Sarasponda

The 4th graders are working on a piece called Sarasponda that has a stick accompaniment.  The red group did an amazing job the first day we tried it with actual sticks (not just the hand clap patterns) so we videotaped them.  Some of the students can even sing while doing the stick patterns; impressive. Enjoy!   Red Group

Kindergarten Students Sing Solos!

Kindergarten students are discovering and experimenting with their voices.  They are using speaking, whispering, calling and singing voices.  In this echo song, students are asked to use their singing voices as they echo me.  As you listen, you will hear many types of voices used including singing voices that are matching pitch!  As the students' confidence and understanding grows, their singing will too.  Enjoy~
Yellow group  Blue group 1   Blue group 2  Blue group 3  Red group

1st Graders Sing Solos

1st grade musicians are working on using their singing voices in a performance setting (singing solos in front of the class).  Some students are successfully matching pitch too!  Listen to them sing the echo singing game, Charlie Over the Ocean.
Blue Group  Yellow Group  Red Group

3rd Graders are Improvising!

In the videos below you will hear 3rd graders playing in an ensemble based on the chant "A Wise Old Owl."  The students in the back row are reciting the chant while the students playing soprano xylophones (with the red mallets) are creating melodies to the rhythm of the as said chant.  Listen for students that are matching the rhythm of the chant and playing with alternating hands.  The musicians on alto xylophones (with blue mallets) are performing the steady beat and keeping the ensemble together.  They should be quietly keeping the tempo (no rushing or slowing down).  The glockenspiel players are adding the color part.  They play only a few times, but their additional gives the piece it's musical magic!  Incidentally, the students viewed and critiqued their performances (each child performed each part) and helped pick the choice you can click on below.  Enjoy!

Red Group  Yellow Group  Blue Group

4th Grade Arts Night Videos

4th grade students sang and played recorder and xylophones for Arts Night 2016.
Cumberland Gap  My Goose  Chairs to Mend  Zum Gali Gali  My Paddle

The 4th graders new instrument is the recorder- you will hear Merrily We Roll Along, Hop Old Squirrel, and My Paddle performed with an ostinato creating harmony.
Recorder Pieces

The students performed melodic improvisations on recorder and soprano xylophones (red mallets) to the chant 1,2,3,4 5.  Thanks Mr. Chopper for adding your jazz piano accompaniment!  Students on bass xylophones are performing a walking bass line (yellow mallets); the suspended cymbal and alto xylophones (blue mallets) are adding a color part. Enjoy!
1,2,3,4 5 Chant with Recorder Improvisation
1,2,3,4 5 Ensemble Red Group  1,2,3,4 5 Ensemble Blue Group  1,2,3,4 5 Ensemble Yellow Group

5th grade Arts Night 2016 Videos

The 5th graders learned the new melodic note ti this year and the following rounds are not in major keys and include a lot of the new note ti.  To listen to these beautiful melodies click on the links below.  Red are Strawberries  Marjorie  If You Dance

The next set of videos showcases 5th grade student recorder work.  The students worked in small groups or on their own to learn songs.  They earned a rubber band belt to display on their recorder for each song.  The students were asked to pick a song to play for arts night.  Here they are!
Bought me a Dog    Who's That Tapping at the Window   Ode to Joy  Star Wars Theme

The last two pieces on the program were The Little Birch Tree and Duke's Place.  The Little Birch Tree features recorder players.  In Duke's Place listen for the 12 bar blues accompaniment performed by the xylophone players and the piano (thank you Mr. Chopper) thesinging soloists and the recorder players improvising.  The Little Birch Tree  Duke's Place

2016 Arts Night a Success!

4th and 5th grade students performed for families during Arts Night in May.  They sang in harmony, improvised, played recorder and xylophones.  Click on the 5th and 4th grade page tab above to view video links.  Thank you to all of the students who were able to attend.  Enjoy!