10.19.2006

American Educator Article


This month in the American Educator Magazine the cover story is all about "Why Music is an Essential Liberal Art". It's a fantastic article about why music is improtant in EVERY child's education and how it's being neglected in the educational system. I urge all of you to read this article!

Here is a small exerpt from the article:
"Why should young people study music? One answer presents itself on the basis of what I have said so far: Music has a central place in the lives of young people. For many, music is their life. Teaching music to the young is therefore much more than conveying historical information and technical facts, or helping students develop their musical talent. It is more than the effort to make them competent and aesthetically refined. In getting young people to engage in a serious study of music, we are giving them an opportunity to know themselves better by becoming more precisely aware of the amazing power that music has over them. Also, as we shall see, we are giving them an opportunity to deepen their knowledge of the natural world—and of our connection to it—by becoming more aware of the mathematical order that underlies music."

10.11.2006

1st Grade Assignment

1st Grade Parents should receive a Green letter this week about a music assignment that I have given your student. Your student will need to perform the 4 poems for you or someone at home while keeping a beat. Please make sure you sign and put your child's name and CLASSROOM TEACHER on the form and return it to school.

Also, I have noticed a mistake in one of the poems. Please use this version of Oliver Twist:
Oliver Twist you can't do this,
So what's the use of trying,
Touch your knees, touch your toes
Clap your hands and away we go!

Thanks for your involvement in your student's music education!

10.05.2006

2nd Grade Assignment goes home

This week and next, your second grader will be bringing home a music assignment.  It's a quick performance opportunity that will allow you to see what they are doing in music class.  You will recieve assignments like this periodically throughout the year.  This assignment asked the students to compose a 16 beat rhythm composition.  Please listen to them perform it for you and check off the three items on the letter that came home.  It needs to be signed and returned to me by October 18th for full participation points.  If you need a new copy of the letter, you can download it here