Music classes at Longfellow Elementary spent the month of February focused on learning rhythmic components, moving with expression and utilizing our singing voices in various capacities! It was truly an action packed month! Here is a closer look at what each grade level has been up too.
Kindergarten
Kindergarten classes were focused on all things rhythm; playing instruments, singing and decoding rhythmic word patterns! Students began this rhythmic adventure well before the month of February by first establishing its foundation, the steady beat! Once we had a solid grasp on steady beat, we then were able to begin learning about rhythms or “the way the words go” as defined by our music curriculum, Gameplan. Students learned a steady beat vs. rhythmic poem and then were tasked to create their own word rhythmic pattern in the B section. Students would say the poem, and then 3-4 students would get to perform their patterns on an instrument of their choice; we continued this pattern until everyone had a turn! In a later lesson, students showed off their rhythmic knowledge by decoding rhythmic word patterns with popsicle sticks in an iconic notation format (preparation for quarter notes and barred eighth note rhythms).
First Grade
First grade students were focused on singing, playing and decoding Sol and Mi patterns in music, as well as moving with expression, reviewing known rhythms and preparing to begin our first grade musical! We kicked off the month of February by learning two different folk dances: Cumberland Square and Heel Toe on the Line. Within both experiences, students learned how to work with a partner in a safe manner, to demonstrate either the steady beat motions or the rhythmic patterns that went along with each song. Students also sang new songs or revisited known songs to uncover sol and mi patterns, and then we practiced placing those patterns on a three line music staff. Once students were confident with these patterns, first grade classes then worked in groups to play on the glockenspiel their own Sol-Mi creations.
First grade students are also preparing to begin their next unit of study, a musical production entitled “Pajama Party.” To prepare students for this experience, we began learning about melodrama through acting and through song selections. In one of the pictures below, first grade students are acting out a song entitled, “The Old Grey Cat.” They had great fun getting to be either the cat or the mouse and had to sing the song while acting and playing the game!
Second Grade
Second grade students have been working hard to play both known and new rhythmic patterns on classroom instruments, as well as sing and label Sol-La- Mi patterns and moving to music with an understanding of form. We started off February with finishing a song called, “Taxi” from our music curriculum and then added instrumentation utilizing a new half note pulse while actively singing. We also revisited a known song, “Bounce High” to further instill the half note pulse, and deepen our learning by adding tennis balls to help us feel this new beat! These practices for internalizing the half note pulse will help us in the month of March when second grade students get to play drums using all of our known rhythms. Both of these pieces also were utilizing our Sol-La-Mi patterns. Through the following classes we often revisited these pieces to decode their pattern and then students worked with a partner to place other Sol-La-Mi patterns on our music staff; this skill will come in handy as students continue their musical learning at FMI and learn to read notes on the treble clef staff!
Students also spent two classes learning a folk dance entitled, “The Noble Duke of York” where they had to learn the song, think of rhyming phrases such as “Well find a bear combing its hair…” and then learn the dance moves. Through this dance, students experienced musical form (ternary form, ABA), as active participants, as well as worked on dancing in a safe way with their partner!
In all, it was a very musical month of February at Longfellow and the progress from each grade level was astounding!