Movin' Along With New Rhythms and Score Reading

Here we are in December in the music classroom. Elaine's class has been reading rhythms comprised of quarter notes, quarter rests and eighth notes. We have composed new arrangements of these notes for use in a "B" section of our songs-
We chant such things as "train, choo-choo, choo-choo train", for example, in the middle of our song "Engine, Engine, No. 9".

Also, we just recently learned "The Mitten Song" which was then part of a mini-play based on the story "The Mitten".
The children acted out the story and "discovered" the perfect mitten to allow all the "animals" to climb inside: A large piece of cloth covering our drums to keep chalk dust off of them! Great suggestion, Noah!

Susan's class is reading 3 to 4-part scores and readily playing the parts, which have students playing on key words in the melody, or playing in the rests of the melody line, or playing a 4-beat ostinato. This class loves to rotate instruments, and, since the class in small, all young musicians get to play every part sometimes more than once.
They are also beginning to sing harmony in the form of vocal ostinatos (Drip, Drop, Drip, Drop) and preparing for rounds with the movement exercise "The Noble Duke of York".

Will's class is capable of reading a 4 to 5-part score for instruments WITHOUT the aid of lyrics. We attempted a piece this week in 6/8 time called "Winter Song". This made me aware of the need to learn the lines and spaces by those students who don't study an instrument outside of the Summers-Knoll classroom. The piece did sound almost complete. One or two parts still need a little practicing. We will use this piece as a "A" section of a rondo. Then students can individually or in small groups create "B", "C", and "D" sections using unpitched instruments or pitched instruments to express ideas in assorted winter poems or their own original poetry.

We have also danced a square dance called "Red Wing". I'm hoping this class can teach it to Susan's class soon.

November music notes float on the air-

The musicians in Elaine's class have been becoming acquainted with "ta's" and "ti-ti's", which are quarter and eighth notes.
They are quite good at "discovering" patterns. We have learned a new welcome song to begin classes in November, and they continue to be kind to each other and make sure all singers are included in the singing circles. Nicholas is always eager to say "Come join in!" Students have played their pitched instruments upward and downward, and have played unpitched instruments to accompany a story, "Possum Come A-Knockin". Children played written rhythms on the possum's hat. Soon, we'll try our hand at half notes, notes held for two beats. Ask about "Keep a Song in Your Pocket" and how Elaine's class changed the words for a second verse!

Susan's classes, meanwhile have learned an accompaniment for the song Elaine's class sings, "Keep a Song in Your Pocket".
Max plays the bass xylophone's crossover pattern well, while Peter, Beatrix and Erin have taken on a challenging glockenspiel part. Parker, Alec, Lukas and Justin quickly learned their alto and soprano xylophone alternating pattern. Seldon and Stanley surprised everyone by playing with four mallets each! Leah decided to try this trick, too, and did it! Ask your child about the Salami game. I'm getting beat badly. These kids can sing on pitch quite well. They are ready for Level 3. That's something to accomplish.

Will's class is literally zipping forward with vocal ostinatos providing harmony to melodies we are singing, such as "Trail to Mexico", "Tideo", "I Don't Care if The Rain Comes Down" and "My Horses Ain't Hungry".
We also have completed World Drumming Ensemble 1. Zara has mastered the shekere rattle from Guana. Meghan favors the cowbell while the rest of the class plays three levels of drums. They decided today that an additional bell part didn't sound good, so we eliminated it. These musicians do listen carefully to each other. I let them bring themselves in, instead of directing them when drumming.
This class has prepared an accompaniment for two songs Susan's class is singing- "Farmer's Dairy Key" and "The Clock Shop".
We are also folk dancing. The Vowel Dance is still in the rough stages, because of its challenging grand right and left.
Our newest dance, "Red Wing", is a square and will require fast feet and quick thinking. Wish Us Luck!