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.
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 Bird with Orff xylophones and triangles
Week 3:
During week 3, 2nd-5th grade students were presented with the new melodic concept and experienced it through singing, playing the boomwackers (see pic) and playing the xylophones. 2nd Graders learned the song "Mr. Frog" which features the new pitch "do". They also played an alternating mallet part for the first time.
2nd Graders singing Mr. Frog with Orff xylophones and guiros
Week 4:
During week 3, 2nd-5th grade students were practiced their new melodic concept and experienced it through singing and playing the xylophones. 4th graders reviewed their new rhythm (ti-tika) and played the instrument parts to go along with the song "I don't care if the rain comes down" which features their new pitch fa. Kindergarteners continued their opposites unit, learning about fast/ slow through movement and singing activities.
4th Graders playing the Orff xylophones and guiros