Welcome back! I hope everyone had a nice relaxing break. As for me, I was able to make the most of my break in terms of musical experiences. I was lucky enough to see Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) at the Metropolitan Opera House in NYC over our holiday break. I have to say it was one of the best live performances of any genre of music I have ever seen. I am happy to say that with this new musical experience, I will have more knowledge to bring to the classroom.
As for happenings in the music classroom:
8th Grade:
We have begun our unit on opera. Students have been introduced to the following:
- Voice types-soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, and bass
- Arias vs. Recitatives
- What makes an opera an opera
There is extra credit available to 8th grade students that is due on the 18th. Students are to find research what is fact and what is fiction in the movie Amadeus.
7th grade:
The 7th grade is currently studying jazz. We have begun with the roots of jazz in African music, how the music changed when it was brought to America, and how it developed into the blues. So far the students have evaluated African music, work songs, music of street vendors, country blues, and have just begun the city blues. From the roots of jazz we will do a brief study of ragtime, swing, and bebop.
The extra credit available to 7th grade this marking period deals with research on a jazz musician of their choice. Due January 18th.
6th grade:
In preparation for a field trip in April, the 6th grade students are studying instruments of the orchestra. Students are learning about the 4 families of instruments found in the orchestra, as well as learning general facts including how to identify the individual instruments in each family.
A great website to help better understand the instruments of the orchestra is: nyphilkids.org.
The extra credit for 6th grade is to do research on any instrument not usually found in the standard orchestra of today. Students may research an instrument from the past. Due January 18th.
5th grade:
We are continuing our work on recorder. Students are learning proper playing technique as well as how to read pitches and rhythms. We have been performing non melodic music that is to reinforce note reading. The first song we will work on is Suo Gan.
4th grade:
The 4th grade students have just begun their exploration of the recorder. As with the 5th grade and 3rd grade students are learning proper playing technique as well as how to read pitches and rhythms. They are also learning about canons through the song Breakfast is Great.
3rd grade:
The 3rd grade, like the 4th and 5th grade, are learning how to play the recorder. We are working on proper playing technique, as well as reading pitches and rhythms. These students are also singing the song Hiyo Ipsy Miya, a Navajo Happy song.
2nd grade:
In second grade we recently learned the song Rocky Mountain. Through solfege as well as rhythmic analysis of the piece students were able to quickly master this music. Students are still having tests on this piece. Students are also playing a steady bordun on xylophone. We also have explored movements for words from the story Snowmen at Night, which they read with Miss Crumlish.
1st grade:
Most recently 1st grade has been working on aural skills. We have been playing games with instruments to fine tune motor and aural skills. One such game is called "pass the rhythm." A rhythm is played and each student is to perform it on their instrument. This lesson also serves to teach names of different unpitched percussion instruments. Students are currently being tested on the song 10 Little Speckled Frogs. Students are continuing to work on rhythmic analysis and creative movement.
Kindergarten:
Our youngest students are working on proper singing technique using solfege and various age appropriate songs. We have been reinforcing steady beat as well as different aural skills, such as repeating melodic phrases, identifying high and low, as well as repeating rhythmic patterns. Students have also been working on notation skills, both reading and writing different rhythms. Identification of form in music as well as the reinforcement of aural skills are being practiced via creative movement.
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