Music Week 4

This week in music the primary grades continued their discussion and activities related to beat. We learned a song called Can You Clap Your Hands? The students had to learn the words to the song and do the motions to song. After we learned all of that, I had the students play different instruments that were mentioned in the song. The students had to keep the beat together first as sections and then as a big group. Next week, we are going to continue that song but I will give the students the opportunity to rotate to different instruments.

3rd grade had their quiz on how to hold the recorder. Students were expected to hold the recorder with the left hand on top and the right on the bottom. Students were then to form the correct embouchure for the recorder and blow gently. It does not take a lot of air to play the recorder. We reviewed the notes B, A, and G and began learning Hot Cross Buns.

4th grade had their quiz on how to sit at the piano. These students were expected to sit up straight, gently curl their hand, and place it on the keyboard. They also began learning a song called My Dog Spike which when you break it down is Hot Cross Buns. This particular version of Hot Cross Buns utilized the black keys. I am expected the students to learn how to follow the directions on how to place their hands in the piano book. Eventually, I am expecting them to be able to set their hands without my help.

5th grade had their quiz on how to hold the ukelele or uke for short. The students were expected to hold the uke with the neck pointing to the left, place the left hand on the neck near the head of the uke, and place the right hand over the body on the strings near the sound hole. We reviewing the notes E, F, and G. These notes utilized the first string and the first and third fret.

All 3rd-5th grade classes also either began working on or reviewing rhythm sheet No. 1. This reviews quarter notes, half notes, and quarter rests. I expected the students to count and clap the rhythms.