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Music & Technology @ Lewis Elementary
The past couple of weeks in grade 3 - 5 we've been working on our music literacy skills. While reading music is complicated, it's not nearly as complicated as learning to read words. Still seeing all those little black symbols on a page and trying to make sense of things can be overwhelming. One way we break this down is to divide reading rhythms from reading pitches. So in the past couple of weeks we've been focused on reading & identify pitch name on the treble clef staff. While there are many methods and approaches...
This week in classroom music classes: 1st Graders are working on on learning the Pentatonic scale through the 5 senses of touch, feel, sight, smell and taste. The two are more figuratively then actual, as the songs we are exploring mention these two senses. 2nd Graders are exploring the movement of snow flakes and taking on the challenge of cross-over mallet techniques in the piece "Dancing Snowflakes". 3rd Grades are taking on improvisation. While 4th grades will be learning the connection between a song from Ghana...
The start of February means that we are half way through the school year! For our after school performing groups this means we are getting closer to hitting the stage. I've already begun combining Woodwinds and Percussion after school on Tuesday's. And this week we've even added a few trumpet players to the mix. Starting at the beginning of March Band will move to 2 days a week, combining all the Woodwinds, Brass and Percussion. This is necessary to rehearse performance pieces. Violins will also move to two practices...
This week in our general music classes the 1st graders are beating back the rain with an Orff instrumental piece by Doug Goodkin "Rain, Rain, Go Away". Both the 3rd and 4th graders are working on the tongue twister Peter Piper. While 3rd grades are working hard to play the piece, the 4th graders are wrapping their heads around transposing the song into 3 different keys. Band students this week are playing pages 9 & 10 in their books. Violins will be working out the last 2 variations of Twinkle, Twinkle. I'll be seeing...
This is an exciting week as the Booming Beats meet for the first time this Friday. I'm really excited to start working with the group this year. This week in band woodwinds are working on page 10 while the brass is working page 9 of their books. Violins are working on their 3rd variation of Twinkle, Twinkle. The "I'm Happy" or variation B. Remember 10 -15 minutes of daily practice is best. Students in Tech this week are working on an animation project. While we are breaking out the xylophones during our general music...
I hope everyone had a restful but fun filled winter break. It feels good to back at Lewis. This week I announced to 4th and 5th grades that the Boomin' Beats will be starting next Friday, January 13th. I passed out a flyer with the following info about this performance group. "The Boomin Beats is a performance group that emphasizes singing, playing, dancing and even drama. Students are expected to actively participate in all aspects of the group, which means everyone sings, dances, plays and acts. The Beats are a...
This being the last week before winter break I want to wish you all very happy and safe holiday. For those students in Band or Strings practicing an instrument over the break can be challenging, especially if you break involves traveling. I'm advising students not to take their instruments on road trips, but if they are staying home over the time spent practicing will be well worth it. Many students are just figuring out how to play their instruments. Daily practice is the best way to keep the momentum. Even just...
This week's Recorder Club piece is En Ten Tina, a children's song and game from Argentina. Click here to download: En_Ten_Tina.pdf (19 KB) (download) Click here to download: En_Ten_Tina.pdf (19 KB)
Here are two songs we've been working the past few weeks during Recorder Club. These two songs utilize the note D', C' and A. You can see all the songs we are working on the LewisMusic NoteFlight sight. If you are in Recorder Club, I'll be sending you the instructions for logging into this site in the next day or so. Click here to download: Star_Light.pdf (61 KB) (download) Click here to download: Star_Light.pdf (61...
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