Our Weekly Info: | This week, we begin celebrating a BRAND NEW Composer of the Month for October! And, this composer has a special tie in with our celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month as he hails from Guatemala! I can't wait to share the music and life of Mr. Jesus Castillo as we listen to his music and learn facts about his life each class. You can see the facts that they learned about Mr. Castillo on display on the home page of this website :) Who will be the FIRST STUDENT to bring in a fact about Mr. Castillo? Stay tuned right there to find out! Check your child's go home folder for this month's composer fact sheet as well as the directions for how to become a "music detective" and have their work featured on the bulletin board outside the music classroom and on the Music Website! |
General Music:
**Pre-K 3 and 4 will be continuing to use our "Hello Routine" songs and seeing how many of us can already sing along! We'll be adding all sorts of Fall and Halloween themed songs and activities to music class to coordinate with celebrations happening thins month! We're working on rhythmic and melodic passages and echoing them when Mrs. Kamp goes first. So far, we've explored "do," "mi," "sol," and "la" in our singing echos and ta (quarter note), ti-ti (eighth note), shh (quarter rest), and alligator (sixteenth note) in our rhythms but we're adding more all the time! We're experimenting with different classroom instruments including: Rhythm Sticks, Shaker Eggs, Jingle Bells, Tambourines, and Drums and using them to echo short rhythmic patterns as well as to accompany ourselves while singing a variety of songs. We're also using our bodies to show different things we notice in songs...like the speed, volume level, or way the music is moving. We will begin our work with Pre-School Prodigies, rhythm band, fall themed songs, and sooo much more!!! It's going to be a wonderful year to explore!!!
**Kindergarten will be singing, dancing, and playing their way through their first few music classes! We'll continue using our "Hello Routine" songs and many of us can already sing along! We'll be adding all sorts of Fall and Halloween themed songs and activities to music class to coordinate with celebrations happening thins month! We're working on rhythmic and melodic passages and echoing them when Mrs. Kamp goes first. So far, we've explored "do," "mi," "sol," and "la" in our singing echos and ta (quarter note), ti-ti (eighth note), shh (quarter rest), and alligator (sixteenth note) in our rhythms but we're adding more all the time! We're experimenting with different classroom instruments including: Rhythm Sticks, Shaker Eggs, Jingle Bells, Tambourines, and Drums and using them to echo short rhythmic patterns as well as to accompany ourselves while singing a variety of songs. We're also using our bodies to show different things we notice in songs...like the speed, volume level, or way the music is moving. We will begin our work with Pre-School Prodigies, rhythm band, fall themed songs, and sooo much more!!! It's going to be a wonderful year to explore!!!
**First Graders did not have General Music class this week, but don't worry...next week they'll be right back on track learning even more about all of the different ways that music can be!
**Second Graders did not have General Music class this week but don't worry...next week they'll be right back on track working towards mastering the fingering for B, A, and G and playing those notes as we work towards completing our FIRST EVER "Recorder Karate Belt" and become expert performers of, "Hot Cross Buns!" Parents, you can find more information about the recorder program HERE along with some helpful links for at home practice :)
**Third Graders are "putting it all together" as we incorporate everything we've learned over the past few years into larger ensemble playing through Pre-School Prodigies!! We're beginning to masker reading the treble staff and sooo much more!!! We'll be adding all sorts of Fall and Halloween themed songs and activities to music class to coordinate with celebrations happening thins month! This week, we'll be continuing to explore how music can move including step, leap or skip, and stay the same motion. We'll also be working with reading notes on the treble staff and beginning to try reading the staff without the color coding system we have used in the past. We received our first "music workbooks" and will be going through all of the activities there including note copying, note writing, note searches, and composing activities as we work to grow our music reading fluency.
Performance Music
Band Classes:
FOURTH GRADERS NEED THEIR BAND INSTRUMENTS FOR CLASS EACH WEDNESDAY AND FOR LESSONS EACH THURSDAY.
FIFTH GRADERS NEED THEIR BAND INSTRUMENTS FOR BAND CLASS AND LESSONS EACH TUESDAY AND FRIDAY.
SIXTH GRADERS NEED THEIR BAND INSTRUMENTS FOR BAND CLASS AND LESSONS EACH TUESDAY
Continuing a tradition that we began in last year's Band Program, is the return of the opportunity to adopt a "practice pet" to help you with your daily instrumental practice :) Adorable plush unicorns and dragons are up for adoption and will be arriving at the Amagansett School later this week! If your child is interested in adopting a practice pet, remind them to complete their application letter telling me how having a pet is going to help them on their journey into the world of playing a band instrument :)
If you're interested in learning more about our school's Instrumental Music Program, follow these links to the band's individual websites:
** Fifth and Sixth Graders will have Band Class each week on Tuesday and will have their instrumental lessons on Tuesdays or Wednesdays each week on a rotating schedule. This week, we're reviewing our skills from last year as well as introducing some new Holiday Concert repertoire! We will also be beginning the Band Karate Challenge in our lessons this week. Be sure to ask your child what that's all about! They're going to be excited to share!!
Chorus Classes:
We're up and running and starting to prepare the songs and dances awe will perform in our big December ALL SCHOOL Holiday Musical! Auditions for speaking roles will take place the week of October 3rd and then we'll be diving right in to making the magic of "The Big Chill" come to life! FIFTH AND SIXTH GRADERS WILL AUDITION FOR SPEAKING PARTS FOR THE SHOW ON TUESDAY AND THURSDAY IN THE MUSIC ROOM DURING RECESS. ANYONE WHO WANTS A SPEAKING PART IN THE SHOW MUST ATTEND THE AUDITIONS!!!
We've also started preparing some selections to share with you in at our monthy Wake Up Amagansett Presentations and for November's special celebrations of Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving!
I also thought it might be fun to explore the singing and it's importance to people around the world as part of this year's Choral Program in grades 3 - 6. Each week, the children will be watching a SHORT youtube video of a different singer or singing group from somewhere in the world or somewhere in time. We'll be watching, listening, and then pairing and sharing with a partner to discuss our thoughts about the performance. Older students will also be keeping a "listening journal" to express a few short sentences about their throughs on the performance.
Interested in seeing where this exploration will lead us?? Check out the "action" as HERE as I'll be adding the video of the week each week :)
We can't wait!! If you want to learn more about what we're up to in Chorus class or you want to help your child practice the chorus music at home, you can do so by following the link below:
String Classes:
Be sure to check your child's string class page often. I will be posting videos, handouts, songs, and other helpful materials there for each of our classes to help build this bridge from violin at school to violin at home!
As we begin our journey through learning to play the violin, I thought it might be fun to explore the violin (and other string instruments) "in action." Each week, the children will be watching a SHORT youtube video of a different string performer from somewhere in the world or somewhere in time. We'll be watching, listening, and then pairing and sharing with a partner to discuss our thoughts about the performance. Older students will also be keeping a "listening journal" to express a few short sentences about their throughs on the performance.
Interested in seeing where this exploration will lead us?? Check out the "action" as HERE as I'll be adding the video of the week each week :)
** Kindergarten Violin used the REAL VIOLINS for the first time last week and are hoping to continue doing so each week moving forward! We are learning how to hold our bows, balance our violins, and control our bodies so nothing falls down! We're also making "box violins" so we can use them int he classroom and have them at home to practice with. Be sure to ask your child about some of the song activities we've learned including: Up Like a Rocket, The Grand Old Duke o f York, and The Wheels on the Bus. We're also learning all of the parts of our violin......you can quiz us at home if you check the class violin page HERE.
** First Grade Violin will be quickly reviewing how to hold our bows, balance our violins, and control our bodies so nothing falls down! We're using the REAL VIOLINS as we have shown that we remember EVERYTHING about violin safety from last year! We're back working with Colourstrings and Suzuki and will spend this week's class practicing Colourstring activities and continuing to learn "Twinkle!" Be sure to ask your child about some of the song activities we've learned including: Up Like a Rocket, The Grand Old Duke o f York, and The Wheels on the Bus. We're also learning all of the parts of our violin......you can quiz us at home if you check the class violin page HERE
** Second Grade Violin unfortunately, Second Grade Violin Class will be cancelled as there is no school Wednesday in celebration of Yom Kippur.. Last week, we reviewed how to add fingers to the strings and began learning "Twinkle!" Be sure to ask your child about some of the song activities we've learned including: Up Like a Rocket, The Grand Old Duke o f York, and The Wheels on the Bus. We're also learning all of the parts of our violin......you can quiz us at home if you check the class violin page HERE And get ready...next week, we'll be back to adding our fingers to the strings to expand our repertoire of notes, starting combining note reading on the treble staff with playing the violin, introducing the fun of Violin Karate, and so much more!
** Third Grade Violin has begun!!! Third Graders will will need to BRING THEIR VIOLIN TO SCHOOL WITH THEM EVERY FRIDAY THIS YEAR. We reviewed how to add fingers to the strings and began learning "Twinkle!" We're also reviewing all of the parts of our violin and the names of the open strings. We refreshed all of our songs from last year including: Up Like a Rocket, The Grand Old Duke o f York, The Monkey Song, The Ant Song, GDG Stomp! and The Wheels on the Bus. And then got our fingers moving by playing Elephants and Frogs and The Kangaroo Song. This week we're also taking our first peek inside our brand new Strictly Strings Method Book. You can help us with some at home practice HERE
** Fourth Grade Violin unfortunately, Fourth Grade Violin Class will be cancelled this week. Next week we're also taking our first peek inside our brand new Strictly Strings Method Book. You can help us with some at home practice HERE And get ready...next week, we'll be back to adding our fingers to the strings to expand our repertoire of notes, starting combining note reading on the treble staff with playing the violin, reviewing the fun of Violin Karate, and so much more!
** Fifth Grade Violin will will need to BRING THEIR VIOLIN TO SCHOOL WITH THEM EVERY MONDAY THIS YEAR. (Violin Class will be on TUESDAY, but that is too much to carry since Band Class is also on Tuesday) Last week, how to add fingers to the strings and began learning "Twinkle!" This week we're also taking our first peek inside our brand new Strictly Strings Method Book. You can help us with some at home practice HERE And get ready...next week, we'll be back to adding our fingers to the strings to expand our repertoire of notes, starting combining note reading on the treble staff with playing the violin, reviewing the fun of Violin Karate, and so much more!
** Sixth Grade Violin has FINALLY arrived!!! Interested Sixth Graders are coming to the music room at RECESS on WEDNESDAYS to finally have a chance to play the violin after our initial efforts were derailed by COVID over the past 3 years! Our FIRST CLASS MEETING will be this coming Wednesday, where we will review how to hold our bows, balance our violins, and control our bodies so nothing falls down! We're also reviewing all of the parts of our violin and the names of the open strings. This week we're also taking our first peek inside our brand new Strictly Strings Method Book. You can help us with some at home practice HERE
Stay tuned for more information right here each week :)
Mrs. Kamp :)