Quarter 2 Update

Music class is returning to normal in the wake of the concert. All grades took a look at Medieval music, with a focus on Hildegard von Bingen as a composer. All grades will also be watching most or all of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker, as a final preparation for learning about him as a composer (we already looked at his Swan Lake earlier in the year).

All grades are beginning to wrap up their study of rhythm and beat. 2nd and 3rd grade will have a music theory exam, most likely in January. Almost all students have filled in the first six units in their theory packets. 3rd grade will begin composing the rhythm for their Project soon.

Next Wednesday, Belle Voci will have a guest speaker at their last meeting of the year.

Concert is Tonight!

Hello all! Students have been busily preparing music for the concert the past few weeks. Please make sure that you and your student are clear on concert details - where, when, and what!

Tuesday, November 13th, 2018  

Kindergarten, First, and Second Grades - 5:30 PM  

students arrive at 5:10pm  

Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grades - 6:45 PM  

students arrive at 6:25pm  

 

Higley Center for the Performing Arts  

4132 E. Pecos Rd.  

Gilbert, AZ 85295

Dress Code

Students must wear black on bottom, white on top. Black shoes, black pants (black skirt option for girls), white shirt, and a tie for boys (bowtie is fine). Skirts must be at or below the knee. No spaghetti straps, please. 

DVDs Available for Purchase

Esthetics in Motion will be recording the performances.

Cost is $20 for one DVD or $35 for two DVDs.

www.store.estheticsinmotion.com

Contact Information

Ms. Sarah Cadwallender, K-3rd Grade Music, Belle Voci

e: scadwallender@archwaychandler.org

Q2W2 - Concert Practice and Woodwind Science

This week was spent in preparing for the concert. All grades are doing great. In our all-class rehearsals on Wednesday, students sounded wonderful and looked very professional. 3rd grade is working on adding one more stanza of lyrics to Riu, Riu, Chiu and 2nd grade will start adding flair to Good King Wenceslas. Kindergarten and 1st grade are focusing on singing gently. All classes were given the homework of making sure their families have received Winter Concert info. All students should hopefully be sent home today with a paper flier for their families.

Please scroll down to the previous post to access lyrics and karaoke for our concert songs, if your student wishes/needs to practice at home.

1st-3rd grade was also able to watch a video on the science of woodwind instruments, which I post here in case students wish to make any instruments at home or watch it again:

Concert Lyrics

Click here for lyrics for all grades

~Kindergarten~

Oh Christmas Tree

Three Little Kittens

Hanukkah, Hanukkah

~1st Grade~

Don Gato

Deck the Halls

Ner Li

~2nd Grade~

Good King Wenceslas

Autumn Comes

Ocho Kandelikas

~3rd Grade~

Riu, Riu, Chiu

Happy Chanukah!

Merrily, Merrily

~Belle Voci~

Autumn Fires
The Ghost Ship

Q1W10

All grades watched Tchaikovsky's classic ballet, Swan Lake, as the final piece of our ballet unit. On October 25th, Ballet Etudes will be coming to Archway Chandler to perform for the students and give them real-life examples of the art, as well as some detailed descriptions.

In our last week, K-2nd grade worked on their concert music. Kindergarten and 1st grade we able to successfully sing all three of their concert songs together! 2nd grade's concert music is almost complete. Students who feel unsure of their lyrics have been asked to read through the words a couple of times during the break, just to make sure they can pronounce everything smoothly. All grades will begin learning concert etiquette, riser standing order, and general performance information after the break. 1st grade was also able to start composing with quarter notes and rests ("ta" and "rest") while Kindergarten briefly looked at the science behind sound. 2nd grade had a last exam on Sol, La, and Mi, which all students passed!

Belle Voci is asked to practice singing their music over the break if they have the time. I will be sending listening links soon.

Q1W9

This week, all grades saw Prokofiev's Cinderella ballet. 1st grade and Kindergarten discussed the last ballet we will see in our ballet unit, Swan Lake. 1st grade worked on the last two stanzas of Don Gato while Kindergarten worked on singing properly (limited wiggling, gentle sound, etc).

Q1W8 - Prokofiev's Cinderella

Last week, students learned about the science of sound, specifically with brass instruments. Students who wish to rewatch or make a bugle at home can watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxwjASA8V3I

Students reviewed the concept that ballet is a story told through dance and played charades to experience it for themselves. Students learned the version of the classic fairy tale Cinderella that Sergei Prokofiev used in his ballet. Students then watched that ballet this past Monday/Tuesday. 2nd and 3rd grade filled out a thought-provoking worksheet about what the instrumental music added to the story.

This week, Kindergarten and 1st grade will continue to perfect their concert music and learn the story of Swan Lake. Next week, all grades will be finishing their Ballet unit, which will culminate in the ballet performance coming to our school October 25th!

Q1W7 - Peter and the Wolf

For those students who missed Peter and the Wolf last week, or who wish to see a different version: Peter and the Wolf

Last week, all classes saw the ballet version of Peter and the Wolf and filled out a worksheet on the characters and instruments. All classes continue to work on concert music. 2nd grade learned about step vs skip on the music staff, and 3rd grade learned about Prokofiev (the composer of Peter and the Wolf).

Q1W6

Please scroll down for listening links for concert music!

This week, 2nd and 3rd grade reviewed what beat was and the lengths of various notes (quarter note, half note, etc). All grades reviewed concert music. 2nd grade has Good King Wenceslas almost memorized, as well as Autumn Comes. 3rd grade has almost all of Riu, Riu Chiu memorized, and has learned most of their Happy Chanukkah! in addition to having Merrily, Merrily memorized. 1st grade has sung all of Don Gato and is working on memorization. Once all grades have their music memorized, class focus will go to singing technique. 1st-3rd grades were introduced to the orchestra and Peter and the Wolf.

Concert Listening Links!

Here are listening tracks for our concert music. Students can sing along to them at home (the ones without words are the ones we use in class). I'm hoping to create versions with lyrics for the Kindergarten songs!

~Kindergarten~

Oh Christmas Tree

Three Little Kittens

Hanukkah, Hanukkah

~1st Grade~

Don Gato

Deck the Halls

Ner Li

~2nd Grade~

Good King Wenceslas

Autumn Comes

Ocho Kandelikas

~3rd Grade~

Riu, Riu, Chiu (has chorus in English, which is incorrect)

Riu, Riu, Chiu (no words)

Riu, Riu, Chiu (3A students only)

Happy Chanukah!

Merrily, Merrily

~Belle Voci~

Autumn Fires

The Ghost Ship

Q1W4

This week, 1st grade reviewed what "beat" is, and Kindergarten learned to play the maracas. 1st grade has begun working on Deck the Halls, and Kindergarten has begun working on "Oh Christmas Tree." 2nd and 3rd grade spent a class trying to compose music and then write it down in a way another student could play it (our conclusion: we need a standardized system of music notation so anyone can play anything). Both 2nd and 3rd grade started to look at the musical staff. 2nd grade reviewed Harvest Moon and Good King Wenceslas; 3rd grade reviewed Riu, Riu, Chiu.

Q1W3

This week, all grades have been looking at rhythm. Kindergarten is developing keeping a beat and repeating basic rhythms. 1st grade is learning the difference between rhythm and beat (and being able to define both). 2nd and 3rd grade are looking at how note values fit within a beat. All grades are learning the solfege scale - Kindergarten and 1st grade have Mi, Sol, and La, while 2nd and 3rd grade also have Do and Re.

All grades are working on concert songs. Kindergarten now knows the first stanza of Three Little Kittens - next week they will be able to sing it from memory. 1st grade is working on Ner Li and Don Gato simultaneously. 2nd grade learned the melody to Good King Wenceslas. 3rd grade added in the Spanish lyrics to Riu, Riu, Chiu and has already begun working on singing their different melody/harmony parts.

Q1W2

For our first full week of music, most of class was spent learning routines - how to practice music, passing materials, handling instruments, and moving for dance. Each grade was able to take a look at one of their concert songs, and both 2nd and 3rd grade have learned one of their songs already! Kindergarten and 1st grade began exploring high vs. low sounds, and 2nd & 3rd grade put their theory packets together.

Welcome!

Greetings all, and welcome to a brand new school year! I thought I'd post here an overview for the upcoming music year. Students will be working on:

• Learning well-known songs like If You're Happy and You Know It, The Camptown Races, etc
• Exposure to and analysis of classical music repertoire
• Music literacy
• Solfege (Do, Re, Mi, etc)
• Aural skills 
• Hearing patterns in music
• Sight-reading
• Singing in key
• Singing in unison/parts
• Hearing harmony
• Performance skills
• Stage etiquette
• Audience etiquette
• Telling a story/facial and body language 
• Instrument playing skills (percussion instruments such as xylophones and drums)
• Mallet technique
• Percussion instrument names and techniques
• Singing skills
• Posture
• Breath
• Vowels
• Teamwork/responsibility

Looking forward to an exciting new year!

Q4W9

In our second-to-last week, all grades wrapped up their various projects, topics, and exams. First grade designed their own scene/story to fit Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, Kindergarten listened to all of Holst's The Planets and prepared for graduation, second grade finished their treble clef and timbre exams, and third grade performed as many compositions as could be fit into the class time on Friday.

Looking forward to an amazing next year!

Q4W7 Update

Last week, 3rd grade began writing their final line for their compositions. This week (Week 8), they will finish that line and begin playing their music on instruments. Second grade had an intense study lesson in preparation for their Treble Clef quiz, which is also this week. 1st grade prepared for their upcoming rhythm and melody quizzes and listened to Stravinsky's Firebird. Kindergarten has been carefully preparing their graduation song. Mallet Madness had their debut performance at Fine Arts Night and were amazing!

Q4W6 Update

The concert was amazing! All grades sang beautifully and should be proud of their accomplishment.

To finish up the week, 2nd and 3rd grade drank sparkling cider and discussed the concert with compliments and constructive criticism. For next year's goals, second grade decided: working on singing gently instead of shouting, less talking on stage, balancing the parts in 2-part songs, and perhaps adding in more elements such as instruments.

Kindergarten was able to listen to Camille Saint-Saëns' Carnival of the Animals and pick their own animals to match the music, and 1st grade was able to take another look at Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker and play rhythm telephone.

Q4W4 Update

All classes are ready for the concert! Kindergarten and 1st grade continue to develop good tone, and all grades are working on standing with proper posture and breath. 3rd grade had added movements to one of their songs (they chose the movement) and 2nd grade has as well. This week, 2nd grade reviewed reading treble clef and practiced a tiny bit of composition. 1st grade learned about Sergei Prokofiev, the writer of Peter and the Wolf, and Kindergarten was tested on solfege hand signs for Do, Mi and Sol. Next week, 3rd grade will begin writing the melody for their composition project.

Q4W2

This week, the focus is still on concert music. 3rd grade continues to develop Possum Gonna Play and had auditions for the instrumental part of Hitori. Both Kindergarten and 1st grade had opportunities to work with barred instruments and improvisation, and 2nd grade began to prepare for their treble clef and timbre exam. 1st grade was able to learn about their composer of the month, Edvard Grieg. Mallet Madness is excitedly preparing for their performance on Fine Arts Night.

Q4W1

The focus this week has been on concert repertoire. Kindergarten is ready in their music - they only need to review singer posture and audience etiquette. First grade knows their songs and is now working on perfecting them rhythmically and with style. Second grade is almost finished - they are working on memorization of their songs and singing Dona Nobis as an actual round. Third grade is still putting Possum Gonna Play together, but their Hitori and Bound For Glory are almost finished. Tryouts for the instrumental Hitori part will be next week. Kindergarten had time to learn about Claude Debussy and Impressionism (ask them if they remember what the word "impression" means!), 2nd grade began to listen to Scott Joplin, and 1st grade was able to listen to the famous Largo section of the New World Symphony by Antonín Dvořák. 

If you would like to study concert music at home, please click on the links to the right of this webpage (you may need to scroll down, past the Concert Information to Listening Links)!

Spring Concert - SAVE THE DATE!

Wednesday, April 25th, 2018

Kindergarten, First, and Second Grades - 5:30 PM

students arrive at 5:10pm

Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grades - 6:45 PM

students arrive at 6:25pm

Higley Center for the Performing Arts

4132 E. Pecos Rd.

Gilbert, AZ 85295

ATTIRE:
Students must wear black on bottom, white on top. Black shoes, black pants (black skirt option for girls), white shirt, and a tie for boys (bowtie is fine).

I must know AS SOON AS POSSIBLE if a student cannot attend the mandatory concert for an unavoidable reason.