Our Weekly Info: | WOW!! After a week of Special Celebrations of "Star Wars Day" (May 4th) and Cinco de Mayo (May 5th), the Amagansett Music program is gearing up for a SUPER EXCITING CONCERT PERFORMANCE THIS COMING THURSDAY, MAY 11th! We invite everyone to come to the AMAGANSETT SCHOOL on THURSDAY, MAY 11th at 5:30PM to see the "Amagansett School Spring Concert" and celebrate the hard work of our school's Third through Sixth Grade Students in their Band and Chorus Classes! This one's going to be GREAT! We hope to see you there! This week, we will continue our study of a BRAND NEW composer of the month: Mr. Isaac Albeniz! Mr. Albeniz joins us from Spain! Congratulations to Grace (2) on becoming the FIRST MUSIC DETECTIVE for the month of MAY! You can join her by bringing in some facts to share with us about Mr. Albeniz! 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 Music Website! |
General Music:
Did you know that May is Asian American and Pacific Islander's Heritage Month?Well, we did! and the Amagansett School Music Department will be celebrating Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and all of their contributions to the music world throughout the month of May! You can celebrate along with us by clicking the button below!
**Kindergarten is back to singing, dancing, and playing their way through music class! We'll continue 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 will continue our work with Pre-School Prodigies as well!
**First Graders are back to working on rhythmic and melodic passages and echoing them when Mrs. Kamp goes first. We're diving back into building our musical vocabularies this month as we continue to explore all of the ways that music can be! Previously, we learned the music words for dynamic levels (volumes) including: piano (soft), mezzo (medium), and forte (loud.) We explored these dynamic changes with our bodies and through singing songs. We also experimented with crescendos and decrescendos (making the music get louder and softer). We also discussed how music can be choppy (staccato) or smooth (legate) and demonstrated the differences using our voices, instruments, and some super fun manipulatives! This week, we're getting back into Prodigies music and refreshing our note and rhythm reading skills as we play, sing, and learn with the desk bells!!
**Second Graders will be expanding their repertoire of notes on the recorder this week as we step farther up the note ladder from B, A, and G and begin to work with BOTH HANDS so that we can play E! We will complete our Blue Belts THIS WEEK by taking our Blue Belt test and having one last playing of "Lightly Row!" Then we'll be beginning to work on the RED BELT by learning "When the Saints Go Marching In," a traditional American Folk Song. As we begin working on "When the Saints Go Marching In," we're also going to continue to learn our TWO new notes: High C AND High D!!! Parents, you can find more information about the recorder program HERE along with some helpful links for at home practice :) We will continue our work with Pre-School Prodigies as well!!
**Third Graders will be continuing learning about the 4 instrument families as we begin to think about what instrument we will each choose for next year when we become members of the BEGINNING BAND!!!! We'll be learning all about the instrument families through an interactive internet based game created by Carnegie Hall Education! We'll follow Benjamin Britton's orchestral piece, "A Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra" through each of the in instrument families as we learn all about the instruments, what they look like, how they work, how they sound, and how they come together to create an amazing ensemble!
Performance Music
Don't worry parents, you don't need to leave and come back...there is a special "concert pre-show" even happening from 5:00 - 5:30.....it's been completely created by our Fifth and Sixth Grade students and you're not going to want to miss the AMAZING talents they're about to share!!
Band Classes:
Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Grade Band are also continuing 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 Some of the videos look blank on our website, but if you click the "Youtube" icon on the bottom of each video you will be re-directed to the correct place :)
PLEASE REMEMBER TO COMPLETE YOUR MANDATORY WEEKLY PRACTICE TRACKER GOOGLE FORM. Forms are located in your Music Google Classroom and are due EACH SUNDAY NIGHT (although you can submit whenever you are ready.) YOU ARE EXPECTED TO PRACTICE FOR A TOTAL OF 40 MINUTES PER WEEK and should aim to practice AT LEAST 3 Days a week. THESE FORMS AND THE MINUTES WE ARE TRACKING ARE PART OF YOUR GRADE!!
Fourth Graders will be continuing our work with the first FIVE notes on our instruments! isn't it AMAZING how many different songs we can learn using only 5 notes! We will be working towards mastering pages 9 through 11 of our Band Brilliance Method Book and will be reviewing pages 7 and 8!! Remember to focus on your rhythm and counting as we've added whole, half, quarter, and eighth notes and their corresponding rests at this point so the rhythms are getting much more interesting. If you need extra time working with rhythm you can always turn to the rhythm challenges on page 32-33 of the Band Brilliance Book.
We will be finishing work on the Band Karate Challenge GREEN BELT in our lessons this week. Be sure to ask your child what that's all about! They're going to be excited to share!!
This week, we will be working towards mastering pages 9 through 11 of our Band Brilliance Method Book....many of these songs will be featured in the Beginning Band portion of the Spring Concert, coming up on May 11th!
Students should also continue to work on their "repertoire" by reviewing everything we have already learned on pages 2 through 8 of our Band Brilliance Method Book.
** Fifth and Sixth Graders will have Band Class each week on Tuesday and will have their instrumental lessons on Tuesdays each week on a rotating schedule.
This week, we're reviewing our skills from last year as well as continuing to work through some new Spring Concert repertoire! At this point, everyone should be getting familiar with: "Power Rock," "Take me Out to the Ballgame," "Silver Scepter," "Path of the Viking," and our Patriotic Songs (found in your Band Brilliance Method Book). We're also starting to look at another concert band selection this week, "Superheroe's R Us!" This is a BIG one so make sure you're listening along at home and starting to REALLY look at your notes and rhythms!! 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!!
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 all ready for our Spring Concert! We're really excited to start putting the finishing touches on our repertoire!
We're also continuing to prepare some selections to share with you in at our monthly Wake Up Amagansett Presentations.
I also thought it might be fun to explore the singing and its 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 :)
Unfortunately, due to State Testing in the Upper Grades, Many classes will be missing Violin Class this week :( But don't worry....everyone will be right back to fun and learning next week!
** Pre-K 4 Violin is back to using the REAL VIOLINS AGAIN 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.
** Kindergarten Violin will be back to using the REAL VIOLINS again this 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 can play quite a few songs on the open strings including: The Monkey Song, The Ant Song, and GDG Stomp! 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. We're working between elements of the Suzuki style and a Finnish style called "Colourstrings" as we try to meet the learning styles of all of our students in violin class :)
** First Grade Violin is right back to 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 of York, The Monkey Song, The Ant Song, and GDG STOMP!. 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 is right back to learning "Twinkle!" and all of its Suzuki variations! We're also starting to work on the "4 String Warm-Up" song so we can warm up like the big kids!! Be sure to ask your child about some of the song activities we've learned including: Up Like a Rocket, The Grand Old Duke of York, and The Monkey Song, The Ant Song, GDG STOMP, Elephants and Frogs, and The Kangaroo Song. 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're continuing to add 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 beginning our Strictly Strings Method Book pages, and so much more!
** Third Grade Violin DUE TO OUR SPRING CONCERT DRESS REHEARSAL, THIRD GRADERS WILL NOT NEED THEIR VIOLINS THIS WEEK!
** Fourth Grade Violin is continuing working on "Twinkle!" and ALL of its variations (regular song, tikatika titi, jack rabbit eats carrots, sammy shh cat , and teeny tiny tikatika) This week, we're continuing to work inside our 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! Keep polishing up that "Four String Warm-Up" song as well as your G, D, and A Major scales as they will all be helpful when working on the new string orchestra repertoire we're beginning this week!
** Fifth Grade Violin is continuing to work on some exciting string orchestra music last week that will bring them up to the level of the Middle School String players by the time they arrive at the Middle School!! We're also working on "Twinkle!" and ALL of its variations (regular song, tikatika titi, jack rabbit eats carrots, sammy shh cat , and teeny tiny tikatika) This week, we're continuing to work inside our 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! Keep polishing up that "Four String Warm-Up" song as well as your G, D, and A Major scales as they will all be helpful when working on the new string orchestra repertoire we're beginning this week!
** Sixth Grade Violin DUE TO YOUR BIG FIELD TRIP, YOU WILL NOT NEED YOUR VIOLINS THIS WEEK! HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME!!!
Recess Drama Club | Annie Kids Rehearsals will be held EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY DURING RECESS time. We're moving along and starting to work on the stage as much as possible!!! ANNIE SHOW DATE WILL BE FRIDAY, JUNE 9th at 1:00PM!!! MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND BE SURE NOT TO MISS THIS AMAZING PERFORMANCE!! Parents: please help your young actor / actress to highlight their script so that they can easily follow along during rehearsals. Also, scripts should be kept IN CHILDREN'S BACKPACKS so that they will have their script for every rehearsal as we have VERY limited extra copies. |
Stay tuned for more information right here each week :)
Mrs. Kamp :)