Winter 2009
Welcome to lower el music class! The students are very excited about the new recorders and flutophones which they received last week. This week they will receive practice books with many well-known and some not-so-well-known pieces for them to learn to play on their instruments. We will be spending time reading, clapping, tapping, singing and deciphering many of the signs and symbols of music. Everyone will have opportunities to perform in class for 'stars' on their practice books. We will be listening to more great music such as parts of the opera 'Magic Flute' by W.A. Mozart.
We will try our hands at instrument making, and will get aquainted with the instruments of the symphony orchestra. Dancing is a powerful way to understand rhythm and beat and line-dancing has been very popular with the lower elementary students. We will continue to do-si-do around the classroom when the spirit moves us!
Fall 2008
Our lower elementary music class is well underway and we are singing, clapping and dancing our way into fall. We have discussed the difference between improvisational dance and choreographed dance and the children have been experiencing both types in the classroom as we move to the music with special harvest time and pumpkin time songs. Basic elements of music such as the musical staff, notation and rhythm patterns, the piano keyboard, mallet instruments, singing and rhyming games vocal pitch exploration and stories in song are some of the October activities. We have spent quiet time at the start of our class just listening to great music. The children have a chance afterward to describe how the music makes them feel, followed by a writing and drawing activity based on the music and composer.
Fall Listening List:
Copland - ‘Appalacian Spring' full orchestra version
Prokofiev - ‘Romeo and Juliet'
Mozart - ‘Variations on Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' for piano
Ravel - ‘Bolero'
Crumb - ‘Ancient Voices of Children'
Telemann - Oboe Concerto in E minor
Respighi - ‘Gli Uccelli' (the birds)
Rutter - ‘Requiem'
Brahms - Quintet for two violins, two violas and cello in F major
Interlochen Public Radio (88.7 FM) hosts a call in show on Saturday mornings at am. If you call in at 8:30am you may be one of the very first "requests" played. They love to get calls from little people so encourage your child to call in one of the pieces below or one of your favorites! A great way to continue the joy of music throughout the week!
);)