Noteworthy News-Sept. 9

Welcome back to another school year!

 Students in grades K-6 are back to music making again!

On this blog you will see important announcements, concert dates and information, and lesson plan highlights for Elementary Vocal Music.

Please feel free to contact me with any concerns or questions you have about your student's musical education.  I also invite you to come to school and visit a music class and experience what is happening in Room 8 of Jacobson!

Contact information:

Amy Pollitt
School Phone: 641 444-4300 ext. 351
New School email: amy.pollitt@bkcsd.org

Music Magazine Sales have started!!!

All 6th grade students have started selling magazines.
This annual fundraiser is held each fall to raise money for the music department.
Participation is optional.  However, each student in Jacobson derives benefits from the proceeds of this campaign, and it is the only fundraiser we participate in. 
6th grade families will be receiving more communication from me this week.
Magazine sales runs two weeks:  Sept. 9-21.
Thank you in advance for your support!

 

Lesson Plan Highlights:

Kdgn: Students have been working on voice placement and echoing short rhythmic and melodic phrases. We are learning poems and chants to encourage proper behavior in the classroom.

Song material:  The Hello Song, Teddy Bear, We Can Make a Circle, Hallway Rap, Eyes Up, My Hands.
Movement activities: Statues, Loopity Loo, Hand Jivin', If You're Happy and You Know It.
Extension Activities: Instrument Land and Kid Songs (BINGO and I Had Me a Cat)

First and Second Grade: Students have been working on tone matching, phrasing, vowel placement, and rhythmic patterns though traditional American singing games.

Song material: The Farmer in the Dell, Old MacDonald, The Swinging Farmer, A Tisket a Tasket.
Movement activities: Loopity Loo, The Kermit Toss Game, Statues.
2nd graders are learning to read rhythm charts with Kodaly language (quarter and beamed eighth notes) and learning to play simple accompanying patterns (ostinati) on shakers and drums.

 

Third and Fourth Grade: Students have been working on a traditional Canadian folk song, "Land of the Silver Birch." Students have learned to read in stanza form, sing in the pentatonic scale, and play patterns in 4/4 meter. Students will learn/read different accompanying ostinati patterns on drums, boomwackers, Orff xylophones, and drums.  Assessment on this unit will take place next week. Please refer to your Curriculum handbook for music standards and benchmarks.

 

Fifth and Sixth Grade: Students viewed a YouTube video to introduce the song material for this unit on melody and counter melody. Students have learned the Roger Whittaker song "New World in the Morning" in the key of C Major.  Each student has identified the pitches C, E, and G on a counter melody worksheet and have learned to play the counter melody on boomwackers. This week students will learn to play it on Orff xylophones and have the opportunity to play it on a keyboard or piano, as well.  Assessment on this unit will begin next week and includes singing, playing/reading, and written reflection.

 

6th grade chorus meets from 2:45-3:15 on each Blue Day.

5th grade chorus meets from 2:35-3:15 on each Green Day.
Both choirs are working on posture, breathing, sight reading, Solfege hand signals, singing in rounds and partner songs.  ( 6th graders have begun work on 2 part singing )
All 5/6 students are in chorus, as singing in choir is an extension of the 5/6 General Music curriculum.

Next post......look for......

2012-2013 concert dates

  A call for volunteers
   Mrs. Pollitt's Mission Statement
      Music Class Rewards Menu

Message from the music room: Life has Rules:Play Fair (poster on the door)