Some words to parents from Mrs. Stuart:
Welcome to our music class! Students don't just learn about music in this class; they learn how to make music. Recently you may have read information stemming from research which indicates that listening to and performing music is an important part of child development. I couldn't agree more. Did you know that you carry an instrument everywhere you go? It's your singing voice and boys and girls spend quite a bit of time in music using their singing voice. Read further and find out what we do in each grade to expand our knowledge and have fun making music! I encourage and invite you to join us. By the way, go to the end of this page and check out some of my favorite links.
1st & 2nd Grade
In first grade, students learn how to use their singing voice. We also have fun accompanying ourselves with various percussion instruments. These include our favorites; the Orff instruments, which are barred instruments, played with mallets. You know, just like in sports, learning the fundamentals and working on the basics helps us to attain more challenging goals. That's why a big part of our music time is spent on movement to the steady beat, dancing, performing simple rhythm patterns, singing songs within a limited pitch rage (2nd graders can even begin the challenge of singing in round), learning that music can express emotions or ideas, and learning about famous composers. Why, we even learn that we can hear music in our heads without the sound being physically present in the room! Additionally, first and second graders learn that music is universal, learning not just songs from the United States, but from various parts of the world.
3rd & 4th Grade
Third and fourth grades are exciting times for students. Third graders learn to play the recorder after Christmas and incorporate playing the instrument in a Spring concert. Fourth graders are now eligible to play either a string or band instrument. We still do lots of movement and singing, but students are now able to learn the notes on the staff and can compose mostly through improvisation. The Orff instruments (xylophones, metallophones, and glockenspiels) add an extra dimension of student accompaniment.
5th & 6th Grade
Fifth and sixth graders spend quite a bit of time working together in groups to compose longer rhythm patterns, discover music from various cultures, and come to realize that music is a universal force which can give us a glimpse of historic periods, people, and cultures. The ever-present use of the voice is still an integral part of the music class. However, now effort is put forth to integrate the music room activities with topics from the general classroom; capitals, states, the colonies, Civil Rights, and music from countries around the world. Math tends to sneak in every now and then and students are amazed how music works its way into our knowledge of history, math, science (physics of sound), and language arts.
Conestoga Chorus
Ta da! Conestoga now has a chorus made up of dedicated 4th, 5th, and 6th graders. They are so dedicated that they give up one lunch recess a cycle to practice singing as an ensemble. This group of singers is determined to challenge their singing potential by learning and performing music not normally presented in the regular music classroom. You don't need to audition to be in the chorus; you only need the desire to sing fine music with a group of dedicated students. BRAVO!
Check out some of my favorite links!
http://www.philorch.org/index.htmlhttp://www.stringsinthemountains.org/m2m/1once.htm
http://www.baltimoresymphony.org/toc.htm
http://www.billybear4kids.com/
posted 9/99 Anne Stuart
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