3rd grade music: clapping games with "Green Sally Up & 4 White Horses"

 Nothin' beats a good game of clap/chants with a friend! Clap games are really fun and I enjoy working with students on these types of activities. Grades 1-4 all had a round of "Green Sally Up." Some groups who wanted a challenge tried the "4 White Horses," which is an advanced clap/chant pattern for 4 people.

4th grade- Rockin' the recorders!

It has been great working on the recorder/guitar unit with our 4th graders. They are a fun group! In recorder class, students have been working on The Lion Sleep Tonight, Shades of Blue, and the melody from "Party Rock Anthem." I've also heard some great solos to boot...Ode to Joy and Happy Birthday, in a minor key. Great job students!

Instrument Stations in Music

K-3 students enjoyed some small group time with various pitched and non-pitched percussion. Some groups created a song to perform for the class. It was a great exercise in listening, both towards other people's ideas but also listening to the other instruments, while every instrument doesn't have to be playing the entire time. K-1 has also been reviewing instruments of the orchestra with "Peter and the Wolf" and "The Carnival of the Animals."

Congratulations to all our students who performed in the recital on Wednesday. Job well done! Enjoy the weekend!

2nd/3rd Grade Music: "I Let Her Go-Go"

2nd grade learned the game while 3rd grade brought back an old favorite. Students choose a partner and sing/clap various patterns, then switch places with each other. Then, they jump and switch partners, working their way around the circle. It's a fun one to watch! We are keeping up our singing with small bits of warm ups and patterns. We have a handful of 2nd graders who can sing a major scale in tune, which is exciting! Have a great weekend!

Back in the Music Swing!

It was great to get back in the music classroom after musicals, DC, and Spring Break! It was also fun to hear stories of travel from students. In 1st-3rd grade, we made lists of student activities during the break, and used the words to create rhythm patterns on the board. Once secure with speech/vocalization, students transfer to sticks, drums, as well as xylos where students create their own melody. Enjoy the sun!

singsingsingMORE DRUMSsingsingsing

 It's great to take a singing break and DRUMS are the best way!

Sing, sing, sing...don't forget to breathe!

Students finished up the final song from their musical this week.  We also discussed breathing. Pictured above, 3rd graders try an exercise where they check their air, with their hand. In taking a 'deep breathe' we make sure the stomach fills with air and doesn't 'suck in'. Shoulders down! For those who know Mrs. Becky, she taught me the exercise. It's a fun one! An imaginary string is pulled up and down to help students with their air and breathing. It's been great to see students' working so hard, and I'm proud of them for their effort.

Musical Season- go, go, go, not slow, slow, slow!

In music, it was another great week of rehearsals. It was fun to see students' excitement as they learn more about their assigned role in the cast list. I've enjoyed starting to team up with teachers of the various grades. Songs/choreography are going well. It's definitely GO time!! After break, it may be GOGOGO time!

Enjoy the break!

Music: The Story of the Orchestra

Students did a nice job with the second song from each musical this week. It is fun to see students do so well while singing on the move! I've really enjoyed starting moves/choreography with each grade. K-1 enjoyed learning about the orchestra and the Baroque/Classical time periods. Enjoy your weekend!

Music- Listen, Sing, Move!

Students are now off and running with the first song of each musical. It was great seeing students sing and move with such energy. I was proud of each grade, and a lot of potential was shown this week!

Music- Introducing Musicals

 In music, students were introduced to their Spring musicals. We also had some discussion on famous musicals, such as "Phantom of the Opera," "Wicked," and an old favorite of mine- "Cats." Another great one, that flies under the radar but has some catchy jazz selections is "How to Succeed in Business." Students did a great job, identifying instrument sounds and different genres that the musicals entailed (classical/opera, vs. jazz). What is your favorite musical?

It was a busy week for students and staff as CHA headed to the Mountain!
 It was great to see kids gearing up for the adventure.
"Skiing is a dance, and the Mountain always leads." -unknown

Music: Puttin' the "Soul" in Solfege

Students continue to prepare for the Festival of Peace and Light next week. It's great to see students continue to improve with their pitch, while using the solfege hand chart. I wanted to give a special shout this week, to the odd-numbered grades of 1, 3, and 5! First grade improved greatly with their South African song. 5th grade- awesome job on the xylophones.

Also, congratulations to the 3rd grade on a fantastic performance at Belle Square Mall. They sang so well, and were wonderful in representing CHA. BRAVO!!

Music: Sing, sing, sing!

Students had a really great week in music, as we continue to prepare for December performances. Be sure to check out the 3rd grade next Wednesday at Bellevue Square Mall. 11:00 AM. It will be exciting to hear them perform!

Enjoy your weekend!

K-3 Music: Takin' It Back to the "Old School" When Times were So Cool, with selections from the "Blue Moo."

Younger students have been doing a lot of voice exploration and vocal development in music. We've been working on pitch and projection while singing songs for upcoming performances. 5th grade has been working on a Guatemalan marimba song, and students are coming a long way with their mallet technique. Here a 1st grade class warming up with the "voice-parachute."

It's fun to take a singing break with 'hits from way back never,' via the Blue Moo Jukebox. It features bands and singers from past decades, in a variety of styles and genres. Some favorites include Christopher Kale Jones, The Uninvited Loud Precision Band, The Sparklets, and John Ondrasik. It's fun to see which students/grades like which songs.


"Do you wonder how a cow can touch your heart and soul? I don't know, but anyhow, it's what they call Rock-and Roll."

1st Grade Music-Engine Engine!

This week in music, grades 1 and 2 added "My Country 'Tis of Thee" to their list of patriotic songs. In all grades, we started introducing and practicing songs for the Festival of Peace and Light in December. Countries students will be studying include:

K- Australia
1-South Africa
2-Brazil
3-Singapore
4-Greece
5-Guatemala

1st grade enjoyed a game called "Engine Engine," with a singing train that moves on the track. There were also a few drummers and xylo players that made up the train station. We've been playing "Name that Tune" in K-1, working on review/familiarity with folk songs and nursery rhymes. Happy Friday!

3rd Grade Music- Ready..set...Sing...Play!

 Congratulations to our students for two fantastic assemblies this week- those who ran for Student Council and to our 3rd graders for a wonderful Veteran's Day assembly. Both assemblies reminded me of how lucky we are, both to be in America and also to be at CHA where we have such great students. 3rd grade sang the  "Star-Spangled Banner," and all students sang "You're a Grand Old Flag," from which we've been working on in class. Here, 3rd graders took a singing break and performed a few pieces they created in small groups. Pieces such as "The Lonely Owl" and "The Haunted House" were performed. It was great to hear the creativity! Bravo!!

5th grade music- "Acting, Notating, and Drumming"

In music, 5th graders had a brief discussion on mood and expression in music. Then they created skits using expressive elements, with the help of instruments, props, and some great acting! 5th graders have also been working on music theory and playing various rhythms and chants via the 'Drum Circle'. Students have been improving with their use of drum sticks and alternating hand patterns. BOOM BOOM!

K Music- Drum Circles

 It was fun to see many kindergarten students participate in their first drum circle! We've been doing a farm unit, and students have been singing and chanting about different animals. They've also played instruments that go with that animal, such as sticks, maracas, shakers, and castanets. The cow was cowbell, and since my old set of coconut shakers for the horse have finally bit the dust, it seemed time to drag out the drums! BOOM BOOM!

2nd Grade Music- "Draw Me a Bucket of Water"

During the song, and while in diamond formation across from a partner, students practice swinging arms to the rhythms of half notes. Half notes get 2 beats, or "ta-ah" as students have been practicing. At the end of each verse, 2 students raise their arms, allowing one student to enter the well. By the end of the 4th repetition, all students are in the well.

It was a blast watching them play this one!

3rd Grade Music: A Rig-a-Jig-Jig and Away We Go!

 3rd grade had a round of "Rig-a-Jig-Jig" while singing on the move. In music, it was a lot of rhythm and music theory again this week. Students are rollin'!