This month has been very busy for our music students! In 2nd grade, we have been singing partner songs, learning new rhythms, and playing lots of instruments and music games! In 3rd grade, we have finally started our recorders! I know the students have been looking forward to this all year, and they are learning very quickly! They can't wait to take them home to practice in a few weeks! 4th and 5th grade students have been very busy working towards a Book Creator project about musicians who were influenced by Martin Luther King, Jr.. They have been researching the musicians, listening to the music, analyzing the lyrics, and putting their research into apps like Noteability, Google Slides, and Book Creator. They have learned a lot so far, and I am excited to see their final projects! While students were able to choose from a list of songs for this project, John Legend's 'Marching Into the Dark' seemed to be a favorite among the classes. Here is the recording if you haven't heard this song. Be sure to ask your student about their project!
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We have had a busy three weeks back in the music room! The 2nd-5th graders are busy reviewing concepts from last year, playing instruments, and singing! This past week, all of the students learned the song "We Shall Overcome," as well as the story behind the song. For those of you who are interested in listening to the song, here is a version by Mahalia Jackson that many of the students listened to. While the 2nd and 3rd graders enjoyed simply reading the story and singing the song, the 4th and 5th graders took the song one step further. Because each verse of the song consists of five syllables, the students had to work in groups to create a five-syllable verse of how they could change the world. We had some great ideas from the students, and it was fun to sing these ideas to the melody of the original song! Check out some of these verses below!
In January and February, 3rd-5th grade classes explored blues music and blues musicians! We began the unit by reading the book "Yesterday I Had the Blues" by Jeron Ashford Frame, and playing blues patterns that went along with the book. In the picture above, 3rd graders are teaching each other these patterns!
4th and 5th grade students also explored blues music by figuring out the "secret code" for all blues songs, and by creating their own blues lyrics in AAB form. Check out some of their work in the picture below!
Finally, a few 4th and 5th grade classes were introduced to Kwela music. Kwela originated in Malawi, a country in Southern Africa, and was created by children around the same age as our 4th and 5th graders. The students enjoyed hearing this music and seeing how it connected to the blues. Enjoy the recording of Kwela music below!
Our 4th grade students went on a backstage tour of Lyric Opera in Chicago right before Thanksgiving Break. Check out the pictures below to see more about our field trip! Before our field trip, 4th grade students Skyped an opera singer! During our Skype session, the students were able to ask questions about what it is like to be an opera singer. They were also able to hear her sing! Field Trip SlideshowThe students had a great time connecting what they had learned about opera in class to the backstage tour at Lyric. We enjoyed the field trip!
We have been very busy in our music classes during October! All students grades 2-5 learned about Camille Saint-Saens, our Composer of the Month. Below is one of the pieces that 4th and 5th graders listened to. The students loved the music made by the xylophone and piano!
4th and 5th grade students also learned some spooky songs to sing and play on the instruments! 2nd and 3rd grade students have been using candy corn to create rhythmic and melodic compositions. These students loved using the candy corn for music patterns, but were a little sad that they weren't able to eat them! The students have enjoyed the spooky October activities in music class! We are looking forward to the November activities this month! This month at both Sullivan and Ross, students learned about the composer Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959). Villa-Lobos was born and grew up in Rio de Janeiro, a place that is familiar for all of the students that watched the Olympics! Check out this picture of him conducting an orchestra: The main piece that we listened to by Villa-Lobos was "The Little Train of the Caipira." While 2nd and 3rd graders learned a melody that the piece was based on (ask them to sing "The Berry Picker's Song" for you!), 4th and 5th graders created their own lyrics about adventure to go along with this melody. Here is one example from Mrs. Ganek's 4th Grade Class: As you can see, our adventure got a little crazy!! :) If you have a 4th or 5th grade student, be sure to ask them to sing their class's song for you! Here is a recording of the original piece, with a melody that the students all now recognize. Enjoy! Our 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders had a great first week of music classes at Sullivan and Ross! In addition to learning several fun songs, all of the students found out how back-to-school words connect with the rhythms that we use in music. This activity was a fun way to review rhythms, play instruments, and get the students' minds back into "school mode!" The above picture shows the rhythm patterns the 5th graders identified and arranged. I am looking forward to seeing what else this year brings in music class!
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