With this large 4th Grade class, we are going to be able to get some great sound when singing and playing instruments. So far, we have danced, played drums and bells, and we are about to start reviewing and really learning how to play some fun material on the recorders. That said, this coming week, I will be constantly reminding the 4th graders to locate their recorders at home and to bring them in so we have them on Thursday.
A singing game the class has enjoyed is one I have borrowed from a great middle school choir director that we call,"The Forbidden Pattern." You may be familiar with solfege--- do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti, do--- from having watched "The Sound of Music." In that wonderful musical, Maria teaches the children about singing with "Do, Re, Mi." "Do, a deer, a female deer... Re, a drop of golden sun..." Solfege is a way of singing musical scale tones using syllables, and it is useful when teaching pitch and reading vocal music, especially when sight-reading. This game also encourages ear training and listening, both so magical to witness truly occurring in a large group of students all at once. I sing different solfege patterns and have the students echo my examples. Then I name a pattern the students canNOT sing. As I continue to sing patterns, if the students listen and can keep quiet when I've sung the "forbidden pattern," they get a point. If not, it's a point for the teacher! We will continue to battle it out during the quarter and see who can collect the most points.
That is just a little insight into something we have enjoyed together thus far. I will be sure to post more soon!
Sunday, September 27, 2015
3rd Grade is Pumped to Play Recorders
3rd
grade is rockin’ on their recorders!
Or, at least, they are on their way! I will soon send a note home explaining the plan and care
for these instruments. If they take
them home to practice, they need to bring them back for music classes each
Wednesday. To be sure each student
has their own recorder with them for the next couple weeks, I will have them
store their instruments at school beginning this week on the 30th.
PreK Sings Canciones Infantiles
Last
week the pre-kindergarteners and I
talked a bit about Hispanic Heritage Month and sang some children’s songs from
various countries. They also learned
about the percussion instrument called the guiro.
Each student had a chance to play a small guiro and we watched a video of professional musicians demonstrating on larger guiros. Many of the kids wanted to dance to the
rhythms immediately. It was a lot
of fun! We also watched a video of
the coqui frog that lives in Puerto Rico before we sang and played to the song,
“El Coqui.” I encourage you to
look up the little frog to hear it’s high-pitched “song.”
Here
are some of our Spanish songs, including “Oh Mister Sun (O Senor Sol),” which
is not really a song for Hispanic Heritage Month but one that the kids could
review in Spanish before moving on to new material:
“La Lechuza” (de Argentina)
(Spanish)
La
lechuza,
la
lechuza,
hace
shhhhhh*
hace
shhhhhh.
Hágamos
silencio,
como la
lechuza,
que
hace shhhhhhh,
que
hace shhhhhhh.
“The Barn Owl”
(English)
The barn owl,
The barn owl,
Goes shhhhhhh*
Goes shhhhhhh
Let's be in silence
As the barn owl,
Who goes shhhhhh,
Who goes shhhhhh.
“A La Rueda,
Rueda” (de Venezuela)
Canción
de corro
(Spanish)
A la
rueda, rueda
de pan
y canela
dame un
besito
y vete
a la escuela
si no
quieres ir
Acuéstate
a dormir.
“Go Around the Ring”
Circle
Game
(English)
Go around the ring
Of bread and cinnamon
Give me a little kiss
And let's go to school
If you don't want to go
Lay down to sleep.
El
coquí
(Spanish)
El
coquí, el coquí a mi me encanta.
Esta
lindo el cantar del coquí.
Por
las noches salir acostarme.
Me
adormece cantando así.
Chorus:
Coquí, coquí, coquí, qui qui qui.
Coquí,
coquí, coquí, qui qui qui
The Coquí
(English)
Little coquí frog, how I love you.
How I love your beautiful song.
In the night as I am sleeping,
You sing to me all night long.
Chorus: Coquí, coquí. coquí, qui, qui, qui
Coquí, coquí, coquí, qui qui qui
“Los Pollitos
Dicen” (de Ecuador)
Los
pollitos dicen pío, pío, pío
cuando
tienen hambre
cuando
tienen frío.
La
gallina busca el maíz y el trigo
les da
la comida y les presta abrigo.
Bajo
sus dos alas, acurrucaditos
¡duermen
los pollitos
hasta
el otro día!
“The Little Chickens”
(English)
The little chicks say pio pio pio
When they are hungry
And when they are cold.
The mother hen looks for corn and wheat.
She gives them food and grants them shelter.
Under mama's wings, huddling up,
Sleep the little chicks
Until the next day!
“O Senor Sol”
O
Senor Sol, Sol
Senor
Sol
Dame
tus rayos de sol
O
senor Sol, Sol
Senor
Sol
Detras
de ese arbol
Estos
ninos te piden ya
Sal
afuera para jugar
O
Senor Sol, Sol
Senor
Sol
Dame
tus rayos de sol.
Monday, September 21, 2015
1st and 2nd Grades Start Their Musical Year!
1st and 2nd graders have been learning how to play various rhythm patterns on the drums and bells. We have hand drums that each student can hold and either play with the other hand or with a mallet. They have been learning how to read quarter notes, eighth notes, and quarter rests. This coming week we will talk about bar lines and measures which are used to separate music into a specific number of beats. I mainly just want them to recognize these symbols for the moment, and then eventually their function will make sense later in the year.
Last week, we received resonator bell kits! Each bell is like a piece of a xylophone. Now we have these and hand bells, and it has been great for the students to experience the music alphabet (ABCDEFG and repeat) in these two different forms. Some kids like to ring bells, some like to hit them with mallets. :)
Of course, we do plenty of singing. Singing remains an ever-important activity!-- It works so many parts of the brain and is such a valuable way to express emotions. I will be sure to write some special post throughout the year about the many ways singing is important.
1st and 2nd grade will be learning about Solfege, a way of singing scale tones with syllables that is probably most recognizable from "The Sound of Music," if you recall the song that begins "Do a deer, a female deer..." Actually, we use this throughout all grades. It's something that will be more and more useful as students progress through their music education.
Students will also learn how to use the hymnals (book of church hymns [songs]) and missalettes (books with songs and readings in the back of pews) that they see in their weekly masses. As their reading and math skills progress, these materials make more sense. Students really enjoy being able to use the hymnals and missalettes when they are able.
So far we have sung songs that include:
"This Little Light of Mine"
"Peace is Flowing Like a River"
"Hallelujah" (getting ready for Christmas... I promise not to make them sing about snow yet!)
"Alabare" (a Spanish hymn)
a special "Hello Song" where we can work on learning dynamics (louds and softs)
"We are Marching"
"Amazing Grace"
We've really been focused on our bells and drums for the past couple weeks and so have mainly sung hymns thus far since we were learning how to use the church materials. However, we will be exploring many different songs in many different styles throughout the year. Coming up, we will be learning more songs in Spanish from various Hispanic countries in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, which began on September 15th. We will talk about Latin instruments and rhythms and certain musicians with Hispanic heritage.
Here is a picture of Ms. Claudio's 2nd grade class enjoying and learning rhythms on the drums:
I am sorry these aren't bigger and clearer. I'm working on it!
Last week, we received resonator bell kits! Each bell is like a piece of a xylophone. Now we have these and hand bells, and it has been great for the students to experience the music alphabet (ABCDEFG and repeat) in these two different forms. Some kids like to ring bells, some like to hit them with mallets. :)
Of course, we do plenty of singing. Singing remains an ever-important activity!-- It works so many parts of the brain and is such a valuable way to express emotions. I will be sure to write some special post throughout the year about the many ways singing is important.
1st and 2nd grade will be learning about Solfege, a way of singing scale tones with syllables that is probably most recognizable from "The Sound of Music," if you recall the song that begins "Do a deer, a female deer..." Actually, we use this throughout all grades. It's something that will be more and more useful as students progress through their music education.
Students will also learn how to use the hymnals (book of church hymns [songs]) and missalettes (books with songs and readings in the back of pews) that they see in their weekly masses. As their reading and math skills progress, these materials make more sense. Students really enjoy being able to use the hymnals and missalettes when they are able.
So far we have sung songs that include:
"This Little Light of Mine"
"Peace is Flowing Like a River"
"Hallelujah" (getting ready for Christmas... I promise not to make them sing about snow yet!)
"Alabare" (a Spanish hymn)
a special "Hello Song" where we can work on learning dynamics (louds and softs)
"We are Marching"
"Amazing Grace"
We've really been focused on our bells and drums for the past couple weeks and so have mainly sung hymns thus far since we were learning how to use the church materials. However, we will be exploring many different songs in many different styles throughout the year. Coming up, we will be learning more songs in Spanish from various Hispanic countries in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, which began on September 15th. We will talk about Latin instruments and rhythms and certain musicians with Hispanic heritage.
Here is a picture of Ms. Claudio's 2nd grade class enjoying and learning rhythms on the drums:
Kindergarten Music Introduction
Music is a blast with Kindergarteners! This is always true for me. My plan for the kindergarteners' musical year is to expose them to many styles of music while helping them explore their own voices and to develop their rhythmic skills and recognition of patterns through singing and plying instruments. We will play bells, drums, and other percussion instruments. And I will play them recordings of songs, as well as demonstrate the piano and some guitar and ukulele. I am just a beginner in my own work on the last two, but I plan to integrate these to mix things up for the kids. I also played the violin and saxophone many years ago, so I will be sure to bring those out later in the year.
Kindergarteners are able to learn and retain some more of the musical language and notation, and so we will also cover basic music notes and rests and how to read those while playing drums. We will cover the musical alphabet (ABCDEFG;ABCDEFG...) while playing bells and singing. And, solfege, "Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti, Do" is something I will also introduce.
We have sung a handful of songs so far, including some to recall summer picnics...
"The Ants Go Marching"
"Down By the Bay"
"The Peanut Butter and Jelly Song"
"Oh Mister Sun" in English and in Spanish
Our "Hello Song"--- this is an upbeat song I play on the piano, and the kids love to hear their name and sing along each week. We will change this quarterly.
"Peace is Flowing Like a River"
"This Little Light of Mine"
"Two Little Blackbirds" rhyme
Because they are so excited about playing instruments, we have done many activities with those so far that have not necessarily included specific songs.
ALSO, I am already integrating some of the things they will be part of during our Christmas Concert this year. I know talking about Christmas brings thoughts of winter and that can be very depressing. :) And so I promise not to have them singing about snow too soon. Because we have limited time together, I just want to make sure they will be very comfortable and proud at the concert. So far, you may hear them singing, "Hallelujah" now and then.
I look forward to updating you again soon. And I hope your kids bring some music home and teach you some of the things we've done!
Kindergarteners are able to learn and retain some more of the musical language and notation, and so we will also cover basic music notes and rests and how to read those while playing drums. We will cover the musical alphabet (ABCDEFG;ABCDEFG...) while playing bells and singing. And, solfege, "Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti, Do" is something I will also introduce.
We have sung a handful of songs so far, including some to recall summer picnics...
"The Ants Go Marching"
"Down By the Bay"
"The Peanut Butter and Jelly Song"
"Oh Mister Sun" in English and in Spanish
Our "Hello Song"--- this is an upbeat song I play on the piano, and the kids love to hear their name and sing along each week. We will change this quarterly.
"Peace is Flowing Like a River"
"This Little Light of Mine"
"Two Little Blackbirds" rhyme
Because they are so excited about playing instruments, we have done many activities with those so far that have not necessarily included specific songs.
Hispanic
Heritage Month began September 15th, and in the coming weeks
we will be singing and listening to songs that explore and celebrate this.
I look forward to updating you again soon. And I hope your kids bring some music home and teach you some of the things we've done!
Pre-Kindergarten Music Introduction
Pre-K is getting used to our music routines. Some of them are already experts from
last year and are proud to share their knowledge. All seem ready and excited
for music at each class, which is a great gift to me!
We've played drums, danced with shakers, and
have been singing songs related to being out on a picnic as well as others that work well with our instrument activities. Each Friday, I will aim to post
a list of any new songs we've covered so that families can have an idea of what
your pre-kindergarteners may be singing around the house. In general,
students will be exposed to a great variety of musical styles, sounds, and
rhythms all year long. By encouraging the children to use their voices in attempts to
match different tones and pitches, they really start to distinguish their
singing voices from their speaking voices. To nurture this and development of rhythm and recognition of
patterns, we do plenty of “finger rhymes” (using gestures to act out lyrics),
play instruments, and use scarves and even a parachute to enhance the movement
experience.
Here are some things we’ve done so far:
Rhymes
"Two Little Blackbirds"
(see details at end of post)
"A Peanut Sat on a Railroad Track" (see details at end of post)
Songs
"Hello Song" (We use this every week and sing each child's name; it will change each quarter)
"O Mister Sun" (English and Spanish)
"Peanut Butter and Jelly Song" (see details at end of post)
"The Ants Go Marching" (with drums)
"Down by the Bay"
"A Ram Sam Sam" (we increase tempo [speed] with each time
through)
"Love Somebody" (with drums and bells)
Instrument Rhythm & Tone Activities
Drums (repeating patterns I play; playing at cues during
songs)
Bells—resonator bells (like a piece of a xylophone)
Rhythm Sticks
Egg Shakers
Hispanic
Heritage Month began September 15th, and in the coming weeks
we will be singing and listening to songs that explore and celebrate this.
***Because of our limited time together, I will be starting
to teach them parts of the things they will perform at our Christmas
Concert. I want them to feel
comfortable and excited to share when we get to that time. I will try not to teach them anything
about snow for a while longer, I promise!
Details…
“Two Little Blackbirds”
Two little blackbirds
sitting on a hill (hold up 2 pointer fingers as the birds)
One named Jack and one
named Jill (move 1 finger for each bird)
Fly away Jack; fly
away Jill (“fly” fingers behind back one at a time)
Come back Jack, come
back Jill (bring fingers back out front one at a time)
*ADAPT FINGER MOTIONS
AND VOICES FOR EACH NEW VERSE
Two little blackbirds
flying in the sky
One named Low and one
named High (use a
high pitched voice for High and low for Low, as well as making one finger go
high and one go low)
Fly away Low; fly
away High
Come back Low, come
back High
*Additional verses
(using opposites each time)
Sitting on a lily-
Serious and Silly
Sitting on a pole-
Fast and Slow
Sitting on the ice-
Mean and Nice
Floating on a cloud-
Quiet and Loud
“A Peanut Sat on a Railroad Track”
A Peanut Sat on a
railroad track
His heart was all
a-flutter
Around the bend came
the Number Ten
Toot! Toot! SQUISH!
Peanut butter!
*We act out all of
these things and then make the peanut tiny to do again, then giant, then super
fast, that very slow… and we use different voices for each.
“The Peanut Butter and Jelly Song”
First you take the
peanuts and you crunch ‘em, you crunch ‘em (REPEAT)
Peanut, peanut butter (hands
dance high in the air to one side_
And jelly (hands
dance low to the other side)
Peanut, peanut butter
And jelly
Then you take the
grapes and you squish ‘em, you squish ‘em (REPEAT)
Peanut, peanut butter…
Then you take the
bread and you spread it, you spread it (REPEAT)
Peanut, peanut butter…
Then you take the
sandwich and you eat it, you eat it (REPEAT)
Peanut, peanut butter…
***** Then go through
each verse one time before signing “Peanut, peanut butter…”
Sunday, September 13, 2015
It's a New Year!
Hello!
We are a few weeks into our new school year, and it is going great! Every Friday I plan to update this blog. I will most likely write more than one post in that same day. I will label them each with the appropriate grade level or levels so that you are able to click on a label to the right and read the information most relevant to you. For example, I would usually label this post "All School Music Information." This time I will attach all grade level and choir labels to it in order to start things flowing.
Notable events coming up:
Our 1st FAMILY MASS-- Sunday, September 20th, 11:30
St. Sylvester Church
*Every 3rd Sunday of the month, we encourage St. Sylvester families to attend this mass, and I direct our school choir members down front. It's a great opportunity to represent our school community!
Beginning Friday, September 18th, I will write posts about the music classes our PK-8th graders are experiencing. In the meantime, know that I am at the school for full days on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I am also there Mondays after 2:00pm. If you leave me a voice mail or send an email, I will aim to respond at the end of the day, sometimes after I am done with after school activities. The school phone number is 773-772-5222 and my extension 305. My work email is efoxmusic@gmail.com. Feel free to come down to the music room to visit!
Looking forward to a fantastic year!
-Ms. Fox
Additional Information...
CHOIRS:
Older...
5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders auditioned to be a part of our older choir. They sang a short bit of The Star Spangled Banner and a brief section of a song of their choice. Then they needed to show great effort and behavior in a mass performance the next morning. We are currently 37 strong! Each choir member has signed a choir contract and should be bringing a detailed letter home for families to read and sign, sending back the bottom portion.
Younger...
The 4th and 3rd graders showed me their best behavior and effort in a first meeting of those very interested in joining the younger choir. We will add interested 2nd graders as of October 7th. Because our school continues to grow and we have many students excited about singing, I have decided to split the younger choir into two groups that will alternate weeks. This way all younger choir members can be part of the entire group all year long, but by having only 24-28 kids each week instead of 48-56, we will be better able to maintain a fun and comfortable environment in order to focus and learn how to make a choir work. All choir members will end up signing a choir contract to show they understand expectations, and I will send a letter home to families to read and sign. This should happen within the first week of your student's first official choir practice. We meet on Wednesday afternoons. The groups are "Blue" and "Orange."
We are a few weeks into our new school year, and it is going great! Every Friday I plan to update this blog. I will most likely write more than one post in that same day. I will label them each with the appropriate grade level or levels so that you are able to click on a label to the right and read the information most relevant to you. For example, I would usually label this post "All School Music Information." This time I will attach all grade level and choir labels to it in order to start things flowing.
Notable events coming up:
Our 1st FAMILY MASS-- Sunday, September 20th, 11:30
St. Sylvester Church
*Every 3rd Sunday of the month, we encourage St. Sylvester families to attend this mass, and I direct our school choir members down front. It's a great opportunity to represent our school community!
Beginning Friday, September 18th, I will write posts about the music classes our PK-8th graders are experiencing. In the meantime, know that I am at the school for full days on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I am also there Mondays after 2:00pm. If you leave me a voice mail or send an email, I will aim to respond at the end of the day, sometimes after I am done with after school activities. The school phone number is 773-772-5222 and my extension 305. My work email is efoxmusic@gmail.com. Feel free to come down to the music room to visit!
Looking forward to a fantastic year!
-Ms. Fox
Additional Information...
CHOIRS:
Older...
5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders auditioned to be a part of our older choir. They sang a short bit of The Star Spangled Banner and a brief section of a song of their choice. Then they needed to show great effort and behavior in a mass performance the next morning. We are currently 37 strong! Each choir member has signed a choir contract and should be bringing a detailed letter home for families to read and sign, sending back the bottom portion.
Younger...
The 4th and 3rd graders showed me their best behavior and effort in a first meeting of those very interested in joining the younger choir. We will add interested 2nd graders as of October 7th. Because our school continues to grow and we have many students excited about singing, I have decided to split the younger choir into two groups that will alternate weeks. This way all younger choir members can be part of the entire group all year long, but by having only 24-28 kids each week instead of 48-56, we will be better able to maintain a fun and comfortable environment in order to focus and learn how to make a choir work. All choir members will end up signing a choir contract to show they understand expectations, and I will send a letter home to families to read and sign. This should happen within the first week of your student's first official choir practice. We meet on Wednesday afternoons. The groups are "Blue" and "Orange."
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