A New Rhythm Note!

Too

Grade Two students have just learned ANOTHER rhythm note!  

This note has an empty note head (the circle part of the note) and it lasts for two whole beats.  We represent this note by clapping our hands and then sliding one hand up to our shoulder.  The name of this rhythm syllable is "too".

This note happens over and over again in the familiar music "In the Hall of the Mountain King."  This week, we told the story of the little boy Peer and his attempts to escape from the trolls under the mountain.  At the end of the story, students played the rhythm below, which represents the sound of our hero's footsteps as he sneaks away. 

But the story is a little frustrating because the ending is told only with the music below.  Does Peer escape?  Is he captured?  What happens ?!?!  Click on the link below to listen to the music and create your own ending to the story. . .

Click HERE to listen to the end of the story!

Moving in the Year End Assembly!

On Thursday, June 29th the whole school will gather in the gym to celebrate the end of another exciting year of learning!  Some students will sing and some students will speak, but of course we ALL need to move!

Students have been learning a movement pattern called the Cha Cha Slide.  Please click on the video below to practice the moves.  

But remember - safety first!  Here's some helpful hints to avoid those nasty Owies!
   -Always face the same direction.
   -Always take little steps and look behind when you move backwards
   -Stay on your feet
   ---And don't forget to do your own fancy moves when your hear the words "Cha Cha"!

Click HERE to practice the Cha Cha Slide!

Kindergartens Experience Beat and Rhythm

Imagine you are in a Candy Store, and you can only buy one kind of candy . . .  
   Which one would you choose?

Kindergarten students are struggling with this dilemma as each class composes a rhythmic phrase based on the names of these sugary treats.  Once the phrase is recorded with words and pictures, students learn how to "Clap the way the words sound" - one clap per syllable.  This is the rhythm of the text.  After clapping, students perform the same rhythmic phrase in small groups using non-pitched percussion instruments (like spoons or wood blocks).  After they are performing confidently, they use the rhythm to improvise a melody on the xylophone.  Candy has never sounded so sweet!

Between each candy rhythm, the class sings our Candy Store Song.  As we sing, we pat a steady pulse on our lap.  This is the beat of the music, steady and slow compared to the rhythm, which is actually sub-divisions of the beat.  

As we perform our piece, students experience the beat and they experience the rhythm.  After many such experiences, we will start to distinguish between the two and label each with their proper musical names.  

Meanwhile, our music room is filled with all sorts of candy - a delicious way to spend the first week of June!

The Candy Store created by Ms. Power's afternoon students.

What do you hear? What do you imagine?

Through the month of May, students have been expanding their musical vocabulary to describe dynamics (how loud), tempo (how fast) and articulation (the character with which music is played).  

Here's some of the terms that they have been learning:

     forte (loud)    piano (quiet)

          presto (fast)    moderato (medium speed)    largo (slow)

                legato (smooth)     marcato  (choppy)

Students have practiced describing recorded music as well as music they make themselves, and have begun to notice how these musical elements impact the mood of the music.  For example, a lullaby can lull a child to sleep with it's quiet, gentle sound, but if you perform the same piece with a loud and choppy voice it may make the same child cry.

Listen to the two pieces below, and try your hand at using the musical vocabulary to describe each piece.  Then consider how these musical elements shape the mood of the music.  You may even want to form a picture your in your head, inspired by the music you hear!  I've included some images that were shared by Ms. Hansen's class to get your imagination started.

CLICK HERE to listen to
Air on a G String
by J. S. Bach

CLICK HERE to listen to
William Tell Overture - Finale
by G. Rossini

I imagine flowers blowing in the wind.                                       I imagine a volcano exploding!

   I imagine meeting my only loved one.                                       I imagine a crowd of people 
                                                                                                        rushing back and forth.