2nd graders learn to play piano!

We just finished learning our new solfege syllable, Re, and are discovering all sorts of songs with Mi, Re, and Do in them. Two of those songs are "Hot Cross Buns" and "Hop Old Squirrel." Because those two songs are made up of only three notes, we decided they would be very easy to learn on the piano. After going through some piano basics, we were all quickly able to learn these two easy songs on our keyboards. Now everyone can play the piano!

My First Opera: Hansel and Gretel

The 3rd graders just finished studying their first opera, "Hansel and Gretel." To make studying this opera more exciting, we acted out several of the scenes of the opera while listening to the music. We even learned a few dances to go with it. On the last day, we invited parents and teachers to class to watch a full performance of our opera, complete with cool costumes from our costume closet. The students loved it! Here are some pictures of them in their cool costumes.

Check out this great website for games and lesson plan ideas to use along with your study of the opera: http://www.classicalkusc.org/kids/opera/teachers.asp

1st Annual All-School Talent Show!!

To end our celebration of Music In Our Schools Month, we had an all-school talent show. Each class selected 1-2 acts to perform in front of the school at our Character Counts assembly. The talents selected had to involve music in some way. Everyone did an excellent job and I was so proud of them! Here are just a few pictures of the many talented students we have in our school.

A Kindergartener jumpropes to "Superstar"

Kindergarten pianist

2nd grade dancers

1st grade pianist

1st grade duet

2nd grade pianist

2nd grade recorder solo-"This Land"

2nd grade pianist play "Chariots of Fire"

3rd grade quartet performing a remake of "Somebody Once Told Me".

3rd grade dancer

4th grader playing piano blindfolded

4th grader singing "Forget You"

5th grade pianist

5th grade instrumental duet

6th grade piano/vocal duet of "Skyscraper"

6th grade soloist singing "Ours" by Taylor Swift

Old McDonald

The 2nd graders learned to accompany Old McDonald on the xylophones and metallophones. We used an F Pentatonic scale and practiced a broken bordun. This activity is great for keeping a steady beat and working on coordination.