November 24 - 28 (Music Week 10)

 UPCOMING DATES

Performing Arts Club @ Lunch - Thursday, December 4th 

Winter Concert - Thursday, December 11th (daytime and evening performances - more information to come)

TO SUPPORT LEARNING WHILE SWIRLING AROUND IN YOUR LIVES WITH KIDS:

SING together while listening to music at home and in the car. Singing provides us with opportunities to create bonds and build relationships. Also, by singing with kids in a way that creates fun and connection, you are modelling confidence while doing something that can provide immense joy. Singing, in its beautiful simplicity, has the power to make you and those around you feel so good. 

LEARNING INTENTION LEGEND (Blue = Kindergarten, Green = 1 / 2, Purple = 3 / 4, Red = 5 / 6)

-I can move to beat in music through walking, running and jumping.

-I can differentiate singing and speaking voices.

Kindergarten learned new songs this week to reinforce beat awareness. We showed beat on different parts of our bodies and moved to drum beats during the Percussion Movement Game. Students also explored movement with scarves to represent snow falling and playing in the snow. 

-I can identify like and unlike patterns in music.

-I can play rhythm patterns (subdivisions of beat) on rhythm instruments.

While learning new songs this week, grade 1 and 2 students continued to experience musical form through movement. We explored a variety of rhythm combinations using xylophones, bells and sticks. Students also used scarves to show snow falling and playing in the snow.  

-I can read and sing rhythm names, attending to pitch (in terms of where notes are placed on the staff).

-I can demonstrate pitch awareness while singing.

Students continued to learn the melody for 'Jingle Bells' this week. We chose this song for several reasons: The students can readily recall the melody and sing with confidence while playing. Also, this song can be played on what piano players call a G5 finger scale (G A B C D) where melodic intervals (distance between the notes) is executed through simple mallet movements on the xylophone. Students are learning to be efficient in their practice by identifying patterns and motifs in the music. By identifying the A B A C phrase pattern, students know that when they have learned the 'A' phrase, they have learned half of the song. We played Rhythm Master with buckets - it was loud!

-I can perform ostinato patterns (musical pattern that repeats) while singing. 

-Different chords can be used to accompany melody (specifically I and V / 1 and 5 chords).

Students continued with F and C chord accompaniment on both ukuleles and barred instruments this week. While singing, students used audiation as a strategy to increase familiarity with melody. Audiation is the ability to hear and comprehend music in your mind without a physical sound source. For example, while singing a 4 phrase verse, students were asked to sing phrases 1 and 3 aloud and to think phrases 2 and 4. While thinking these muted parts of the melody, students are internalizing pitch and rhythm; this improves the ability to sing aloud with greater confidence and understanding. 

Best wishes to everyone for a great week!

Love from, Mrs. McMillan