What has been happening in music class? Week 1: Due to holidays and other days off, the first week of October was a catch up week. For classes that were already caught up, we learned a dance. In most grades the dance used a rhythm we were learning about in class. Here is a 3rd grade class dancing to "Hoe Ana" a dance from Raratonga. It was in triple meter so it utilized the dotted half note which is 3 beats long. The dance is supposed to look like people rowing in a long canoe like boat. Hoe Ana Dance Week 2: During week 2, 2nd-5th grade students were preparing for a new melodic concept, though they may not have known it. Through songs and listening activities the new pitch was introduced before we labeled it. In 5th grade, we sang "Ah Poor Bird" which is in diatonic minor. (a 7 pitch scale). 1st graders review their pitches from kindergarten (so and mi). Kindergarteners started our opposites unit, exploring loud and quiet in music. 5th Graders singing Ah Poor