This school year, I have decided to update my blog bi-monthly, instead of monthly, to more accurately reflect the length of our curricular units and learning modules.
Once again, we are studying a new composer every month. At least one piece is selected for each grade level, chosen based on the concepts we are focusing on at the time. September's composer was Johann Sebastian Bach, who lived from 1685-1750. Bach came from a very musical family, and worked as a church organist/composer at various churches in Germany, and also working for a duke and a prince. Although he wrote such famous pieces as "Toccata and Fugue in D minor," "Jesu, Joy of Man Desiring," and the "Brandenburg Concertos," Bach was not famous until about 100 years after his death.
October's composer of the month is the ubiquitous John Williams. John Williams (born in 1932) is arguably the most famous film composer living. Williams wrote music for the first 4 Harry Potter movies, E.T., Jaws, Superman, all the Indiana Jones movies, all of the Star Wars movies, and a number of other films in his 40+ year career. He also served as conductor of the Boston Pops orchestra for 13 years. Although he is retired, Williams continues to compose and is currently working on music for Star Wars Episode VII!
Kindergarten: Yes, we have Kindergarten music for the first time this year! Music class takes place in the Kindergarten classrooms. So far, we have learned about steady beat, the four voice functions, and rest position/playing with rhythm sticks and movement scarves. Students have enjoyed playing "I'm Passing Teddy..." "Button, You Must Wander," "Chop Chop Chippity Chop," and seasonal songs "All the Leaves are Falling," "Five Little Pumpkins." We have also listened and moved to "Danse Macabre" and "Dance of the Knights."
First Grade: Our first explorations into music have included steady beat, locomotor and non-locomotor movement, rest position with instruments, the four voice functions, and reading music from left to right. With the help of "Tara the Tambourine," "Gretchen the Ghost," and various other props, students are singing, moving, and playing with big smiles and joy.
Second Grade: After some review of 1st grade concepts, we have moved on to improvisation work on Orff instruments, new songs and games to reinforce rhythm and pitch reading/performing, and a unit on timbre. Timbre is the unique sound that makes each instrument (and person) sound different. Composers use timbre to tell stories and create mood. Part of our study of composer John Williams will include a short project in which we take a story and improvise some music to reflect the characters and actions in the story.
Third Grade: Students spent some time reviewing 2nd grade concepts, and we did a thorough review of mallet technique and Orff instruments. Now, we are playing through pieces with Orff instruments ("Autumn Leaves"), and playing the parts from standard notation. New games ("Closet Key" and "Alabama Gal") are proving to be a lot of fun, a full of new concepts like dynamics and pentatonic melodies.
Fourth Grade: In addition to starting chorus, fourth graders have also started doing more music reading and choreographed movement pieces. We are currently studying form, and working with Orff instruments to improvise with the spooky piece "Bumps in the Night."
Once again, we are studying a new composer every month. At least one piece is selected for each grade level, chosen based on the concepts we are focusing on at the time. September's composer was Johann Sebastian Bach, who lived from 1685-1750. Bach came from a very musical family, and worked as a church organist/composer at various churches in Germany, and also working for a duke and a prince. Although he wrote such famous pieces as "Toccata and Fugue in D minor," "Jesu, Joy of Man Desiring," and the "Brandenburg Concertos," Bach was not famous until about 100 years after his death.
October's composer of the month is the ubiquitous John Williams. John Williams (born in 1932) is arguably the most famous film composer living. Williams wrote music for the first 4 Harry Potter movies, E.T., Jaws, Superman, all the Indiana Jones movies, all of the Star Wars movies, and a number of other films in his 40+ year career. He also served as conductor of the Boston Pops orchestra for 13 years. Although he is retired, Williams continues to compose and is currently working on music for Star Wars Episode VII!
Kindergarten: Yes, we have Kindergarten music for the first time this year! Music class takes place in the Kindergarten classrooms. So far, we have learned about steady beat, the four voice functions, and rest position/playing with rhythm sticks and movement scarves. Students have enjoyed playing "I'm Passing Teddy..." "Button, You Must Wander," "Chop Chop Chippity Chop," and seasonal songs "All the Leaves are Falling," "Five Little Pumpkins." We have also listened and moved to "Danse Macabre" and "Dance of the Knights."
First Grade: Our first explorations into music have included steady beat, locomotor and non-locomotor movement, rest position with instruments, the four voice functions, and reading music from left to right. With the help of "Tara the Tambourine," "Gretchen the Ghost," and various other props, students are singing, moving, and playing with big smiles and joy.
Second Grade: After some review of 1st grade concepts, we have moved on to improvisation work on Orff instruments, new songs and games to reinforce rhythm and pitch reading/performing, and a unit on timbre. Timbre is the unique sound that makes each instrument (and person) sound different. Composers use timbre to tell stories and create mood. Part of our study of composer John Williams will include a short project in which we take a story and improvise some music to reflect the characters and actions in the story.
Third Grade: Students spent some time reviewing 2nd grade concepts, and we did a thorough review of mallet technique and Orff instruments. Now, we are playing through pieces with Orff instruments ("Autumn Leaves"), and playing the parts from standard notation. New games ("Closet Key" and "Alabama Gal") are proving to be a lot of fun, a full of new concepts like dynamics and pentatonic melodies.
Fourth Grade: In addition to starting chorus, fourth graders have also started doing more music reading and choreographed movement pieces. We are currently studying form, and working with Orff instruments to improvise with the spooky piece "Bumps in the Night."