Forecast Friday

Students in Grades 1 and 2 began learning about the instruments of the orchestra on Thursday.  We watched a video called Peter and the Wolf that featured six different instruments.  Students watched and listened and kept track of each time they heard on of those instruments on a listening log. This came home in their backpacks on Thursday.  Here is a link where your child can go and learn more about the orchestra.  Registration is free, and your child can visit it as often as they like to complete different tasks. http://listeningadventures.carnegiehall.org/

During this upcoming week, we will continue to learn more about instruments and the families that they belong to.  We will also learn some songs about bats and cats and play games with a Halloween theme to reinforce our reading and playing of  ta, ti-ti and rest (quarter notes, eighth notes and quarter rest).

Students in grades 3 and four have just started learning a song for Remembrance Day titled, "Just One Candle."  It is a song about how each one of us has a light within that we can shine for others to see by being good citizens and speaking up for what is right.  With Halloween coming up in a few days, it is a perfect time to learn about the minor sound.  We will be doing some listening exercises and identifying if a piece of music is in a major or minor key.  I will also be assessing their ability to match pitch on the notes la, sol, mi, re and do.

Students in grades 5 and 6 have finished auditions for our musical and will be finding our their roles on Monday.  If your child has a big role, they will be bringing home a letter for a parent/guardian to sign indicating that they will demonstrate regular attendance at school in order to be available for rehearsals during music class and at lunch.

Happenings in grade 3/4 Music

This week students in grade 3 and 4 have been continuing to develop their performance of the song, "There was an Old Woman All Skin and Bones."  We learned the song on the recorder and then chose to play the wind song part (ooo-oo-oo-ooo) on the recorders.

The students have also been learning about light and shadow in science so they created shadow puppets to tell the story of the song.  Today we put it all together; singing, recorders, xylophones, wood blocks, tambourines, chimes, a gong, and the shadow puppet play.  The students had a blast and asked to perform it over and over.  Mr. Do and Mr. Eakins also got to watch and loved it!  We have recorded it and hope to have it up on the inter-school broadcasting TVs by next week.

Friday Forecast

Grade 1 and 2 students started playing xylophones this week!  We have focused on holding the mallets properly and playing in the middle of the bars. This coming week we will continue practicing singing our song Falling Leaves and playing the xylophone with it.  We will also add some movement using scarves. 

Grade 3 and 4 students have been adding more ostinati to the song, Skin and Bones.  They have also created shadow puppets to help tell the story of the song.  This next week we will be adding recorder to the piece as well.  If your grade 3 or 4 child has a recorder at home, please have them bring it to school.  If they don't have one yet, they will be able to use a school recorder. 

Grade 5 and 6 students will begin auditions for acting parts in the musical Press Start.  During their last music class they were able to learn about all the different characters available and sign up for the ones they want to audition for.  I look forward to seeing their auditions next week during music class.

Press Start the Musical

December 19th will be the date of our musical.  All students will be involved in the musical in some way. Grade 5 & 6 students will be the actors, and students in K-4 will also help sing some of the musical numbers.  The name of our musical is, "Press Start." It is about characters from the video game world coming together to help each other get back in the game.

Grade 5 & 6 students have watched a few clips of other school performing this musical and will have a chance to audition for a few roles of their choice.  On Thursday, October 18th students will get to explore the different characters, and read parts of the script that involve the characters they are interested in.  Auditions will take place next week, during their music classes.  For their audition, students will be required to read and act a short script for the roles that they would like to try out for. If their role requires a solo singing part, they will also be required to sing a short familiar song.

Students in Kindergarten to grade 4 will begin learning their songs in music class by the end of October. 

Forecast Friday

One World Drumming was a great success!  Students learned the different notes that are played on the djembes, played a variety of rhythms, played various percussion instruments, and danced.  Our sharing on Thursday afternoon was fabulous.  Thank you to all the families who attended our performance.  I think everyone enjoyed hearing and seeing the progression from Kindergarten to Grade 6.  

  

Ask Me About:

Self reflection on their drumming experience

What went well for them in drumming? What was more difficult for them? What they were excited about?

Grade 1/2 students will be playing singing games that focus on the notes sol and mi, and will be assessed on pitch matching.  

Grade 3/4 students will be learning as song that allows them to experience the minor sound.  Movement, instruments and singing in canon will be part of their experience this next week.

Grade 5/6 students will be finishing up their work with two partner songs by practicing singing and playing the ostinati on the Orff instruments.  They will be assessed on their mallet technique, rhythms and singing.  Also this next week they will be introduced to the musical, "Press Start" and we will begin talking about the audition process for our musical this December. 

Friday Forecast

This next week's forecast includes a high probability of African drumming.  With high a of "Go & Do"notes and a low of "Goon & Doon" notes.  On Thursday, Mr. Ko played a finger drum from North Africa called the "tar."    Please come for our afternoon of sharing on Thursday, the 11th at 1:00 PM.

One World Drumming

Our first day of our residency with One World Drumming is complete.  We learned that the djembe (gem-bay) comes from West Africa and that it is a hand drum.  Students learned 4 notes on the drum, goon, doon, go and do, as well as the universal break that signals when to start, change patterns or stop.  They also started learning the rhythms that they will be performing on Thursday, October 11th at 1:30.  We welcome any families who are able to come see their children perform to meet us in the gym that afternoon.  The children are excited to share what they are learning, with you!

Friday Forcast

We have an exciting week in music!  With our school having Orange Shirt Day of Monday, children will learn some First Nation's Songs and do some drumming on a First Nation's drum.  The songs are called, "Good Day," and a "Song For Giving Thanks" . 

Cambrian Heights is excited to invite One World Drumming to our school for a five-day residency.  The residency will take place on October 3^rd and 4^th, and then from the 9^th-11^th with a sharing on the last day.  It is One World Drumming’s desire to create community using the drum.  The art of drumming improves our understanding of the arts, mathematics, language, social interaction & personhood. Drumming simultaneously feeds mind, body & spirit. Their mandate is:

·      To use the drum as a social medium that connects our lives on a global and local level; bringing about global unity, understanding and respect.

·      Celebrating diversity and cultural understanding through the power and unity of the drum.

·      Operating with a strong organizational structure that ensures the company's artistic stability.

Parents are welcome to join us at 1:30 pm on October 11^th for our whole school sharing.  We look forward to seeing you there!