Music Notes: End of March 2015

Music Notes

End of March 2015

Hello, everyone!

In honor of 30 years of Music In Our Schools Month, let’s start some conversations at home! Students, here are some questions you can ask your family, friends, and teachers…see what you discover!

·        What did you learn in music class when you were my age?

·        Did you ever play an instrument? Which one? How long? Why’d you choose that one?

·        Were you ever in band? Jazz? Choir? Orchestra? Other ensembles?

·        If you were in any of those groups (or took lessons, etc.), what was your favorite part?

·        If you could play any instrument in the world, what would you choose? Why?

·        What’s your all-time favorite song, and why is it your favorite?

·        What’s your favorite song to belt in the car or the shower?

·        If you were in a rock band, what would your band’s name be?

·        What was the first concert you attended?

·        Have you ever met a famous musician?

·        If you could meet any musician, dead or alive, who would it be?

·        Fill in the blank: “Music makes me ______________.”

Did you learn anything you didn’t know about the people in your life? Share the neat things you learned – I’d love to hear them!

For more March MIOSM fun and information (and a musical Pi Day post that the math lovers out there will enjoy), check out our blog at:

http://lannoyemusic.blogspot.com

Still looking for donations: If you’ve got any empty small tissue boxes (not the long rectangular ones), I’ll take them from now until the end of the year! I’m planning ahead for a 3^rd grade rhythm activity next winter…

Here’s what we’ve been working on in March:

This month, the kindergarteners, 1^st graders, and 2^nd graders all learned the song “Here Comes a Bluebird.” They’ve enjoyed taking turns being the bluebird and coming up with different ways to show the steady beat with their partners and neighbors. In honor of Dr. Seuss’s birthday, they all read the book There’s a Wocket in My Pocket and played egg shakers on all of the rhyming words. They also all learned “Rattlin’ Bog” to celebrate the springtime and St. Patrick’s Day. Kindergarten and 1^st grade also practiced their steady beat movements (with dancing) to Celtic Storm’s song “Beggarman.”

In addition to the abovementioned activities, the kindergarteners have continued practicing their leadership with the echo song and game “Charlie Over the Ocean.” They also kept practicing pointing to beat symbols in a left-to-right pattern. They learned the song “Bee, Bee, Bumblebee,” and showed the steady beat in the game.

The 1^st graders practiced clapping, speaking, reading, and writing the rhythms they know. Our rhythm dictation activities combine all four of those actions! They also got to write their own rhythm compositions. They’re currently in the process of learning their first solfege pitches, so and mi, through the song “Bee, Bee, Bumblebee.”

The 2^nd graders practiced clapping, speaking, reading, and writing their rhythms, using rhythm dictation activities and other games to practice their skills. They also got to write their own rhythm compositions. Now they’re reviewing their 1^st grade solfege pitches (so, mi, and la) and adding a new pitch to their toolbox (do). We’ve been singing and playing “Apple Tree” to help us prepare!

The 3^rd graders practiced clapping, speaking, reading, and writing their rhythms, and put them all together in rhythm compositions. They continued singing 3-part rounds and partner songs as well. They’re currently reviewing their solfege knowledge and adding high do to their pitch vocabulary via “Lil Liza Jane,” a song they used for learning ti-ta-ti and reviewing call and response.

The 4^th and 5^th graders finished their round of speed-reading treble clef tests. Congratulations are in order for the following students who passed the 30 second test on the given dates: Madison (5^th grade, 2/21), Jake (5^th grade, 2/21), Aaron (5^th grade, 3/3), Jack (5^th grade, 3/13), Will (4^th grade, 3/13), Austin (3/13)! Also, an extra congrats goes to Jake for passing the 20 second version on 3/13!! The 4^th and 5^th graders all survived their first recorder playing tests (4^th grade on B/A/G, 5^th grade on B/A/G/C’/D’) and learned a new note (4^th grade: C’; 5^th grade: F#). They’ve all been working on supplemental material, including the song “B-A-G Lady” by Jim Tinter, and stretching their brains by improvising over different accompaniment tracks. Please make sure your students are practicing their recorders – ask for an in-home performance! J

Upcoming performances in the area:

Thursday, April 9                 7:00 pm          PHS Guest Artist Jazz Concert

                                                                     PHS Ripley PAC

Sunday, April 12                   1:00 pm         Pulaski Area Community 
                                                                    Band/Choir Concert

                                                                     St. John’s Lutheran Church 
                                                                     in Morgan

Thursday, April 16               7:00 pm          Pulaski Area Community 
                                                                    Band/Choir Concert

                                                                     PHS Ripley PAC

April 17-19, 24-26               7:00 Fri/Sat,  PCMS Musical: Joseph and the 
                                             2:00 Sun        Amazing Technicolored

                                                                   Dreamcoat

                                                                   PCMS Auditorium

$8 tickets; $10 for 4/18 show, $15 for 4/18 show with spaghetti dinner – get your tickets now!

Thursday, April 23               7:00 pm          UW-Platteville Guest Concert

                                                                     PHS Ripley PAC

Monday, April 27                 6:30 pm          PHS Choir Honors Recital

                                                                     PHS Ripley PAC

Ms. Corinne Galligan                      
(920) 822-0433

cmgalligan@pulaskischools.org

lannoyemusic.blogspot.com