Our composer of the month for March was Turlough O'Carolan, the blind Irish harpist from County Roscommon, Ireland. He was born in 1670 and traveled throughout Ireland for nearly 50 years, performing songs, stories, poems, and composing hundreds of pieces for his wealthy patrons. Each grade level listened to a piece (or multiple pieces) that related to one of the concepts we were studying this month...
First grade: While studying Tempo (Allegro and Largo), we listened to some O'Carolan pieces and determined the tempo of each piece. We also learned a bit about the harp with this video clip from the Irish children's TV show, "The Beo Show."( The program pairs professional Irish musicians and performers with students between the ages of 7-11, and they do a little workshop and introduction to the viewers about the instrument/song/dance, mixed with some humor from the hosts.) We also spent time reinforcing quarter and eighth notes, and sol-mi, with the addition of a sound higher than sol (la) which is being named during the first week of April. Some song and game highlights this month include "Heel and Toe Polka"(this video is very similar to our version) and Bounce High, Bounce Low."
Second grade: While studying ties and preparing for half notes, we listened to "Fanny Power," and identified the A and B sections, as well as clapping the rhythm of the B section, and finding it by listening to the piece. Another main focus this month was reading Do, Re, Mi, Sol and La on the staff. Do can go anywhere, and the other notes adjust accordingly. To practice this, we wrote a composition using Do, Re, Mi with boomwhackers, color-coded "How Many Miles to Babylon?", and sang familiar songs from the actual notation, using solfege. We also studied dynamics, and wrote in our own dynamics for the chant "Deedle Deedle Dumpling."
Third Grade: Our focus this month was melody playing, composition, and improvisation with 5 notes. We played a few Orff ensemble pieces, completed centers about the Composer of the Month, and completed a group composition piece. Each group was given the same poem, and asked to notate the rhythm, improvise a melody, and then write down their melody to perform for the class. Some groups even added a drum part to go with their melody.
Fourth Grade: This month's focus was on movement and form. Student explored 8 elements of movement (level, direction, pathway, activity, formation, relation, body shape/statue) with piano improvisation, and then were asked to create a movement piece with a specific form, incorporating all of those elements. Students worked in groups of 6 and created original choreography, which will be featured as a part of their Spring Program. We also worked on reading letter names of notes, and playing melodies to go along with our movement pieces. Our O'Carolan piece was "Lady Gethin," and we determined the form of the piece from looking at it, and followed along, reading the notation.
First grade: While studying Tempo (Allegro and Largo), we listened to some O'Carolan pieces and determined the tempo of each piece. We also learned a bit about the harp with this video clip from the Irish children's TV show, "The Beo Show."( The program pairs professional Irish musicians and performers with students between the ages of 7-11, and they do a little workshop and introduction to the viewers about the instrument/song/dance, mixed with some humor from the hosts.) We also spent time reinforcing quarter and eighth notes, and sol-mi, with the addition of a sound higher than sol (la) which is being named during the first week of April. Some song and game highlights this month include "Heel and Toe Polka"(this video is very similar to our version) and Bounce High, Bounce Low."
Second grade: While studying ties and preparing for half notes, we listened to "Fanny Power," and identified the A and B sections, as well as clapping the rhythm of the B section, and finding it by listening to the piece. Another main focus this month was reading Do, Re, Mi, Sol and La on the staff. Do can go anywhere, and the other notes adjust accordingly. To practice this, we wrote a composition using Do, Re, Mi with boomwhackers, color-coded "How Many Miles to Babylon?", and sang familiar songs from the actual notation, using solfege. We also studied dynamics, and wrote in our own dynamics for the chant "Deedle Deedle Dumpling."
Third Grade: Our focus this month was melody playing, composition, and improvisation with 5 notes. We played a few Orff ensemble pieces, completed centers about the Composer of the Month, and completed a group composition piece. Each group was given the same poem, and asked to notate the rhythm, improvise a melody, and then write down their melody to perform for the class. Some groups even added a drum part to go with their melody.
Fourth Grade: This month's focus was on movement and form. Student explored 8 elements of movement (level, direction, pathway, activity, formation, relation, body shape/statue) with piano improvisation, and then were asked to create a movement piece with a specific form, incorporating all of those elements. Students worked in groups of 6 and created original choreography, which will be featured as a part of their Spring Program. We also worked on reading letter names of notes, and playing melodies to go along with our movement pieces. Our O'Carolan piece was "Lady Gethin," and we determined the form of the piece from looking at it, and followed along, reading the notation.