Week of January 18 in music

Things are in full swing in music classes! I am constantly amazed as I witness the growth of the students' music knowledge and their willingness to try new things to create amazing music. Here's a "run down" of this week's lessons:


Kindergarten:
- More rhythmic dictation using "ta", "ti-ti", and "rest"
- Review movement activity with "I Can't See the Wind"
- Read poem, "If Things Grew Down", and adding instruments and voice effects to suit the words

First Grade:
- Singing and movement with "The Old Gray Cat"
- Game: "Bounce High, Bounce Low" to prepare introduction to "la"
- Iconic notation of "so" and "mi" in the song "Baker's Hat"

Second Grade:
- Echo singing on "Do, mi, so, and la"
- Singing, Movement, and playing instruments with the song, "Donald Duck"
- Creating rhythmic body percussion ostinatos to accompany, "Let's Go Play in the Snow"
- Introduction to the Swedish Folk Song, "Ritsch, Ratsch"

Third Grade:
- Labeling the sixteenth note, and performing rhythmic phrases which include sixteenth notes
- Continue working on "Movement Canon"
- Finding Form in Patterns

Fourth Grade:
- Students have the opportunity to play phrases on the recorder for the class to echo on their recorders
- Using a felt staff and notes to show understanding of the location of the notes B, A, and G on the musical staff
-Playing patterns using B, A, and G after identifying the phrase on the musical staff

Fifth Grade:
- Recorder Karate Yellow and Orange Belt testing- Come and see the "Recorder Karate" bulletin board outside the music room. It marks students' progress through the belt levels of "Recorder Karate

**DVDs of the December 15th Christmas Program are available for purchase for $10. You may e-mail me your order, so the DVD will be ready when the money is sent in to school.

This Week in Music

Here's what we're doing in music this week:

Kindergarten:
- Rhythmic dictation using "ta", "ti-ti", and rest
- Movement with scarves to show the tempo of "I Can't See the Wind"

First Grade:
- Rhythmic dictation using "ta", "ti-ti", and rest
- Echo singing patterns using "so" and "mi" pitches and hand signs
- Identifying "so" and "mi" from the song, "Snowflakes", using iconic notation
- Pantomiming playground activities while singing "What Shall We Do When We All Go Out".

Second Grade:
- "So, La, Mi" game: The students echo all of the patterns sung by the teacher except for "So, La, Mi"
- Identifying "So", "La", and "Mi" with in the song "Taxi" (review)
- Adding accompaniment on Metallophones and Glockenspiels to the song "Taxi"
- Learning a dance to accompany "The Noble Duke of York"

Third Grade:
- Adding Accompaniment on Xylophones and Metallophones to the song "Three Little Monkeys"
- Introduction to canons with the rhythmic piece, "Movement Canon"
- Rhythmic Training with mini canons

Fourth Grade:
- Playing "Ds are Dangerous" with accompaniment C.D.
- Music Ace Lesson 1 and Game- Introduction to the staff, clefs, and ear training exercises

Fifth Grade:
- Recorder Karate Yellow Belt Song: "Gently Sleep"
**Practice tracks can be accessed through the web-site: www.musick8.com under "Recorder Karate Dojo". Students must have the username and password given to them at school to access the practice tracks.

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and is ready for 2010! Things are back in full swing in the music room! Here is what we're working on this week:

Kindergarten: Rhythmic reading, singing about their favorite presents on sol and mi, creating music to accompany "A Weather Story"

1st Grade: Playing the bass metallophone and bass xylophone with the song, "Lucky, Lucky", Learning and singing "Teddy Bear" with movements, Signing sol and mi

2nd Grade: Singing "The Noble Duke of York" with movements, Signing and notating "Taxi, Taxi" on the musical staff, Playing a game in which they say what they like about winter while bouncing a playground ball to the half note pulse

3rd Grade: Singing "Three Little Monkeys" and creating a rhythmic "B" section, Working in pairs to compose a melodic ostinato to accompany a song about snow

4th Grade: Learning and playing "Rockin' Robin" on the recorder with accompaniment, Using the Music Ace computer program to strengthen music literacy (This will continue throughout the semester.)

5th Grade: Beginning "Recorder Karate". Most students have already earned their white belts! Students earn "belts" to put on the end of their recorders as they learn different skills on the recorder. In order to "belt test" and earn a certain level of "belt", students must have their "Recorder Karate" folder they received this week and have their own recorder in class. Instructions for using the computer for practicing for "Recorder Karate" were given during class this week. The web-site contains accompaniment tracks just like the ones they will play with when they "belt test". The web-site is www.musick8.com. Students were given the username and password to access these resources.

Wow!

Thank you to all of the families who came out to the IHES Music Program last night! I could never have dreamt that there would be such an enormous turn-out. I apologize to the families who were unable to see their children on stage. I do, despite some of the logistical situations, think the students had a wonderful time sharing their music with the audience. I am thrilled that so many students participated in the event!
I wish you all Happy Holidays and peace in the New Year!

Arrival Time for December 15 Holiday Program

Though the program begins at 6:30, students should arrive at 6:00 for attendance and last minute preparations to make sure the program runs smoothly. Parents and families may enjoy bake sales and gift basket raffles during the time before the program and immediately afterward. DVD orders for video of the program will also be taken before and after the program. A DVD of the performance will be $10.

Students will wait backstage in one of the DCMS classrooms until their time to perform. In order to maintain consistency and respect all grade level performances, please stay for the entire program which will last approximately 1 hour. Students will return backstage and stay until the program is complete. If you would like to volunteer to help backstage and chaperone students in the classrooms with teachers, please e-mail me. Many helping hands are needed!

Help is needed in these areas:
-Chaperoning back stage
-Decorating the stage
-Hanging backdrop designed by Ms. Santucci

Please e-mail if you can help!
-Transportation of instruments to and from IHES to DCMS

Kindermusik Classes in Rock Hill and Fort Mill

Kindermusik is a great way to aid in a child's development through music. My twin boys, Bailey and Carter, have been going to classes since they were 3 months old. Their smiles and laughter are evidence of their love of Kindermusik. There are classes for newborns through elementary school age children. Visit the following web-site for class times and locations: www.OurMusicTime.com
You may also enjoy a free preview class through December 18. For additional information visit the above mentioned web-site.

More Holiday Program Information

What to wear for the Holiday Program: Students should wear green and/or red clothing, or a Holiday sweater, etc. There is no uniform required for the program; just look festive! :)

Directions to Dutchman Creek Middle School:

-Turn left out of IHES onto Twin Lakes Road
-At the stop light, turn left onto Mt. Gallant Road.
- Continue down Mt. Gallant Road for a few mile, and DCMS will be on your left.

There will be limited parking in the front of the school. Extra parking may be found by turning left at the stop light between Mt. Gallant Elementary School and the York County Museum. After turning left, there will be an entrance to DCMS on the right. Turn into that entrance, and continue around to extra parking lots.

Please feel free to post a comment to the blog with additional questions, or e-mail me at aodom@rock-hill.k12.sc.us