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.

CHRISTMAS CONCERT 2011!!

Hello Risen Christ Families!

Well it's that time of year again and we are busily preparing for our annual Christmas concert!  Below are the details, and remember that every student in the school is performing so it promises to be a memorable and fun night.  We hope to see you there, and as always, thank you for the gift of your children.

Concert Information:

Date: Thursday December 22.

Time: 7:00 pm (however be early for a good seat!)  Kids need to be at school by 6:30 in their homerooms.

Place: Holy Name Church (adjacent to Risen Christ School)

Can't wait to see you there!  Please call the school for any other information.

Have a blessed holiday season.

Tara Finne

Monthly Update

Hello RCCS Families: 
Please find below the monthly curriculum updated for music class.  We are starting to think about the Christmas program already so mark your calendars for Thursday December 22 at 7:00pm.  Blessings to you all from our school.

Music: October 2011

Primary:

This month, in addition to continuing to work on steady beat, we are focusing on rhythm reading and performing short duple rhythms.  K-2 students will continue to use singing, dancing, and performing on instruments to solidify their understanding of steady beat and rhythmic movement.  We will also be selecting and rehearsing pieces for our Christmas concert.

Intermediate:

This months students will be focusing on  rhythm reading and beginning melodic reading in the 4^th grade.  Recorder will be utilized by both 4^th and 5^th graders for melodic reading.  3^rd grade students will be focusing on learning dance form as well as Rondo form.  All intermediate students utilize song, dance and instrumental play to enforce these skills. Students this month will also be making selections for the Christmas program.

Middle School:

Middle school students will be focusing on advanced xylophone pieces with non-pitched percussion accompaniment.  Students are expected to learn the music through imitation and perform at their level.  The girls will be exploring Ethnic dance as a means of inspiring their appreciation of music and enhance their skills.  These students will also be making selections for the Christmas concert.

 

Welcome Back to School!

Hello Risen Christ Families!  Welcome back to another exciting school year in the music room.  This year the location of the room has changed to behind the library.  The new room looks and feels great and the student and myself are excited to hold classes in this great new space!

Below please find some curriculum information for all grades for this month.  As always I appreciate all the continued support of Risen Christ parents and friends.  I will put up some pictures in the next update so you can all see the great work we are doing in the music room.

Sincerely,

Tara Finne (Music Teacher RCCS)

Music: September 2011

Primary:

This month we are focusing on steady beat review and understanding.  K-2 students will be singing, dancing, reading simple rhythms and performing on instruments to solidify their understanding of steady beat and rhythmic movement.

Intermediate:

This months students will be focusing on review rhythm reading and beginning melodic reading in the 4^th grade.  Recorder will be utilized by both 4^th and 5^th graders for melodic reading.  3^rd grade students will be focusing on learning dance form as well as Rondo form.

Middle School:

Middle school students will be focusing on world music with an emphasis on drum and dance technique as well as advanced rhythmic reading.  Students will be reading percussion ensemble pieces and performing them in class.  Some students will be exploring Ethnic dance as a means of inspiring both instrumental and movement based improvisation.

 

 

End of the Year

Hello Risen Christ Families:
Well it is amazing that the end of the year is already here and with it, the annual Spring Program.
I have listed the details below.  All of the students are performing as always and it promises to be a great show.  Can't wait to see you all there and thanks for another wonderful year of having your children in my class!

Spring Concert:  Thursday May 19, 2011 7:00pm at the Church of the Holy Name

Students should arrive between 6:30 and 6:45 and report to their homeroom while parents are welcome to find seats in the church.  Attire should be appropriate for a church service and/ or performance.

The program will include singing, dancing, instrumental play, and most importantly, the kids having a great time!  See you there!

Tara Finne : Music Educator: Risen Christ School

January and February are music literacy months at Risen Christ!

Hello families and friends:

Welcome to the mid-winter blog update for music class at Risen Christ School.  First of all I want to thank all our wonderful families for the gift of your talented children.  They were magnificent at The Christmas Program and I was one proud teacher!  Over the course of these two months following  Christmas break the students, at various levels are focusing on music literacy, arranging and composing.
    For our kindergarten through second grade students, this means reading rhythms on flash cards, and creating musical phrases with notation manipulatives.  They are also singing, dancing using instruments with simple songs that they are able to read and decipher notation.
   Our 3rd graders are working on musical arrangements of more complicated songs, adding instrumental accompaniments that they must read and play as a class.  4th and 5th grade students are working hard at the recorder and reading notes on the treble clef.  They can play and read from middle C (the lowest note on the recorder) to D an octave and a note above middle C.
   Our 6th graders are reading rhythm pieces in 3 parts and playing them as a class, while our 7th and 8th graders are creating individual 2-part compositions for instruments of their choice.  These compositions will be performed for the class at the completion the of the unit.

Please take a look at some of the posted pictures of our students working hard in music.  Thanks again for checking in, and blessings to all our families and friends.

Tara Finne (Music Educator: Risen Christ School)

Winter is Here!

Hello families and friends of Risen Christ School!  Well the weather is changing and therefore our annual Christmas Concert is right around the corner.  The students have been working extremely hard for this performance and it promises to be fun for all!

All Risen Christ students will be performing at our concert which takes place on December 16th (Thursday) at 7:00pm at The Church of the Holy Name adjacent to Risen Christ.

Our performance will include singing, dancing, instrument playing, hoola hoops, black lights, and of course some holiday cheer!  You will have to be there to learn more!  Hope to see you at the show and don't forget to contact the school with any questions.

Enjoy some photos of the kids preparing for the show!

Tara Finne: Music Educator: Risen Christ School

Welcome Back to School!

Hello Risen Christ students and parents and welcome back!  Just a few quick updates on the music program for the start of the year:

1) 4th and 5th grade students will again have the opportunity to purchase recorders.  I will be handing out forms for the students to fill out with their parents and return to me in the music room or to their homeroom teachers.  Students are never required to purchase a recorder since we have a full classroom set, however some students enjoy having their own to use. 
The cost of the recorders is $5.00.  I will collect cash or checks made out to Risen Christ School during September and order all recorders.  Hopefully the kids will have them by the end of the Month or early October.

Curriculum Updates for September:

Kindergarten through 2nd grade students will focus on learning and practicing steady beat using singing, dancing and instrument exploration.

3rd through 5th grade students will be working with simpler dances, partner songs and rounds.  4th and 5th graders especially will be working with recorders and reading music in the treble clef.

Middle school students will be learning advanced xylophone pieces and percussion ensemble pieces as well as reading complex rhythms and percussion notation.

Have a wonderful month and enjoy the start of fall!

Tara Finne (Music Educator: Risen Christ School)

Happy Summer Risen Christ Families

Happy summer to all my wonderful students and families! I hope you are enjoying the beautiful and unpredictable Minnesota weather.

Welcome to my new blog. This is a place where students and families of Risen Christ School can stay updated on what is happening in music class every month of the school year, as well as find concert information, assignments for students, or upcoming events. The images and video on this post are of some students working hard in music class and preparing for performances this past school year.

Stay tuned in September and each month of the 2010-2011 school year for more information, pictures and videos of the amazing Risen Christ students engaged in making beautiful music! Take care and have a fabulous summer!