Our Weekly Info: | This new week brings with it a new month.....June.....the last month of the school year!! As our calendars fill up with exciting events and milestones, we reflect on the past and begin to anticipate the future...but...most of all....we get ready for long, lazy days at the beach!!! We'll be packing away out "Composer of the Month" activity for June since I have very limited time with the classes because of all of the exciting events we have planned! I hope you've enjoyed exploring the lives of these wonderful composers as much as I've enjoyed sharing their music with you!! I'm already looking forward to next September when we being a NEW cycle of monthly composers filled with new names, new stories, and, most importantly, new amazing music!!! |
General Music:
**Pre-K 3 and 4 will not have music class this week due to NWEA Testing in the upper grades. Don't worry though, next week, we will be continuing to use our "Hello Routine" songs and seeing how 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 and even be getting ready to share some super special songs with you as we prepare for our Graduation!!
**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 and even be getting ready to share some super special songs with you as we prepare for our Graduation Celebration!
**First Graders will not have music class this week due to NWEA Testing in the upper grades. Don't worry though, next week, we will be 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! 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!! We've spent a lot of time working with rhythms the past few weeks and learning all about how even measures of music are built...and talking A LOT about pizza....each measure is like a pizza pie and each rhythm a slice....when you put 4 fabulous slices together you get one DELICIOUS pie!
**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 to High C and High D. And don't forget about Mr. E down in the basement....we've become masters at using 2 hands to play E and (at least mostly) are able to keep the E in the lower octave where it belongs :) We're continuing to work on the BLACK 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," Will we graduate with our Black Belts in time??? Only our amount of at home practice can tell :) 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 not have music class this week due to their class violin share on Thursday and the Recess Drama Club's production of, "Annie Kids" on Friday. But don't worry, when we get back, we'll 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
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 :)
** Fourth Graders will have Band Class each week on Wednesday and will have their instrumental lessons on Thursday each week.
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 15 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 15 of our Band Brilliance Method Book...make sure you're still practicing as we will be having our lessons with the 5th and 6th graders for the rest of the year to prepare for Concert Band next September!!
** Fifth and Sixth Graders will have Band Class each week on Tuesday and will have their instrumental lessons on THURSDAYS each week on a rotating schedule...note the move to THURSDAY lessons as we will be working with the 4th graders for the rest of the year to help inspire them to be ready for Concert Band in September!!
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:
Chorus classes have pretty much wound down for the school year. At this point, all students should have COMPLETED and TURNED IN their "Spring Concert / Critique / Review" assignment. I'm really enjoying reading what each student thought of the performance and the rehearsals leading up to it. you're feedback is one of the most important things in the whole concert planning process because it is how I decide what to change and adjust and what to keep the same from year to year, performance to performance.
If you have not turned in your "Concert Critique" yet, please do so immediately...you've had a month to work on these papers and a large amount of class time was dedicated to completing them so points are being taken off for lateness and this is a LARGE part of your Fourth Quarter Grade. If you're not sure whether you've turned in your assignment you can check your "Music Google Classroom" where you should either see a grade for the assignment or a note from me asking you to submit it.
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 :)
** Kindergarten Violin will not have violin class this week due to the Recess Drama Club's Production of "Annie Kids" on Friday. Next week, however, we are VERY VERY excited to welcome our parents to the FIRST EVER Kindergarten Violin Share in the music room on Friday Morning, June 16th! We can't wait for you to hear all of our hard work with violin this year pay off! 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 not have violin class this week due to NWEA Testing in the upper grades this week. Next week, however, we are VERY VERY excited to welcome our parents to the FIRST EVER First Grade Violin Share in the music room on Monday morning, June 12th! We can't wait for you to hear all of our hard work with violin this year pay off! 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 will not have violin class this week due to NWEA Testing in the upper grades this week. Next week, however, we are VERY VERY excited to welcome our parents to the FIRST EVER Second Grade Violin Share in the music room on Monday morning, June 12th! We can't wait for you to hear all of our hard work with violin this year pay off! We'll be showing off "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 is excited to join with Fourth Grade Violin to present their FIRST EVER Violin Share in the Music classroom this WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7th! We can't wait to show you how all of our hard work with the violin has paid off!
** Fourth Grade Violin is excited to join with Third Grade Violin to present their FIRST EVER Violin Share in the Music classroom this WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7th! We can't wait to show you how all of our hard work with the violin has paid off!
** Fifth Grade Violin is excited to join with Sixth Grade Recess String Explorers to present their FIRST EVER Violin Share in the Music classroom this TUESDAY, JUNE 6th! We can't wait to show you how all of our hard work with the violin has paid off!
** Sixth Grade Violin is excited to join with Fifth Grade Violin to present their FIRST EVER Violin Share in the Music classroom this TUESDAY, JUNE 6th! We can't wait to show you how all of our hard work with the violin has paid off!
Recess Drama Club | The Big Day is FINALLY Here and Boy will that sun be shining on the Amagansett School Stage this FRIDAY!!! ANNIE SHOW DATE WILL BE FRIDAY, JUNE 9th at 1:30PM!!! MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND BE SURE NOT TO MISS THIS AMAZING PERFORMANCE!! |
Stay tuned for more information right here each week :)
Mrs. Kamp :)