Fall Concert Music

Maroon Band students have been hard at work practicing two songs to perform at the Middle School Fall Concert which will be Wednesday, October 26 at Leicester High School.

We have spent a lot of time at rehearsals practicing along with a recording so we can hear all the parts.  Recordings are in the following links.  Use them for practice!

Creature Feature: http://www.jwpepper.com/10369234.item#.V_foejMrLnA

Freedom Finale:
http://www.jwpepper.com/10094767.item#.V_fpyDMrLnA

Boomwhacker Compositions

After learning about a composition created out of layered ostinatos ("The One Minute Boomwhacker Piece") fifth graders created their own layered ostinato compositions.

They used charts to track the rhythm of each Boomwhacker, then performed them together in their groups to showcase their final composition.  This took a lot of practice as it is much harder than it looks!  Check out some of our compositions below.

Peep Squirrel

First graders learn simple songs that first they listen to, then sing as a group, then sing solo.  Students learn these songs through repetition.  I am very impressed with the brave volunteers who are eager to sing by themselves.



"The chief purpose of these songs is to encourage independent singing from children while they assimilate the whole song." - Dr. John Feierabend in First Steps in Music

The first simple song we learned this year is Peep Squirrel.  Ask your child to sing it for you.

Peep squirrel, peep squirrel,
Do da diddle-um, do da, diddle-um,
Peep squirrel, peep squirrel,
Do da diddle-um dee.

Click here to hear Mrs. Tibbett's class perform this song!

Do Your Ears Hang Low?

First graders have been working on lots of movement to show form and expression.  Some of these activities are called fingerplays.

"These activities help children experience the expressive qualities in music through movement.  At the same time, these activities enable children to experience musical form through organized movement.  Classical musical examples, songs, and rhymes can be used.  When using songs and rhymes, the motions should be performed in the expressive spirit of the song or rhyme and vice versa." - Dr. John Feierabend in First Steps in Music

One song we have been working on is "Do Your Ears Hang Low?"  Ask your child to sing the song with motions for you.

Do your ears hang low?
Do they wobble to and fro?
Can you tie them in a knot?
Can you tie them in a bow?
Can you throw them over your shoulder
Like a continental soldier?
Do your ears hang low?

Hear Mrs. Gallant's class perform this song here:

Get Ready for Recorders!

As fourth graders prepare to begin their work on recorder, we took a trip outside to blow bubbles!  We discussed the best kind of air to use when playing the recorder.  We tried blowing bubbles in different ways.  If you use fast, cool air, you end up with lots of tiny bubbles.  If we transferred this air to the recorder, we would get a loud, squeaky sound.  Warm, slow air produces one or two big bubbles.  This is the kind of air we should be using to get the best sound on the recorder.  Then, students had plenty of time outside to practice blowing big bubbles!

We went back inside to learn some new notes on the recorder when we were done.  We imagined blowing big bubbles and had a beautiful sound!

Recorders will be living at school this year so they are always ready for us to use.  If you would like to purchase a recorder for your child to use at home, look online for a Yamaha recorder.  They are easy to play and make a nice sound.  This is not required, but some students do like to practice at home.

One Minute Boomwhacker Piece

Fifth graders started off the year strong by testing out our some of our new instruments: the Boomwhackers.

We learned a song called "The One Minute Boomwhacker Piece."  It is created entirely out of layered ostinatos (repeating patterns).  Students learned the rhythm of each color Boomwhacker and then we layered them together to create the final product.

We used a chart to help us see how each rhythm fit together.

Check out a recording of "The One Minute Boomwhacker Piece" on Youtube.  This is not our class performing it, but it will give you an idea of what we were working on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-Nweg2KYVQ

First Steps in Music

Our preschool, kindergarten, and 1st grade students are using the First Steps in Music curriculum created by Dr. John Feierabend.  We are gaining skills to make us more Tuneful, Beatful, and Artful.  These skills will help prepare us for more advanced concepts in the upper grades.  Ask your children to share with you some of their favorite songs and games we are learning together in music.  I will be sharing lyrics to some of our songs on this site to serve as reminders for your children.

New blog!

I am excited to roll out our new music class blog.  I will be using this site to share the goings-on of the music classroom.  To see what your students are currently working on in music, please click their grade level tab (located in the right sidebar).  Check back often to see what we're working on!