Our Weekly Info: | Congratulations to Zane (K), Harrison (K), Grace (1) and Colette (2) who were our first "music detectives" for the month of October!! they helped us celebrate our Composer of the Month, Franz Liszt by finding facts about his life and bringing them in to share. We continue listen to his music and learn facts about his life each class. You can see the facts that they learned about Mr. Liszt on display on the home page of this website :) 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! We'll also be celebrating Fall and Halloween in our music classes this month! You can see some of our songs, games, and activities by following the button below: |
General Music:
**Pre-K 3 and 4 continued using our "Hello Routine" songs and many of us can already sing along! 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 are continuing our work with Pre-School Prodigies and are working our way through the bell songs and "Sweet Beats" activities of chapters 1 and 2. We're also trying out some of the workbook pages and activities included in the curriculum! We're adding fall themed songs to coordinate with themes from our General Education classroom and will be exploring rhythm, beat, and melody through the addition of Halloween themed songs and games as well!
**Kindergarten continues to use our "Hello Routine" songs and many of us can already sing along! 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 are continuing our work with Pre-School Prodigies and are working our way through the bell songs and "Sweet Beats" activities of chapters 3 and 4 which focus extensively on songs using do, re, and mi. Last week we even tried our hands at composing short songs using those three pitches through a guided composition activity from our workbooks! This week, we're going to try another composing activity too!! We're also trying out some of the workbook pages and activities included in the curriculum! We're adding fall themed songs to coordinate with themes from our General Education classroom and will be exploring rhythm, beat, and melody through the addition of Halloween themed songs and games as well!
**First Graders have started using our "Hello Routine" songs and many of us can already sing along! We're working on rhythmic and melodic passages and echoing them when Mrs. Kamp goes first. Right now, First Graders are exploring the very many ways that music can be....loud / soft...fast / slow, etc. and learning all sorts of magical music vocabulary words. Last week we showed our mastery of the dynamics (volume) terms and began exploring some stylistic terms. This week, we'll be learning all about tempo or the speed of a piece of music. Although there are many different tempo ranges, First grade will be focusing on learning the big 4: Largo (very slow), Andante (a walking speed), Allegro (pretty fast), and Presto (VERY fast!). We'll be using our voices, bodies, and classroom instruments to show these different speeds and participating in various activities to help solidify these abstract concepts in our minds so we can use them properly later in our musical careers. We're having fun with songs, games, instruments, dancing, and some pretty cool surprises as we build our music vocabularies and learn to speak the language of music. We're adding fall themed songs to coordinate with themes from our General Education classroom and will be exploring rhythm, beat, and melody through the addition of Halloween themed songs and games as well!
**Second Graders Just a reminder that the Recorder White Belt Test for Second Grade will be next MONDAY!! Although Second Grade did not have music class this week because of the Monday holiday, students can continue practicing the notes and rhythms of "Hot Cross Buns" at home to prepare for their test next Monday. Parents, you can find more information about the recorder program HERE along with some helpful links for at home practice :) We're adding fall themed songs to coordinate with themes from our General Education classroom and will be exploring rhythm, beat, and melody through the addition of Halloween themed songs and games as well!
**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!!! This week, we'll be exploring 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. This week, we also plan to try our hands at composing a short song through a guided composition activity from our Prodigies music workbook!
Performance Music
Band Classes:
A new addition to our Band Program this year is 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 :)
Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Grade Band are also embarking on a journey through the world of classical music this month! We will be listening to a series of short classical excerpts and then discussing them as a class. You can tune in and listen along with us here (we're on Video 001 this week)
** Fourth Graders will have Band Class each week on Tuesday and will have their instrumental lessons on Thursdays or Fridays each week. This week, we will be continuing our work with the first TWO notes on our instrument! We will be working towards mastering pages 3 through 4 of our Band Brilliance Method Book. 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!!
** 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. Although Fifth and Sixth graders are meeting separately as individual pods this year, we will continue to work on the same repertoire and will be performing either virtually or live as one large ensemble. This week, we're reviewing our skills from last year as well as introducing some new Holiday Concert repertoire: "Frosty, the Snowman," and "When Santa's Away, the Elves will Play." We will also be beginning the Band Karate Challenge in our lessons this week. LESSONS THIS WEEK WILL ALSO INCLUDE A PLAYING TEST FOR THE FIRST TWO LINES OF "FROSTY THE SNOWMAN!" Be sure to practice those lines!
If you're interested in learning more about our school's Instrumental Music Program, follow these links to the band's individual websites:
Chorus Classes:
We're building our teamwork skills as we work together to become STAR Singers and fill Mrs.Kamp's class pom-pom jars! CONGRATULATIONS TO SIXTH AND FOURTH GRADE CHORUS MEMBERS!!! On Monday, October 18th, these two classes completely filled their pom-pom jar and will be celebrating with a free play day outside! The jars have been emptied and the challenge begins again next week.....how long will it take your class to earn another "STAR Singers Day??" Remember.....the challenge gets harder each time now that I know what AMAZING work you can do!
We can't wait!!
I 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 :)
String Classes:
Parents and parent involvement is an essential part of a students success in music, particularly in the Suzuki style of teaching. Although we can't have parents attend each and every one of our class meetings, it will be very important for your child's success that they begin practicing at home and that they see you excited and enthusiastic about all of their violin playing.
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 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. Kindergarteners are VERY excited to begin using the REAL violins this week!!! We're going to practice the same songs we did with our "Box Violins" and work on holding position and posture. Then, we might even have a chance to do some pizzicato playing on the open strings as we start learning the names of the strings!!
** First Grade Violin reviewed 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. This week, First graders will pick up their real violins for the first time since last June! I can't wait to hear The Monkey Song and The Ant Song and then teach you all some more new things!! Depending on how much we remember about the open strings, we might even be ready to begin adding our fingers to the fingerboard and learning the first few fingered notes on the E string next week! 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 reviewed how to hold our bows, balance our violins, and control our bodies so nothing falls down! We also reviewed 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. We're also learning all of the parts of our violin and the names of the open strings......you can quiz us at home if you check the class violin page HERE This week, we're going to focus on adding our fingers to the fingerboard and learning the first fingered notes on the E string. You'll be hearing a LOT of The Kangaroo Song and Elephants and Frogs during your at home practice sessions this week! Be sure to get out those practice pets and work with them to build your violin skills and fill in those practice journals!
** Third Grade Violin reviewed 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. 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. We're still looking at open string notes in the book, but we're building our rhythmic vocabulary and learning some CRAZY string jumping this week! You can help us with some at home practice HERE
** Fourth Grade Violin reviewed 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. 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 continuing our work inside our brand new Strictly Strings Method Book. Last week we worked with mostly open string songs but reading the notes on the staff for the first time. This week, we're going farther and adding fingers to the strings to really grow our repertoire! You can help us with some at home practice HERE
** Fifth Grade Violin learned how to hold our bows, balance our violins, and control our bodies so nothing falls down! We're also learning 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 :)