March 27-31

This week, students reviewed concert material. Second grade and first grade both participated in a contest: the student with the most words memorized of a specific concert song would win a sticker. Third grade continued to work on their composition project. Kindergarten and first grade played glockenspiels and worked on rhythm. Kindergarten and second grade also looked at dynamics (loud vs. quiet for Kinder, piano, mezzo piano, mezzo forte, and forte for 2nd). First grade reviewed instrument names and characteristics. Men's Chorus went well - we have enough singers to proceed!

Next week, third grade will have their theory exam!

March 13-17

The last week before Spring was spent reviewing concert pieces and some music theory, wrapping up part of third grade's Composition Project, and watching Rusalka.

Third grade will have an exam soon, which will go over:

• Naming notes on both treble and bass clefs
• Knowing the beat lengths of a quarter, half, whole, eighth, and dotted half note, as well as a half, whole and quarter rest
• How to draw a double bar line
• What a "staff" the "grand staff" is. 

All the answers can be found in their theory books.


All songs for Spring Concert:

3rd Grade
Rainsong
Pirate Story
Wink to the Little Baby

1st Grade
I Let Her Go-Go
Ahe Lau Makani
All the Beautiful Colors (De Colores)

Kindergarten
Kookaburra
The Rattlin' Bog
The Bull Frog

2nd Grade
Cherry Blossoms
Steven Foster Trilogy
Got Coffee?

March 6-10

This week, third grade finished writing the rhythm of their composition project and second grade almost completely finished their Lesson 6 (bass clef). First grade learned the melody and game of their last Spring Concert song, I Let Her Go-Go. Kindergarten worked on playing rhythm vs. beat on rhythm sticks and worked on all of their Spring Concert songs: The Bull Frog, Kookaburra (all three verses) and Rattlin' Bog.

K-3 acted out the first act of Rusalka - 3rd grade as readers' theater, K-2 as more of an interactive listening experience. 1st through 3rd grade were informed of a voluntary contest over Spring Break: the student who memorizes the most of a repertoire song (Got Coffee for 2nd grade, Wink to the Little Baby for 3rd, All the Beautiful Colors for 1st) after Spring Break get their choice of either a stamp or sticker.

February 27-March 3

This week, most of second and third grade turned in their How Wind Instruments Work worksheets for corrections and received them back (scroll down to previous post for printable worksheets and links to the videos). Monday is the deadline for students who were absent to turn in their worksheets.

Third grade continued to work on their composition project - they have their A section rhythm completed. They also worked on their Spring concert pieces:
Rainsong
Pirate Story
Wink to the Little Baby

Both third and second grade listened to the overture for the opera Rusalka, which is coming to Archway Chandler on the 16th. The students discussed the emotions portrayed by the music and listened to the synopsis. Second grade continued to work on their bass clef lesson in their books. Both second and third grade were tested on their Curwen hand signs for Sol, La, and Mi.

Kindergarten worked on their Spring concert pieces: Kookaburra, The Rattlin' Bog, and The Bull Frog. First grade worked on their pieces: Ahe Lau Makani, All the Beautiful Colors/De Colores, and I Let Her Go-Go.

Kindergarten and first grade also listened to the synopsis of Rusalka, discussed how the set/characters might look and the music sound like, and then illustrated their ideas while listening to the soundtrack.

On Tuesday, the entire school watched a performance of Peter and the Wolf, performed by Symphony of the Southwest. It was spectacular!