1st Grade Christmas Concert Preparation

Here are some recordings to help 1st graders while they practice.  They are doing great!

"Still, Still, Still" the way we will sing it...
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5TBCWMdEbygSHZjTVhBZ2xDZ1E/view?usp=sharing


"Mi Burrito Sabanero"
a very rough recording of how we will be singing, though will sound much better soon :)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5TBCWMdEbygdlhER01scUwydnc/view?usp=sharing

a YouTube version that is fun and is our arrangement but a little fast... 
https://youtu.be/Q5wnRmXw1_4?list=RDp-uiYPCKhEk

and another fun YouTube version, a little slower and lower if needed-- just not our exact arrangement:
https://youtu.be/ogJSyom8pO8     


"Hallelujah"-- just the 4th verse.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5TBCWMdEbygd3l0aG4wdWpnZGs/view?usp=sharing


"Feliz Navidad"

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!

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."

Update on Music Class for 1st, 2nd, & 3rd

First grade music classes have been off to a great start.  Students are learning to read rhythms and beginning to become more familiar with musical tones that go well together.  We’ve even started to record some of our work with bells so that I can soon post it for families to see.  Ask your child to give you a sample of “Sarasponda!”

The second graders and I have been working a lot with rhythm.  They are learning to read music notes using simple syllables that break things down and make drumming, singing, and bell playing possible.  Last week we sang a traditional Canadian folk song called “Land of the Silver Birch” and divided into 3 different instrument groups.  Each student took turns playing bells, shakers, and hand drums.  It is a special thing to watch students learn to connect cues they hear in the music with their own instrumental part, rather than playing for the entire song.   We will continue to explore creating a classroom “band” whenever we can!

Third graders are learning to groove on their recorders!  So far, “Hot Cross Buns” and “Buns Cross Hot” have been our main tunes.  Learning an instrument is a special thing.  And learning to read music is a leap even beyond that.  The third graders have begun to read notes on the musical staff.  They are really starting to connect concepts.  Everyone should look forward to hearing the third graders’ recorder work, as well as their fantastic singing.

1st Graders are Decking the Halls!

If your first graders are singing Christmas music around the house, feel free to join in!  Here are some lyrics and YouTube links to help:

DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?

(http://youtu.be/-pGld28bJMw)

Verse 1

Solo: Said the night wind to the little lamb

Do you see what I see?

1&1A: Do you see what I see?

Solo: Way up in the sky little lamb

Do you see what I see?

1&1A: Do you see what I see?

All:      A star, a star

Dancing in the night

With a tail as big as a kite

With a tail as big as a kite

Verse 2

Solo: Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy

Do you hear what I hear?

1&1A: Do you hear what I hear?

Solo: Ringing through the sky shepherd  boy

Do you hear what I hear?

1&1A: Do hear what I hear?

All:            A song, a song

High above the trees

With a voice as big as the sea

With a voice as big as the sea

Verse 3

Solo: Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king

Do you know what I know?

1&1A: Do You Know What I Know?

Solo: In your palace wall mighty king

Do you know what I know?

1&1A: Do you know what I know?

ALL:            A child, a child

Shivers in the cold

Let us bring him silver and gold

Let us bring him silver and gold

Verse 4

All Soloists: Said the king to the people everywhere

Listen to what I say

1&1A: Listen to what I say

All Soloists: Pray for peace people everywhere

Listen to what I say

1&1A: Listen to what I Say)

ALL:            The child, the child

Sleeping in the night

He will bring us goodness and light

He will bring us goodness and light

DECK THE HALLS

(http://youtu.be/ihwLr4iyRPE) 

Verse 1

Deck the halls with boughs of holly

Fa la la la la, la la la la

‘Tis the season to be jolly

Fa la la la la, la la la la

Don we now our gay apparel

Fa la la, la la la, la la la

Troll the ancient Yule tide carol

Fa la la la la, la la la la

Verse 2

See the blazing Yule before us

Fa la la la la, la la la la

Strike the harp and join the chorus

Fa la la la la, la la la la

Follow me in merry measure

Fa la la, la la la, la la la

While I tell of Yule tide treasure

Fa la la la la, la la la la