Help for Elementary Choir and 3rd & 4th grade Soloists or Small Groups

Hello!  Here are recordings of our elementary choir song, as well as 2 verses from "La Marimorena."

This is a recording of "Campana Sobre Campana" that might help Elementary Choir students and those performing the verses for our concert:

1. “Campana Sobre Campana” Verse 1- SING IN SPANISH (English is translation is here to help):

 Part 1:

Recogido tu rebaño                        (Your flock is gathered)
a dónde vas pastorcillo?             (Where are you going, little shepherd?)

Part 2:
Voy a llevar al portal             (I’m going to the stable)

Requesón, manteca y vino.             (to bring cottage cheese, lard, and wine)

2. “Campana Sobre Campana” Verse 1- SING IN SPANISH (English is translation is here to help):

 Part 1:

Caminando a media noche             (Walking at midnight,)

donde va mira el pastor             (Where are you going, shepherd?)

 Part 2:

que llevarte y a cuidarte             (to the Child who’s being born)

como Dios mi Corazon            (As to God, I’m bringing my heart)

3. “La Marimorena” Verse 1-- SING IN SPANISH (English is translation is here to help):

En el portal de Belén hay estrellas, sol y luna  (At the entrance to Bethlehem are stars, the sun,                                                                                                 the moon,)
La Virgen y San José, y el Niño que está en la cuna. (the Virgin, Joseph, and the Child in the                                                                                                             cradle.)

4. “La Marimorena” Verse 2-- SING IN SPANISH (English is translation is here to help):

En el Portal de Belén hacen lumbre los pastores, (At the entrance to Bethlehem shepherd make                                                                                                 a fire)
Para calentar al Niño que ha nacido entre las flores. (to warm the Child born among the                                                                                                                         flowers.)

ROUGH RECORDING OF "LA MARIMORENA" VERSES:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5TBCWMdEbygazI3SXc1WVBsY0k/view?usp=sharing

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.

2nd Graders Have Big Singing Voices!

St. Sylvester's second graders sound wonderful as they practice for our upcoming Christmas concert.  Here are some lyrics and links to use outside of school:

What Child is This?

http://youtu.be/MC9cbEHjvPs

Verse 1

What Child is this who, laid to rest


On Mary's lap is sleeping?


Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,


While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,


Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;


Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,


The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Verse 2

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,


Come peasant, king to own Him;


The King of kings salvation brings,


Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

This, this is Christ the King,


Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;


Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,


The Babe, the Son of Mary

This, this is Christ the King,


Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;


Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,


The Babe, the Son of Mary

I SAW THREE SHIPS

(http://youtu.be/CeUBgb5xaPQ )

GROUP 1

1. I saw three ships come sailing in,
    On Christmas day, on Christmas day,
I saw three ships come sailing in,
    On Christmas day in the morning.

GROUP 2

2. And what was in those ships all three?
    On Christmas day, on Christmas day,
And what was in those ships all three?
    On Christmas day in the morning.

ALL

3. Our Saviour Christ and his lady
    On Christmas day, on Christmas day,
Our Saviour Christ and his lady,
    On Christmas day in the morning.

GROUP 1 (with 5^th on recorders)

 4. Pray whither sailed those ships all three?
    On Christmas day, on Christmas day,
Pray whither sailed those ships all three?
    On Christmas day in the morning.

GROUP 2 (with 5^th on recorders)

5. Oh, they sailed into Bethlehem,
    On Christmas day, on Christmas day,
Oh, they sailed into Bethlehem,
    On Christmas day in the morning.

ALL (with 5^th on recorders)

6. And all the bells on earth shall ring,
    On Christmas day, on Christmas day,
And all the bells on earth shall ring,
    On Christmas day in the morning.

ALL

7. And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing,
    On Christmas day, on Christmas day,
And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing,
    On Christmas day in the morning.

ALL with tap 8. And all the souls on earth shall sing,
    On Christmas day, on Christmas day,
And all the souls on earth shall sing,
    On Christmas day in the morning.

ALL (with 5^th on recorders)

 9. Then let us all rejoice,again,
    On Christmas day, on Christmas day,
Then let us all rejoice, again,
    On Christmas day in the morning.

Kindergarten and 2nd Grade Yodel

One of my favorite songs to do with my students is "An Austrian Went Yodeling."  This is an add-on song, otherwise known as a "cumulative" song.  Each time we repeat the main part, we add on to make it a little bit longer.  In this particular song, we sing about an Austrian who went yodeling on a mountain so high.  He runs into various things, such as an avalanche, a person skiing, a milk-maid, a dog... and all these things interrupt his "cry" (his yodeling).

For Kindergarteners, this particular song is a more complicated melody, and it's a challenge to memorize all the add-ons.  We also add an action each time, you see.  And so singing and moving AND doing it all while keeping the beat we've set requires a lot of focus.  With the 2nd graders, they've worked on that same focus, but they also independently realized the endless amount of ways we could be creative about what to add that could interrupt our yodeling Austrian.

Each class has done more than this song in class, of course, but this has been one they really have so much fun with.  Kindergarteners are going to begin working a lot with reading different kinds of rhythms and playing them on various percussion instruments.  2nd Graders are going to be playing percussion, hand bells, and do some keyboarding while learning rhythm and then getting into note-reading.  Because they are quickly developing their reading skills as well, the 2nd graders have begun using our class-set of hymnals to learn songs we can sing at Mass and for fun.  The Kindergarteners do not use the hymnals yet, but they do learn about the elements they will need to recognize in order to use them.  I have also been putting lyrics up on the board and talking about their meaning so that we can work on language while learning music.

On a final note, if you are looking for some real entertainment, go ahead and ask your kids to do some yodeling!