So far this year, we’ve played name games, learned music room rule songs, and reviewed and
introduced different music concepts. If you haven’t been serenaded with any of
the rules songs (or the original tunes they were taken from), ask your
child(ren) about the music rules! I’ve heard from other teachers that “Make
Good Choices” has made its rounds in their classrooms as well.
This year, K-2 started something new for the
beginning of each class: John Feierabend’s Move
It! classical music movement explorations. So far we’ve moved to “Aquarium”
and “Swans” from Carnival of the Animals
by Camille Saint-Saëns. At the end of the
month, students got to engage in free movement while I played different
saxophones. We also end most classes with a songtale.
The kindergarteners have been practicing their voice types,
particularly their singing voices, and have just begun working on determining
fast/slow. We also practice demonstrating steady beat in a variety of ways.
The 1st graders have been reviewing musical concepts from
last year, and are about to begin preparing to learn their first written
rhythms.
The 2nd graders have been reviewing the rhythms and solfege
that they learned last year, and they’re preparing to jump into 2nd
grade rhythms and solfege!
“The Star-Spangled Banner”
celebrated its 201st birthday on September 14, so the 3rd graders kicked off their
patriotic music unit with it. We continued with “America the Beautiful,” and
will be learning “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” next. Students have also
been reviewing the solfege and rhythms that they’ve learned for the last two
years. They also just learned a new rhythm, four 16th notes.
The 4th and 5th graders are nearly halfway
through their instrument unit! They’ve learned about the percussion family and
will be finishing up the woodwind family this week. We’ll learn about the brass
family, string family, and the role of the conductor in the coming month. I’m
thankful for numerous friends and colleagues from multiple districts who are
willing and able to lend me instruments to bring in to demonstrate for the
students!
Students also learned about
ways to earn DRUM (Demonstrating Respect
and Understanding in Music) cards for individual recognition of
above-and-beyond behaviors. When students earn three DRUM cards, they may
redeem them for a reward (like eating lunch with me or sitting in my chair
during one class). Students can choose to earn DRUM cards by being leaders
within the music classroom, answering questions very well, posing thought-provoking
questions, completing DRUM card opportunities posted on the music blog (and
sent to their school email addresses – older students), or attending/performing
in music performances of any kind outside of the school day. If you’re
interested in attending performances, here are a couple of upcoming ones in the
community:
Wednesday,
October 21 7 pm Pulaski Area Community Band Concert,
with community choir and
high school choir (free!)
with community choir and
high school choir (free!)
New Life Community Church
Friday,
November 6 7 pm Red
Raider Showcase Concert
PHS Ripley PAC
If they are able to attend a performance, in order for
me to verify their attendance, I ask that children bring in a program with their name on it and tell me (or write on
the program) something about it: something new they learned, their favorite
part of it, etc.
While we’re talking about calendar dates, I’d like to
let you know that the concert this year will be on Tuesday, May 24.
If you have any questions or
concerns, please contact me. I look forward to seeing you throughout the school
year!
Ms. Corinne Galligan
(920) 822-0433
cmgalligan@pulaskischools.org
lannoyemusic.blogspot.com
(920) 822-0433
cmgalligan@pulaskischools.org
lannoyemusic.blogspot.com
