Music Week 9

5th grade spent most of this week at Camp Crystal. Other grade focused on their songs for the Dec 6 concert. K-2 learned a new game called Engine, Engine, No. 9. It was a singing game that required the kids to listen to the beat and follow it exactly and we do a pretend train wreck at the end. 2nd and 3rd grade need to start bringing in recorders so we can begin our new unit. If anyone is having trouble locating one please feel free to email me or call me at the school and I can point you in the right direction.

Music Week 8

This week I was out due to an illness in my family. I returned on Thursday to finish out the week. Mrs. Harden's and Mr. Lake's second grade class are coming along quite well with their song for the December 6th concert. I am extremely proud of the work they have done this week. Hopefully, I can get everyone else caught up to speed next week. 5th grade will be gone to Camp Crystal and I will review old material with the students that did not attend the trip. 2nd and 3rd grade need to start bringing in recorders soon.

Music Week 7

This week K-2 continued to work on their songs for the winter concert. The songs that they are working on are general music songs and not neccesarily specific holiday music. 3-5 are still working on piano skills but the 2nd and 3rd graders will be switching to recorders at the end of October. Recorders can be purchased at any music store in town. Some of the stores are Hoggetown Music, which is located by the new Home Depot on 53rd Ave, Lipham's which is located by Grandy's on 34th St., Southern Music which is located in the Oaks Mall Plaza, and Parramore Music which is located in the K-Mart shopping plaza. The cost should be no more than $6.00. When they get it, please make sure to put their name on it. If you are having a hard time locating one please let me know and we can try to find one for your child.

Music Week 6

This week 3-5 video taped their songs. I will try to get them ready for a PTA meeting. The idea was to put them on the website but we don't have a memory stick to do that. Right now the videos are on actual tape instead of a memory card device. The students did a really good job of putting their songs together. I hope to be able to show some at the next PTA meeting. I cannot emphasize enough how great a job the older classes did with their songs. The K-2 classes began to work on their songs for the winter concert. The winter concert will feature every grade level in some fashion and will feature the band and chorus. The date has been set for Thursday December, 6 @ 7:00 pm.

Music Week 5

This week we focused on reviewing concepts and skills learned the previous week. The K-2 classes learned a new song called Wind the Ball. It's kind of a follow the leader type game. We have to practice it some more for them to really get it. I am pleased with the progress that the 3rd-5th grades are making with their piano skills. The focus is to get some left/right hand independence and be able to play some simple songs. Right now I am at a dilemma: I don't know whether to continue with piano so they can actually learn some skills or switch them to recorder. It would be nice for them to learn more musical concepts through piano and then maybe switch to recorder next semester. I feel that third grade is in an excellent position to switch and then maybe pick up piano later this year. Next week, we will definitely video tape the students playing some of their songs on piano.