Incorporating Curriculum

One of my goals in the music classroom is to incorporate the classroom curriculum into our music lessons.  This week has been a great example of how music can be used to teach other subjects.  Using songs to teach concepts is a great way to learn. 

This week's kindergarten lesson was all about counting.  We used the numbers 1-10 to sing several songs and play instruments.  We began with One, Two, Buckle my Shoe and the students had to put number cards in order before the song was over.  This was very tricky, but we had a few friends who were able to do it!  We then used the poem One Potato, Two Potato to talk about choosing randomly.  The kids chose a number card and had to play that many steady beats on one of our tubano drums.  We learned the correct way to play these.

First graders are still working on their Christmas music.  They are getting so excited about the play!  Don't forget to mark your calendars and come see them on December 6th at 7:00.  When we finished practicing our songs, we learned about the word "introduction" and practiced a song called Engine, Engine.  We used hand drums to create an 8 beat introduction.  One of my favorite things about the younger grades is how willing they are to play and improvise without worrying about what other people think.  I encourage all the students to create movement and music that expresses themself.  I read a poem about a squirrel and had the kids improvise movement as I read. 

This week in second grade we focused on following musical directions.  Sometimes when music is playing we get caught up in the sound and forget to listen to the words.  In our song All 'Round the Brickyard, we had to follow direction like stepping, skipping, marching, and jumping.  We then took the song and transferred it to our barred instruments.  The students had to listen to the song and follow the directions.  When the song asked them to play their instrument, they had to improvise for 7 beats.  The names of the instruments are xylophones, metallophones, and glockenspiels.  Ask your child which he/she had the chance to play!

Third graders had a very challenging week.  To introduce the concept of a canon, we are playing a game called "Four Beats After."  In this game, the leader begins by showing the class a 4 beat pattern.  The class echos this pattern while the leader goes on to perform a new pattern, thus the class always being 4 beats after the leader.  We then had a great lesson that incorporated math!  The students sang Great Big House and created a B section by using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems.  We took these math problems and put them on the barred instruments. 

This week in fourth grade the kids really practiced their DARE song.  They will be performing this at the DARE graduation on December 6th at 1:45PM.  We then got into groups and practiced playing BAG on our recorders.  Each group was given a card with the notes BAG on them in a random order.  Once they had practiced with their groups, I assessed them on fingering, breathing, and posture.  The kids did a great job!

Fifth graders played a Native American song on their recorders.  We learned Hosisipa, which is a song from the Sioux Indians.  This song is very challenging because the rhythms are difficult.  We then performed a simple canon called To Stop the Train.  My goal next week is to play this on instruments while we sing it in canon.

National Conference

I had the exciting opportunity last week to attend the American Orff-Schulwerk Association's (AOSA) National Conference in Pittsburgh, PA.  The AOSA is an organization dedicated to the Orff-Schulwerk methodology of music teaching.  I use this system, along with several others, when teaching your children.  Since the word "orff" is foreign to so many, here is how Espie Estrella describes it:

"Also known as the Orff Method, Orff Approach or Music for Children; it is a way of introducing and teaching children about music on a level that they can easily comprehend. Musical concepts are learned through singing, chanting, dance, movement, drama and the playing of percussion instruments. Improvisation, composition and a child's natural sense of play are encouraged."

Participation in this conference allowed me to observe several clinicians who have been trained to teach using this method.  I learned so many new things!  I am now armed with many more exciting activities to bring to the classroom at POV.  Here are a few photos of my time there.

I was also so lucky to see several childrens' performing groups.  I saw groups that sang, played instruments, and danced.  It is amazing how much fun we can have while we're learning.

Let's Play!

I hope everyone is having a great November so far!  We are beginning the 2nd nine weeks at POV and the kids are learning so much! 

Kindergarten students are talking and singing about Fall weather.  This week we used leaves to represent high and low sounds on the promethean board.  We also sang a song about the different things we could do with leaves.  The first verse was about raking the leaves, then the students created the next verses to include what they like to do when leaves fall.

First graders are still working hard on our Winter Program music.  The songs are difficult and I am so proud of them for doing their best!  I do not want to give away any of the songs, so I will not be posting a video of them :)  We also began learning how to create music notes.  The students received bundles of popsicle sticks and notated quarter and eighth notes on the carpet as I spoke rhythms.

This week in second grade we learned all about half notes.  A half note is one sound that lasts over two beats, unlike the quarter note which only lasts for one.  We practiced keeping both quarter and half note beats to the song Let Us Chase the Squirrel.  This is a difficult concept for some students to understand.  We also did a traditional dance to the song All Around the Brickyard and learned what an ostinato is. 

The third graders played a fun rotation game this week.  We have been discussing the difference between playing "hands together" and "alternating" on our barred instruments.  The students were asked to improvise a 4 beat pattern during our song Hill and Gully Rider.  We also discussed what a gully is and how it is formed.  The students learned 3 new terms: introduction, interlude, and coda.  Ask your child what each means and see if they can tell you!

In 4th grade we are really getting good at playing BAG on our recorders.  If possible, I would like for the kids to take their recorders home and practice once or twice a week.  We are focusing on posture and correct breath techniques.  If the kids can learn these concepts early, the recorder playing will sound so wonderful!  Your students have all these songs in a packet at home, so practicing should be easy!

And, last but not least, 5th graders worked hard to put together a 3 part ensemble!  We learned a song called A Boy Named Sean and played it on recorders, bass xylophones, and alto xylophones.  This is tricky!  It requires higher level thinking to play your own part while still listening to others around you to keep a steady beat.  The kids did a great job, but I unfortunately was unable to get a usable video.  Ask them to sing and play their song for you!  We also practiced "conducting" with our feet!

Boo!

Halloween week is one of my favorite weeks of the school year.  There are so many fun songs and activities about Halloween!  Let's switch things up and go backwards this week:)

5th graders have been reviewing B, A, G, and E on their recorders.  We used the Halloween song Skin and Bones to reinforce these pitches.  The students have songbooks with this song in them so they can play it at home if they wish.  This week we got very creative.  We read a book called The Little Old Lady Who Wasn't Afraid of Anything.  The students got into groups and created an 8 beat ostinato to match up with an item in the book.  I read the book to the class and they inserted their ostinato where appropriate.  This is a short clip of Mrs. Satterwhite's class inserting their ostinati into the story.

In 4th grade we took our first quiz of the year.  The students had to identify the pitches B, A, G on a recorder chart and draw it on a treble staff.  Most of the students did a great job on this.  We will continue to review it through the year.  We have really been focusing on our DARE song, which we will sing at the DARE graduation on December 6th.  The kids have learned almost the entire song.  Check out the link to "4th grade curriculum" on the right side of the blog.  There is a video of the DARE song on that page.

3rd graders had so much fun this week!  We read a really great book called Shake Dem Halloween Bones.  The kids learned a song to sing with it and accompanied it on xylophones.  We are working on the correct technique to perform a crossover bordun on barred instruments.  The kids loved singing this song and playing instruments while I rapped the book to them.  The book is also worth .5 points in our AR program!  I hope the students take advantage of that :)

During 2nd grade this week, students also read a Halloween book and inserted instruments.  The book was called Scary, Scary, Halloween.  The kids learned the proper way to play hand drums using upstrokes and downstrokes.  We spelled out "Halloween" and played the rhythm of it on the drums.  Second graders began practicing a very important concept: labeling the notes "mi, so, la" on a three line staff.  This is a tricky concept because some students have a hard time understanding the difference between a note that is on a line and a note that is in a space.  The kids did a great job and we will be practicing this a lot this year before we learn new notes.  I think the most fun activity was a creative movement activity.  We froze into our favorite Halloween characters and moved around the room to Halloween music when we were tapped on the shoulder. 

This week in 1st grade, the students practiced a lot for our upcoming winter program, "The Elves' Impersonator."  They are working so hard to learn the music for this, and I am hoping we have 100% attendance that night!  We did take breaks to sing songs about Halloween, though.  We sang "Stirring My Brew" and talked about silly things we might put into a brew if we witches creating funny potions.  I reviewed how pitches can go higher and lower and the kids used their bodies to show me when sounds went up and down.

Kindergarten students talked about our 4 voices this week.  This was a review, as we had already introduced them last week.  The four voices are talking, whispering, calling (yelling), and singing.  We demonstrated each voice and talked about the appropriate places to use each.  Our Halloween songs included We are Scary Skeletons and The Witch Has An Itch.

POV Fall Festival

Zack and I had so much fun leading the "Cake Dance" at Point O'View's fall festival!

Learning New Things

The past two weeks have been full of new concepts for the kids at POV.  We are exploring new instruments, notes, and rhythms.

Kindergarten is continuing to sing about farm animals.  This week we sang about lambs and hens.  We also played two new instruments, the tambourine and the maracas.  We use the same song every week to introduce a new animal and instrument.

With Halloween approaching, first grade has been talking about spiders and black cats.  We have been improvising movement to different versions of "The Itsy Bitsy Spider."  We even played the xylophones to show the spiders moving up and down the water spout.  The students have been practicing using their bodies to show rhythms and steady beats. 

Second graders are really stepping up their game with rhythm practice.  This week we learned two new music symbols- the half note and the half rest.  We also practiced writing rhythms on our whiteboards.  Have your students show you how to write "ta" and "ti-ti" at home.  We also sang and played our xylophones to a song about Christopher Columbus.

This week in third grade, we began working on the concept of musical questions and answers.  In this video, students are playing a question on the drum and answering on the temple blocks.  We have also started labeling and singing the notes do, re, mi, so, and la on the 5 line music staff.  This is the beginning of our journey to read music!

Fourth graders continue to practice their recorders.  We have now learned the notes B, A, and G.  We can also read them on the staff.  Students are encouraged to take their recorders home and practice these notes. 

The fifth graders are on a roll with their recorders!  This week we learned to play our first song, "BAG Review."  The students not only have to show proper technique, but they now have to read music from the Promethean Board!  We also played the barred instruments to accompany a song this week.

Come back next week and see what we will be learning!  Our Halloween lessons are starting.  During Halloween, we sing about candy, costumes, and trick-or-treating.  Please feel free to email me at ergriffi@vbschools.com if you are interested in knowing what your child's Halloween lesson will incude.

All about Singing

The last week of September was a ton of fun in music class!  We played lots of instruments, used our singing voices, and danced until we dropped!

Kindergarten students are beginning a unit on farm animals.  We sang "Going to the Farm" and talked about the first animal of our unit: the duck.  We walked like ducks and sang several songs about ducks.  In this video, watching Mrs. Swann's class use lummi sticks to tap the rhythm of the "quacks."

First graders practiced using barred instruments this week.  We played a rotation game while practicing playing up and down to the poem "Hickory Dickory Dock."  The students played the instruments during the A section then moved to a different instrument during the B section.  The students were assessed this week on using their high voices to sing their names on the sol-mi interval. 

Second graders also played barred instruments this week.  We used a chord bordun to accompany the traffic light song.  The classes were also able to dance to "Draw a Bucket of Water."  The focus of this dance was teamwork and cooperation.  The kids had to work together to be successful.  The second graders were also assessed on rhythm reading this week.  They read 4 beat rhythm patterns by themselves using the rhythm syllables "ta" and "ti."

Third graders began the week by dancing to La Raspa.  This dance is more commonly known as the Mexican Hat Dance.  We began learning all about harmony, too!  The students sang a song called "Remember Me" and learned a vocal ostinato to go along with it.  An ostinato is a pattern that repeats- a vocal ostinato is an ostinato we sing.  We then took this song and put it on the barred instruments.  We accompanied it using a broken bordun, where students alternate hands between two notes.  We will be practicing that a lot this year!

In fourth grade, the students got to play their recorders for the very first time!  I will be posting videos on the blog soon to remind students how to play their recorders.  Some things to remember are:
-left hand on top
-leaks cause squeaks
-say "du" into the recorder to create sound, don't blow into it
-B is played by covering the top hole on the front and the only hole in the back
We also began learning our song for the December DARE graduation!

Fifth graders also began playing our recorders this week.  We began with a review of how to hold the recorder, how to breathe into it, and how to play the notes B, A, and G.  We then had a discussion about scales.  Scales are groups of notes that songs are based around.  The three scales we talked about were Major, Minor, and Pentatonic.  Ask your child what pitch begins each scale.