This week was a busy and unusual one with the start of a new quarter, conferences, and the introduction of new concert music.
This year's winter concert will be focused on the theme of peace. Students have started thinking about how this theme is an integral part of the holidays they celebrate, and how it connects so many of the holidays that are celebrated in winter, including Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's. Fifth Grade: Melody Fifth graders continued writing and playing scales this week. They have been learning about the pattern of half and whole steps that make up a major scale by studying the C, F, and G major scales. We have begun discussing our concert theme by brainstorming what peace means, especially around the winter holidays. They reviewed last year's study of rounds with their first concert piece, Dona Nobis Pacem, a Latin song with lyrics that translate to "grant us peace." Fourth Grade: Melody Fourth graders did well on their quiz on melody this week. They started a new unit on rhythmic duration, and I'm finding that the concepts of how long notes are is a review for most of them. They have no problem reading, playing and saying the rhythms we've been looking at! These students were also introduced to their first concert piece this week: Stille Nacht (Silent Night in German!). Third Grade: Melody Third graders learned more about the history of The Star Spangled Banner this week. Francis Scott Key wrote the words for this song on the back of a letter while he waited in a ship's prison while the British heavily bombed the American Fort McHenry during a battle in the War of 1812. Throughout the night, he kept watching to see if the American flag was still flying over the fort. In the morning, it was still there! His poem was set to a song that he had in mind as he wrote it: The Anacreontic Song. It became the national anthem of the United States of American in 1931. Second Grade: Singing Second graders have been applying what they've been learning about good singing habits as they begin work on their first concert song, The Rocking Carol. This Czech Christmas song has students singing in their high register (head voice) and singing some larger intervals. It's a real workout for the voice, but the students are showing that they're up for the challenge! First Grade: Voice After a little more review on the four voice types, first graders are diving into their first concert song, Peace Like a River. Although this song isn't specifically about any of the winter holidays, it is about ideas that are an important part of a variety of holidays – peace, love, and joy. They've already memorized and can sing three verses of the song! Kindergarten: Melody We've continued reviewing the concept of up and down in singing, and started work on a fun December song for the concert. A Time for Love completes the sentence, "December is a time for ________" in many different ways, and includes contrasting sections, which makes it a song that's interesting to listen to and sing!
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