are continuing to work on steady beat, singing voices, and rhythm reading in duple meter.  The children are also focusing on rhyming words, song with repetition, and speech pieces to improve vocabulary and musicianship.  Kindergarten students are using speech specifically to learn new rhythms and perform them on a variety of instruments.  First and second grade students are using rhythm manipulatives to create their own music phrases while continuing to use play, song and dance to enhance their skills.

Intermediate:

Grades 3,4,& 5 are continuing to review rhythm and note reading, through recorder practice, and rhythm flash cards.  All intermediate grades are working with dance for musical interpretation.  3^rd grade students created arrangements last month and performed them in small groups, they are now working on a difficult dance that involves complex gross and fine motor skills.  4^th and 5^th grade students are advancing their recorder skills by learning new notes and rhythms and attempting to read and perform more difficult music.  They are also performing difficult dances and learning to sing in two parts.

Middle School:

Middle school students continue to learn advanced xylophone and percussion pieces that involve note and rhythm reading.  Our 6^th grade students are working to review rhythm reading in several parts.  7^th and 8^th grade students will be reading and performing 3-5 part percussion ensemble pieces.