Friday, September 27, 2019

September Newsletter

September was full of surprise this year! We got 2 new classroom teachers this month (Kindergarten and 6th grade), and we got to hire Ms. Oakley to be our new band teacher this year to work with Ms. Bierman. It all happened so fast. We're all being flexible as changes continue to come down the pipe line. Here is what is going on in the music room:

Kindergarten - we learned the basics of the music room! We know our criss-cross song, where to go for our "think" time, where we sit (in a square), and how to move around safely in the music room. We've just started learning our "Name Game" song and what a "steady beat" is. We'll continue working on steady beat, and music opposites in October.

1st grade - we reviewed how we behave in the music room, and we're already getting into reviewing content from Kindergarten. We're going over "ta" and "rest" in our "Name Game" song, and are also learning the difference between a "steady beat" and a "rhythm". We'll continue working on steady beat and rhythm in October by playing a passing game with lots of fun movements!

2nd grade - we reviewed how we behave in the music room, and we got into reviewing content from 1st grade very quickly. We're already playing our "Steady Beat" game, and demonstrating steady beat v. rhythm with a partner. In October we'll start learning the song for our Veteran's Day assembly performance (Red, White and Blue). This song uses sign language, and we get to perform with the 5th graders at the assembly.

3rd grade - we reviewed how we behave in the music room, and we are already learning our first song of the year: the Water Cycle Cups song! There is a practice video posted on Mrs. Harreld's youtube page. We're also learning how to count the rhythms for the Cups ostinato, and discussing time signature (this is a BIG deal for 3rd grade, you should be proud of them!).

4th grade - we reviewed how we behave in the music room and are in the process of learning how to hold/play the ukulele! There is a how-to video for ukulele basics on Mrs. Harreld's youtube page. We have a phrase right now in class, we "go slow to go fast". This means we're going to take things extremely slow at the beginning so we can move through chords and content quickly once we know what we're doing :)

5th grade - we reviewed how we behave in the music room and how to hold/play the ukulele. We're starting to work on our song for the Veteran's Day assembly (Red, White and Blue).  We'll perform this song with the 2nd graders at the assembly.

6th grade - we reviewed how we behave in the music room and how to hold/play the ukulele. We're starting to work on the ukulele part for the MLK, Jr. assembly song (Pride by U2). We'll eventually learn a cajon part for this song as well!