In kindergarten, vocal exploration came through a stuffed feline who converses in 'cat'. Singing skills have been focusing on the so-mi (yoo-hoo) interval, and movement and instrumental activities have helped provide practice with steady beat.
1st grade students had fun with vocal exploration when they did "the wave" with their voices. The so-mi-la interval (nanny nanny foo foo!) was reinforced through several singing games and a bean bag. The children enjoyed moving expressively to a beautiful Brahm's Waltz, and steady beat motions were performed with recorded pieces that represented various styles of music.
2nd graders had the pleasure of meeting Squirrelly, a little bushy tail who had them singing a song with patterns whose notes come from a 5-note scale (pentatonic: do-re-mi-so-la). Several rhymes helped the children gain experience with repeated patterns (ostinato), including Old Mother Hubbard, who also provided creative rhyming fun and plenty of silliness.
3rd grade students are getting closer to their November 3rd music performance, Movin' to the Beat! A handful of children still need to return their permission slips, so please get those in since the program is right around the corner. Our next volunteer meeting is on Wednesday, October 26th at 3:00 p.m.
In 4th grade, Green Sally Up was extended so the children could create their own hand jive variations. When these were shared with the class, everybody enjoyed seeing the many ways that the original hand jive was modified, and audience skills were reinforced.
5th graders learned a good old camp song that will soon be used for part singing. They are also working on AB form while learning a folk dance called Boston Tea Party. The dance is great fun and quite challenging at times,requiring constant awareness as well as cooperation.
