Welcome!

Welcome to my new blog about music class here at FRCS.  Here is a little overview of what everyone is working on this cycle (May 1 - May 8):

Kindergarten:  We are singing our hello song, and listening to chapters 16 + 17 of the story Mozart's Magnificent Voyage.  Then the students are learning a new song of the month, "I Love to Rhyme." The students will finish up a game they learned last week called "Bee, Bee, Bumblebee" where they get to practice reading and performing quarter notes and paired eighth notes.  They are still singing last month's song "Shakey Egg" because it helps reinforce the sound of quarter notes and paired eighth notes, and, if there is time, the students will use foam shapes to practice rhythms.  The shapes stand in for the notes they are learning, a large shape is a quarter note (the students clap once and say "Snake!") and two medium shapes are paired eighth notes (the students clap twice and say "Monkey!).

First Grade:  We are singing our hello song, and listening to chapter 10 of the story Mozart's Magic Fantasy.  Then, the students are learning a new song of the month, "Presto Largo."  The students will learn that "presto" means "fast" and "largo" means "slow."  Then we read a musical version of the story "The Hare and the Tortoise" and discuss which animal is presto, and which animal is largo.

Second Grade:  We begin by listening to chapter 12 of the story Tchaikovsky Discovers America.  Then we warm up with the song "Whacky Do Re Mi" which teaches the students solfege, gets them practicing playing instruments (boomwhackers), and features a different soloist each week!  Then the students will learn a new song of the month, "Every Good Boy Does Fine."  After singing the song, the students will learn that this sentence is designed to help them remember the lines of the treble clef staff, and last month's song (Face) goes in the spaces.

Third Grade:  We begin by listening to chapter 12 of the story Vivaldi's Ring of Mystery.  Then the students are learning a new song:  "The Wheel of the Water."  This song is sung in 5 parts!  For this week, students will learn parts A and B and try to sing them at the same time.

Fourth Grade:  The students are learning a new song of the month, "Go Fish!"  This song features a part for the guiro.  Then the students will be reviewing all of the notes and rests they have learned by far, and playing a fun game of relay races to help jog their memories!

Fifth Grade:  The students are learning the "National Anthem" for their song of the month.  It is interesting to find out how many rules there are about how you are supposed to sing it!  Then the students are learning how to read notes on a staff with a brand new clef:  the bass clef!