February 23 - 26 (Music Week 20)

 UPCOMING DATES

Thursday, March 5th: Performing Arts Club

EMBRACE MUSIC WHILE SWIRLING AROUND IN YOUR LIVES WITH KIDS:

Keep singing, keep moving, keep listening to music together. We continue conversations in all classes about the essence of organized group sound. Listen for sound texture of instruments and singing voices while listening to music at home. 

'Make An Entrance' hit this week in the spirit of pink shirt day and the theme of kindness (we discussed that this should be important on all days, regardless of your shirt colour):

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=aaj08tCfsVw

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

-I can perform simple action songs and singing games.

-I can perform movement to show same and different sections..

Kindergarten students continued participation in movement activities this week to experience musical pulse and to strengthen beat awareness. We listened to a familiar piece from last week (Clap Clap Song) organized in A and B sections and then created musical accompaniment using pieces of coloured paper as 'instruments'. Fun Fact: pieces of paper tapped simultaneously in a group create quite an impressive sound! The students played a 'tapping' pattern for the A section of the song and then did a 'swirl and wave' movement for the contrasting B section. 

-I can represent like and unlike patterns in music through movement.

-I can read and play melodic patterns while singing; I can demonstrate pitch awareness while singing, showing high and low.

Grade 1 and 2 students created their own 3 syllable song this week. After writing their song title, students worked in small groups to share and play their songs on barred instruments. We extended our knowledge of this melody to include pitch awareness this week. Students were asked to play the 'hi-hi-lo' sequence that our voices sing on the 'ta-ta-two' rhythm motif of the song. We also looked at several familiar songs and practiced drawing the melodic line with our imaginary paintbrushes while singing. 

-I can play steady beat on rhythm sticks, drum and barred instruments while singing.

-I can sight read and sing melodic patterns. 

We sight read and played 'Kitsakakomimm'. A Blackfoot song by Oliva Tailfeathers, Kitsikakomimm means 'I love you' or 'I honour you'. This song creates an excellent opportunity to discuss the use of 'vocable' lyrics in First Nations music. Vocables are present in music from all cultures (think: singing sound syllables la, loo, na, do across a range of pitches or a melodic passage). In many First Nations songs, we use 'way', 'ya' and 'hey'. We discussed that this is extremely useful in circumstances where people want to bond through music but maybe speak different languages, like at a party or celebration. 

Students are quickly and confidently identifying highest and lowest pitches on a musical score. The Kitsakakomimm melody lends itself easily to playing on barred instruments; it is a pentatonic (5 note) song that incorporates the five pitches of a pentatonic scale - do, re, mi, so and la. 

Students demonstrated strong beat awareness while performing this song at their celebration this week. We also incorporated the stick game patterns that were created in class last week.

-I can read and sing an 8 beat ostinato pattern.

-I can read and play a 16 beat ostinato pattern. 

Students continued in groups and practicing one of three 3 layers of sound - kazoo, ostinato (repeating pattern) or melody. Students continued to persevere through the seemingly daunting task of decoding written notation. 

Students selected their favourite sound layer part in our final class this week. Our work next week will require students to become expert in their selected part.

Lots of 'Entrance Making' also - the impromptu choreography of dance routines in the hallway is very inspiring but as more people are wanting to 'Make An Entrance', I think we are going to need to set up a protocol to keeping things chill out there.

Best wishes to everyone for a beautiful weekend!

Mrs. McMillan












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