Music Notes

This past term our students have learned about melody. We started off the term by singing the "Do, Re, Mi" scale. As we learned the notes in the scale better, we advanced to putting the scale in order by listening. This gave the students the experience of ear training. They had to put the scale in order by listening to the tone of the tone bells. We also had fun playing the scale on the "boom wackers"!

The first, second, and third graders have been learning the interval between "So" and "Mi", which is a third. They have all practiced listening to the interval and putting the notes on a three-line staff at their desk. I sang a melody and they notated the melody on their staff. We have learned to sing "Pease Porridge Hot" and "Rain, Rain Go Away" to help them remember this interval. We also learned where "La" goes in comparison to "So" and "Mi" on the three line staff. Draw three lines on a piece of paper and see if your child can tell you all about "So", "Mi" and "La."

The intermediate grade students have also learned about "So", "Mi", and "La", in addition to learning how to write these notes on a five line staff. I sang note by note, "Rain, Rain Go Away" and they wrote the melody down on their staff. Next they figured out the rhythm that went with the melody. So, the notes that were once just a melody became a song with quarter notes and eighth notes. We also learned that "Do" is moveable. It's not always middle "C", but can be any note, depending on the scale. They practiced writing the scale on a staff, notated by "Do", "Re", "Mi" and also by number. They then wrote their own melodies using "So", "Mi", "La", and "Do" on a staff. We have learned the difference between a third and a fifth interval. The fifth graders took a test on the treble clef notes and did a great job!

The sixth graders have been learning how to dance for their sixth grade dance. They are learning how to feel the difference between a 3/4 time signature with a 4/4 time signature. They are also keeping a steady beat while learning some fun line dances!

At Christmas we played instruments to the "Nutcracker" and each grade learned two songs for the school sing along.

As we move into the next term we will be listening to and learning folk songs, and singing rounds to hear how two melodies create a harmony.

Performance Schedule

Thursday, April 29, 2010

• 2:30 PM performance for the school
• 7:00 PM performance for parents

  Wear dark pants and white shirts