October Goodies

Oh my! Where did October go?! Here's a rundown of what we've been learning this past month in the music room:

Kinder friends have been mastering their 4 voices, learning echo songs with our panda puppet, explored the glockenspiel and vibraslap, and are currently working on a movement piece to Offenbach's Gaite Parisienne. They have absolutely loved playing Four Corners and reviewing our voices of sing, speak, whisper, and call!

First graders are becoming more confident recognizing Sol-Mi melodies on the staff and are starting to compose simple Sol-Mi melodies. We've also practiced simple accompaniment on xylophones, and added lots of instruments to a Halloween story called "The Little Old Woman Who Was Not Afraid of Anything".

Second graders did a Halloween composition using Ta and Ti-Ti rhythms and then shared their favorite patterns with the class. They've also been exploring more about the pitches So, La, and Mi through songs and our SoLaMi game where they try to beat me with their super listening ears!

Third grade met the composer Camille Saint-Saens and learned about his spooky composition "Danse Macabre". They also created an in-class performance piece by creating their own spooky ingredients, adding the correct rhythms, and then embellishing them with movement. We've been reviewing half notes and how we can change the emphasis of music by rearranging where rests happen.

Fourth grade has been working on sixteenth note rhythms, learning who Guido d'Arezzo was and how he helped create a system that lets us read notes on the staff, and a folk dance to Paw Paw Patch. Last week, they went on a field trip to see the Corvallis Community Band and had a great time! They've also been learning BAG melodies on recorder and becoming more familiar with how to read pitches on the treble clef staff.

Fifth graders have been diligently preparing for their performance next month on November 16 at 6:30pm. Its been a challenge to learn songs in Maori, Japanese, Hebrew, Spanish, and Arabic but they are really pushing themselves and I'm so proud! It hasn't been all work and no play around here though - they've enjoyed learning Stella Ella Ola and a song from Ghana called "Owbesana". When the bean bags get going with Obwesana, you can feel the energy and enthusiasm just by walking in the room. :)

I want to give a special shout-out to our parent volunteers and after school kiddos who have helped get the background ready for our performance. The show wouldn't be the same without your help!