Music Newsletter Summer 2019

~ Mrs. Lacharite

Indergarten

The class song for Kindergarten is I’d Like To Teach the World To Sing by Ray Conniff.

We will be learning class songs that follow us as we grow through the grades along with other

seasonal and developmentally appropriate music while building the basic vocabulary of music (beat,

rhythm, tempo, syncopation, pitch, melody, harmony, round, canon, lyrics, loud and soft). Students

incorporate physical movement to grasp these concepts. They are using their primary instrument,

their voices, as they distinguish the difference between speaking and singing. They also are using

percussion instruments, learning the correct names and playing technique, as well as their own

bodies (clapping hands, stomping feet) as they grow in their appreciation of music and build motor

skills. The class is using early reading and memory skills to learn song lyrics as well as recognizing

traditional Americana, Classical and Popular music. Math skills are vital as we begin learning to

count notes.

They have done an Outstanding job learning the Lyrics, Melodies, Rhythms, Motions and our special parts to “Light A Candle For Peace” and “Winter White Hymnal” incorporating intricate counting and body Percussion Rhythms. “I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing”, Our class song, is stretching our reading skills learning a much larger amount of lyrics. The melody and motions for our class song is a musical challenge as well but we are up to it. Kindergarten is an enthusiastic and talented group.

irst Grade

The class songs for Grade 1 are

Don’t Worry, Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin

and Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head by Hal David.

Students are building on their basic skills by singing

songs with more complex rhythms and greater ranges. Their music vocabulary continues to grow

as they learn new musical terms. We continue to use previously introduced terms (beat, rhythm,

tempo, syncopation, pitch, melody, harmony, round, lyrics, percussion) as we add to our

vocabulary with notation, keeping time and musical instrument families. The children get “hands

on” experience by using non pitched percussion instruments in the classroom such as drums and

tambourine, learning the correct names and playing techniques. Their own bodies are also used

as instruments to create increasingly complex rhythms (clapping hands, stomping feet) as they

grow in their appreciation of music and build motor skills. The class is using reading, pattern and

memory skills to learn song lyrics, proper practice habits as well as recognizing traditional

Americana, Classical and Popular music. The students describe ideas evoked by music.

Math skills are vital as we continue learning to count notes.

They have done an Outstanding job learning the Lyrics, Melodies, Rhythms, Motions and our

special parts to “Light A Candle For Peace” and “Winter White Hymnal” incorporating intricate

counting and body Percussion Rhythms.

Our students love a challenge;

“Winter White Hymnal” is their

new favorite piece. Please check the Portal

for Links, Documents and Music Programs

used in class. The melody,

lyrics and incorporation of

movement and American

Sign Language for new class

song came along nicely.

econd Grade The class songs for Grade 2 are The Garden Song by

David Mallett and Here Comes the Sun by George Harrison.

The students explore more complex music in structure, melody and harmony and part singing is

introduced. Their music vocabulary deepens, with words becoming more abstract (dynamics,

expression, tone color). We continue to use musical terms introduced previously (beat, rhythm,

tempo, syncopation, pitch, melody, harmony, round, lyrics, dynamics, percussion) as we add to

our vocabulary with notation, keeping time and musical instrument families. The children get

“hands on” experience by using non pitched percussion instruments in the classroom such as

triangles and maracas, learning the correct names and playing techniques. Their own bodies are

also used as instruments to create increasingly complex rhythms (clapping hands, stomping feet)

while students prepare for performing music selections at seasonal concerts. Singing with proper

tone, intonation and pronunciation is emphasized. The class is using reading, pattern and

memory skills to learn song lyrics, proper practice habits as well as recognizing traditional

Americana, Classical and Popular music. The students describe ideas evoked by music. Math

skills are vital as we continue learning to count notes.

They have done an Outstanding job learning the Lyrics, Melodies, Rhythms, Motions and our

special parts to “Light A Candle For Peace” and “Winter White Hymnal” incorporating intricate

counting and body Percussion Rhythms.

Our students love a challenge;

“Winter White Hymnal” is their

new favorite piece. Please check the Portal

for Links, Documents and Music Programs

used in class. We will be practicing

reading and counting Notes using the

Finale music composition

program. New American Sign

Language components

were added to our

class songs.

hird Grade The class songs for Grade 3 are Sunshine on my Shoulders

(with American Sign Language) by John Denver and

I Don’t Want to Live on the Moon by Jeff Moss.

Music vocabulary becomes richer (timbre, chord, octaves, improvisation, string, woodwind and brass

instruments). We continue to use musical terms introduced previously (beat, rhythm, tempo,

syncopation, pitch, melody, harmony, round, lyrics, percussion) as we add to our vocabulary with

notation, keeping time and musical instrument families. The children get “hands on” experience by using

non pitched percussion instruments in the classroom such as drums and tambourine, learning the correct

names and playing techniques. Their own bodies are also used as instruments to create increasingly

complex rhythms (clapping hands, stomping feet) and students learn the difference between liturgical

and a wide variety of secular music genres. The class is using reading, pattern and memory skills to learn

song lyrics, proper practice habits as well as recognizing traditional Americana, Classical and Popular

music. The students describe ideas evoked by music. Math skills are vital as we continue learning to

count notes. They love learning to sing harmony and complex parts.

Students have been introduced to making instrumental music by studying the recorder. They have learned to read fingering charts along with basic music notation, staff reading, counting, dynamics and breath control. Instruction is differentiated by providing the students playing opportunities with ranges of difficulty. Song structure and other compositional techniques are explored. Students are encouraged to play and sing for family and classmates in a comfortable and supportive environment. It is very important to keep up with weekly Practice Log Homework and occasional Music Notation sheets. Music ensembles are offered for students wishing to augment their classroom experience. Third Grade students have now been invited to join the Recorder Ensemble meeting after school on Thursdays.

They have done an Outstanding job learning the Lyrics, Melodies, Rhythms, Motions and our

special parts to “Light A Candle For Peace” and “Winter White Hymnal”

incorporating intricate Counting, body Percussion Rhythms and Harmonies.

Our students love a challenge; “Winter White Hymnal” is their new favorite

piece. Please check the Portal for Links, Documents and Music

Programs used in class. We will be practicing reading and

counting the Finale music composition program.

Home Recorder practice really shows.

We were able add “Baby Mine” to our repertoire.

ourth Grade The class songs for Grade 4 are Feed the Birds by Richard and Robert Sherman from Mary Poppins and The Bare Necessities by Terry Gilkyson from Disney’s The Jungle Book.

Music vocabulary becomes richer (orchestration, intonation, time signatures, rests, instrument recognition,

composition, music history and genres). We continue to use musical terms introduced previously (beat,

rhythm, tempo, syncopation, pitch, melody, harmony, round, lyrics, percussion, dynamics, octaves) as we

add to our vocabulary with notation, keeping time and musical instrument families. Melodies become

more difficult and playing and singing with expression is stressed. The children get “hands on” experience

by using pitched and non-pitched percussion instruments in the classroom such as xylophones and conga

drums, learning the correct names and playing techniques. Their own bodies are also used as instruments

to create increasingly complex rhythms (clapping hands, taping, stomping feet) and students learn the

difference between liturgical and a wide variety of secular music genres. The class is using reading, pattern

and memory skills to learn song lyrics, proper practice habits as well as recognizing traditional Americana,

Classical and Popular music. The students describe ideas evoked by music. Math skills are vital as we

continue learning to count notes. They love learning to sing harmony and complex parts.

By continuing their study of the recorder to make music, students read more advanced notation and playing in two and three parts. They continue to read fingering charts along with more advanced music notation, staff reading, counting, rests, dynamics, octaves, intonation and breath control. Instruction is differentiated by providing the students playing opportunities with ranges of difficulty. Song structure and other compositional techniques are explored. Students are encouraged to play and sing for family and classmates in a comfortable and supportive environment. Homework is required in the form of Weekly Practice Logs and occasional Music Notation sheets. Music ensembles are offered for students wishing to augment their classroom experience. They have done an Outstanding job so far learning the Lyrics, Melodies, Rhythms, Motions and our special parts to “Light A Candle For Peace” and “Winter White Hymnal” incorporating intricate Counting, body Percussion Rhythms and Harmonies. Our students love a challenge; “Winter White Hymnal” is their new favorite piece. Check the Portal for Links, Documents and Music Programs used in class. We will be practicing reading and composition program. Please continue to encourage home Recorder practice. Home Recorder practice really shows. We were able add “Baby Mine” to our repertoire.