End of Second Quarter

Well, the second quarter has ended and half the school year is over already. Here are a few highlights from quarter 2:

1st Grade
We just started learning about sol and mi, our first notes on the staff, and we are able to read high and low sounds off of a 1-line staff both playing and singing the sounds. We also are continuing to work with quarter and 8th notes.

2nd Grade
Second quarter was a very full quarter for us. We learned a new note "do" which has given us so many more songs to learn and pretty soon we will be adding "re" to our scale. Using a new song "who's that tapping at the window" we learned all about the half note, ties, and used our new house "do". Also, we have done some improvisation, filling up 8 beats of music with rhythm.

3rd Grade
In 3rd grade we have been hard at work listening, singing, and moving to different meters in music. Meter is all about how the music feels. Sometimes music can be felt in groups of 2 and sometimes in groups of 3. We have also been improvising on the Pentatonic Scale (DRMSL) with our song "cat's sleep".

4th Grade
Recorders, Recorders, Recorders..although we have not learned too many actual songs, 4th grade has been hard at work learning A C' D' the first 3 notes on the recorder. we have started slow to allow everybody the chance to understand how to make a beautiful sound.

5th Grade
Counting music, reading off the staff, and improvisation are all excitiing tasks that 5th has been doing this quarter. Next we will be adding low E and D to the recorder and learning new songs.

Jefferson Choir is shaping up

To date I have 68 kids signed up to sing in the Jefferson choir!! Almost 20 more than last year. I am very excited to see the rise in interest and I am anxious to get started. Speaking of starting, don't forget that choir starts next week on tuesday right after MLK day off. Be at school a little before 8:30 so that we can get started right away.

First entry and Choir applications go home

This is the first post in what I hope will become a dialoge between me and parents and students. It is called a Weblog or blog for short. I think it is a fun and quick way to give out information and for you to see what is going on in the music room each week.

I am sending home the application for the Jefferson choir today. The choir is for 4th and 5th grade students and you can find out more about it at the Choir page. These forms are due by January 13th