2nd Grade Music News
January 2020
Congratulations on presenting a beautiful concert on December 19th! This month, we began learning the repertoire for the Musical Explorers Concert at Carnegie Hall on May 7th. We learned about music from China and sang songs, such as "Mo Li Hua" and "Gong Xi." We also created rhythm compositions using words inspired by the lyrics of Chinese New Year Song, "Gong Xi," such as "Best Wishes," "Good Luck," and "Good Fortune." You can find out more about the program here:
https://www.carnegiehall.org/Education/Educators/Musical-Explorers/New-York-City
November 2019
This month, we continued rehearsing the music for our December Concert. We created and rehearsed choreography to go with all of our concert songs. Students generated a checklist of performance criteria and enjoyed taking turns assessing the class. We are looking forward to our performance on December 19th at 8:45 AM. :) Additionally, to keep our rhythm reading skills fresh, we played a variety of PrometheanBoard games, such as "Pokemon Rhythms," "Foot Ball Rhythms," and "Find the Buried Treasure."
Congratulations on presenting a beautiful concert on December 19th! This month, we began learning the repertoire for the Musical Explorers Concert at Carnegie Hall on May 7th. We learned about music from China and sang songs, such as "Mo Li Hua" and "Gong Xi." We also created rhythm compositions using words inspired by the lyrics of Chinese New Year Song, "Gong Xi," such as "Best Wishes," "Good Luck," and "Good Fortune." You can find out more about the program here:
https://www.carnegiehall.org/Education/Educators/Musical-Explorers/New-York-City
November 2019
This month, we continued rehearsing the music for our December Concert. We created and rehearsed choreography to go with all of our concert songs. Students generated a checklist of performance criteria and enjoyed taking turns assessing the class. We are looking forward to our performance on December 19th at 8:45 AM. :) Additionally, to keep our rhythm reading skills fresh, we played a variety of PrometheanBoard games, such as "Pokemon Rhythms," "Foot Ball Rhythms," and "Find the Buried Treasure."
October 2019
This month, we enjoyed practicing “The Purple People Eater” song for the Halloween Parade. We also started learning music for our December Concert, such as “Suzy Snowflake,” “This Little Light of Mine,” and “Frosty the Snowman.” Students generated a checklist of performance criteria, such as “sing loud and proud,” and “sing with expression.” They took turns assessing the class’s performance. We are looking forward to a great concert. (Date and time TBA).
September 2019
We read the book, All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold. We composed melodies to go with one of the verses in the book. Students played their melodies in front of the class on xylophones and were supportive audience members.
This month, we enjoyed practicing “The Purple People Eater” song for the Halloween Parade. We also started learning music for our December Concert, such as “Suzy Snowflake,” “This Little Light of Mine,” and “Frosty the Snowman.” Students generated a checklist of performance criteria, such as “sing loud and proud,” and “sing with expression.” They took turns assessing the class’s performance. We are looking forward to a great concert. (Date and time TBA).
September 2019
We read the book, All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold. We composed melodies to go with one of the verses in the book. Students played their melodies in front of the class on xylophones and were supportive audience members.
March and April, 2019
On February 28th, we enjoyed a performance of Peter and the Wolf at our school, presented by the American Classical Orchestra. In music class, we explored different ways to move to the music for each character, acting out the story.
As part of our Musical Explorers curriculum, we learned about Malian traditional music. We sang along to the song, Kelefaba, by the artist, Yacouba Sissoko, and discussed the message of being a peacemaker. https://vimeo.com/291190306 We also played another West African song, Funga Alafia, on the xylophones.
We also enjoyed creating our own choreography to the songs, "Do Re Mi," "You've Got a Friend in Me," and "This Land is Your Land."
On February 28th, we enjoyed a performance of Peter and the Wolf at our school, presented by the American Classical Orchestra. In music class, we explored different ways to move to the music for each character, acting out the story.
As part of our Musical Explorers curriculum, we learned about Malian traditional music. We sang along to the song, Kelefaba, by the artist, Yacouba Sissoko, and discussed the message of being a peacemaker. https://vimeo.com/291190306 We also played another West African song, Funga Alafia, on the xylophones.
We also enjoyed creating our own choreography to the songs, "Do Re Mi," "You've Got a Friend in Me," and "This Land is Your Land."
February 2019
The second graders enjoyed learning about Greek Folk music as part of Carnegie Hall's Musical Explorers curriculum. They sang the call and response song, Trata, and performed a traditional Greek dance to it, which they accompanied with tambourines. They also noticed and wondered different things about the cymbalom, a traditional instrument and watched a video of it being played to Trata (see the youtube video above).
The second graders enjoyed learning about Greek Folk music as part of Carnegie Hall's Musical Explorers curriculum. They sang the call and response song, Trata, and performed a traditional Greek dance to it, which they accompanied with tambourines. They also noticed and wondered different things about the cymbalom, a traditional instrument and watched a video of it being played to Trata (see the youtube video above).
January 2019
We are studying music from all around the world as part of Carnegie Hall's Musical Explorers curriculum. Our first stop was India, where we sang along to music by the artist, Falu Shah and listened to musicians play the tabla and harmonium . The kids were mesmerized by Falu. :) We also practiced singing sargam, the scale used in Indian Classical music (similar to our "do re mi fa so la ti do").
Feel free to explore this website to see some of the video clips we watched in class, hear some more music by Falu, and to learn more about Indian Classical Music.
www.carnegiehall.org/Education/Educators/Musical-Explorers/New-York-City/Falu-Shah
November 2018:
New Song: Do, Re, Mi
We are practicing the song, "Do, Re, Mi," from The Sound of Music. We warmed up by singing a scale using solfege.
Do, a deer, a female deer.
Re, a drop of golden sun.
Mi, a name I call myself.
Fa, a long long way to run.
So, a needle pulling thread.
La, a note to follow so.
Ti, a drink with jam and bread.
That will bring us back to Do, oh oh oh .
Music Literacy/ Ear Training:
We took dictation of rhythm patterns using quarter notes and paired eighth notes (ta/titi) with popsicle sticks.
Instruments: (staccato vs. legato)
The Syncopated Clock: We moved with scarves to the different sections of the piece, The Sycnopated Clock, by Leroy Anderson. We learned the term, staccato, (when the music sounds short and bumpy, like the "tick tocks" in the piece) and legato (when the music sounds smooth). We explored playing staccato on various percussion instruments. We sorted the instruments and determined which ones were most suitable for playing staccato or legato. Students chose which instruments to use to accompany the piece.
We are studying music from all around the world as part of Carnegie Hall's Musical Explorers curriculum. Our first stop was India, where we sang along to music by the artist, Falu Shah and listened to musicians play the tabla and harmonium . The kids were mesmerized by Falu. :) We also practiced singing sargam, the scale used in Indian Classical music (similar to our "do re mi fa so la ti do").
Feel free to explore this website to see some of the video clips we watched in class, hear some more music by Falu, and to learn more about Indian Classical Music.
www.carnegiehall.org/Education/Educators/Musical-Explorers/New-York-City/Falu-Shah
November 2018:
New Song: Do, Re, Mi
We are practicing the song, "Do, Re, Mi," from The Sound of Music. We warmed up by singing a scale using solfege.
Do, a deer, a female deer.
Re, a drop of golden sun.
Mi, a name I call myself.
Fa, a long long way to run.
So, a needle pulling thread.
La, a note to follow so.
Ti, a drink with jam and bread.
That will bring us back to Do, oh oh oh .
Music Literacy/ Ear Training:
We took dictation of rhythm patterns using quarter notes and paired eighth notes (ta/titi) with popsicle sticks.
Instruments: (staccato vs. legato)
The Syncopated Clock: We moved with scarves to the different sections of the piece, The Sycnopated Clock, by Leroy Anderson. We learned the term, staccato, (when the music sounds short and bumpy, like the "tick tocks" in the piece) and legato (when the music sounds smooth). We explored playing staccato on various percussion instruments. We sorted the instruments and determined which ones were most suitable for playing staccato or legato. Students chose which instruments to use to accompany the piece.
10/16/18
Here is what we worked on the first month of school:
Partner Activity: We enjoyed working with different partners while we performed the motions to this chant:
Hey there friend/ What do you say?/ It's gonna be a marvelous day/ so shake my hand and boogie on down/jump jump jump and turn around!
Music Literacy/Ear Training: (Beat Vs. Rhythm)
We are distinguishing between steady beat and rhythm (the way the words go). We are figuring out the rhythms of familiar chants as having one sound on a beat (long) and two short sounds on a beat (short-short). Ask your student to read the rhythm of the chant, "Miss White Had a Fright" above.
Singing: We started reviewing the song, "Scarin' Alive" for the Halloween parade.
Singing Game: We had so much fun playing the singing game, "Closet Key."
Instruments: We had a blast using hand drums as a "steering wheel" prop while we moved to the song, "Drivin' in My Car to the Mountains" by Lynn Kleiner. We also used them to accompany the song "She'll be Comin' Round the Mountain." We explored the different sounds effects you can make with the drums by making a "rain storm" soundscape.
Here is what we worked on the first month of school:
Partner Activity: We enjoyed working with different partners while we performed the motions to this chant:
Hey there friend/ What do you say?/ It's gonna be a marvelous day/ so shake my hand and boogie on down/jump jump jump and turn around!
Music Literacy/Ear Training: (Beat Vs. Rhythm)
We are distinguishing between steady beat and rhythm (the way the words go). We are figuring out the rhythms of familiar chants as having one sound on a beat (long) and two short sounds on a beat (short-short). Ask your student to read the rhythm of the chant, "Miss White Had a Fright" above.
Singing: We started reviewing the song, "Scarin' Alive" for the Halloween parade.
Singing Game: We had so much fun playing the singing game, "Closet Key."
Instruments: We had a blast using hand drums as a "steering wheel" prop while we moved to the song, "Drivin' in My Car to the Mountains" by Lynn Kleiner. We also used them to accompany the song "She'll be Comin' Round the Mountain." We explored the different sounds effects you can make with the drums by making a "rain storm" soundscape.
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3/15/18
Here are some highlights from February and March:
Music Literacy: We are reading, writing, composing, and IMPROVISING with quarter note/eighth note/quarter rest rhythms (we call them "ta," "titi," and "rest").
Singing Games: We had fun performing the circle dance, "Bow Wow Wow," and figuring out the rhythm of the song (see below).
Singing: We love to sing "Hakuna Matata," "The Bare Necessities," and "I've Got No Strings to Hold Me Down" in preparation for our end of year concert.
Carnival of the Animals: We loved performing creative movement in groups, like "schools of fish" to "Aquarium." With partners, we also practiced mirroring one another with slow, sustained movement to "Swans."
Instruments: We improvised 4 beat rhythm patterns on unpitched percussion, using the rhythms "ta, titi, and rest." After playing "Bow Wow Wow," we did an activity, in which I said "Bad dog! Stop your barking!" and the class responded by improvising four-beat rhythm patterns on percussion instruments. For example:
Person #1: "Bad dog! Stop your barking!"
Person #2: "Ta, Ta, TiTi, Ta"
3/15/18
Here are some highlights from February and March:
Music Literacy: We are reading, writing, composing, and IMPROVISING with quarter note/eighth note/quarter rest rhythms (we call them "ta," "titi," and "rest").
Singing Games: We had fun performing the circle dance, "Bow Wow Wow," and figuring out the rhythm of the song (see below).
Singing: We love to sing "Hakuna Matata," "The Bare Necessities," and "I've Got No Strings to Hold Me Down" in preparation for our end of year concert.
Carnival of the Animals: We loved performing creative movement in groups, like "schools of fish" to "Aquarium." With partners, we also practiced mirroring one another with slow, sustained movement to "Swans."
Instruments: We improvised 4 beat rhythm patterns on unpitched percussion, using the rhythms "ta, titi, and rest." After playing "Bow Wow Wow," we did an activity, in which I said "Bad dog! Stop your barking!" and the class responded by improvising four-beat rhythm patterns on percussion instruments. For example:
Person #1: "Bad dog! Stop your barking!"
Person #2: "Ta, Ta, TiTi, Ta"
Ask your 2nd grader to read the rhythm of the song, "Bow Wow Wow" :-)
lyrics are: Bow wow wow/whose dog art thou?/Little Tommy Tucker's Dog/Bow wow wow
1/30/18
Here are some highlights from January!
Composition:
We played “Who Stole the Cookies from the Cookie Jar?” Afterwards, students created word chain compositions in small groups, using the rhythms of their names. Students performed their compositions on unpitched percussion instruments of their choice.
Music Literacy:
We are reading rhythms with quarter notes, eighth notes, and quarter rests!
Instruments:
We accompanied the song, “Where is John?” on xylophones and glockenspiels. Here are the lyrics:
Where is John? The old grey hen has left her pen.
Where is John? The cows are in the corn again!
John!
Here are some highlights from January!
Composition:
We played “Who Stole the Cookies from the Cookie Jar?” Afterwards, students created word chain compositions in small groups, using the rhythms of their names. Students performed their compositions on unpitched percussion instruments of their choice.
Music Literacy:
We are reading rhythms with quarter notes, eighth notes, and quarter rests!
Instruments:
We accompanied the song, “Where is John?” on xylophones and glockenspiels. Here are the lyrics:
Where is John? The old grey hen has left her pen.
Where is John? The cows are in the corn again!
John!
12/8/17
Here is what we worked on during the month of November: Music Literacy: Rhythm We are reading rhythm patterns with quarter notes (ta) and paired eighth notes (titi). Instruments: We had so much fun singing the call and response song, "Shoo Turkey." We played the "yes ma'ams" on pitched and unpitched percussion instruments. Here are the lyrics: Little girl, Little boy? (yes ma'am) Well did you go to the barn? (yes, ma'am) Well did you see my turkey? (yes, ma'am) Well, did my turkey go? (yes, ma'am) Which way did he go? (so, so) Well will you help me catch him? (yes, ma'am) Then, shoo, turkey! Shoo!/ Shoo! Shoo, turkey! Shoo! Shoo!/ Shoo, turkey! Shoo! Shoo! Shoo! Solo Singing Game: We enjoyed playing, "Sailor Sailor on the Sea." Students took turns singing solos in this game. Creative Movement for Form and Expression: We performed creative movement to "Trepak," "March," and the "Chinese Tea Dance" from the Nutcracker. We followed a listening map of these selections and discovered the ABA form of "Trepak" and "March." 11/1/17 Here is what we worked on during the month of October: ABA Form: We performed creative movement like "cats and mice" to the piece, Run! Run! from Memories of Childhood by Octavio Pinto. The music is organized in ABA form. In the "A Section" the students who were the "mice" tiptoed around the music room, pretending to nibble on crumbs. In the "B Section," the students who were the "cats" prowled around the music room while the mice "hid." We're looking forward to eventually creating our own music in ABA form. Instrument Exploration: We added sound effects to the poem, "Five Little Pumpkins." Students enjoyed playing the stir xylophones, thunder tubes, wind chimes, vibraslaps, and more. Rhythm: We are practicing differentiating beat vs. rhythm. We figured out the rhythm of the chant "Miss White Had a Fright" by clapping out the syllables. We will call one long sound on a beat "tah" (quarter note) and two short sounds "ti-ti" (eighth notes). The chant goes like this: Miss White had a fright/ in the middle of the night/saw a ghost eating toast/halfway up the lamp post. 10/9/17 Dear First and Second Grade Families, We are off to a great start in music class this year! We will be reading real music notation (quarter notes and paired eighth notes) really soon! Here are the skills we have worked on in the month of September: Music Literacy/Steady Beat: -Students are becoming aware of how the steady beats in music can be grouped in 2s. We have been warming up each week by creating steady beat motions to recorded music in groups of 2. We have used music from the album, Keeping the Beat, by John Feierabend. This is a great album with many upbeat classical music recordings! Instrument Exploration: -We had fun tracking the steady beats of the poem, "I Climbed Up the Apple Tree," on the Activboard. It goes like this: I climbed up the apple tree/all the apples fell on me/bake a pudding, bake a pie/did you ever tell a lie? -We have explored playing the steady beat on numerous percussion instruments, including wrist bells, rain sticks, maracas, egg shakers, rhythm sticks, and hand drums. We enjoyed accompanying songs like "Can't Stop the Feeling" from the Trolls movie and "Watolea," a song from the album, Putomayo: South Pacific Islands. Movement Exploration: -We experienced the steady beat kinesthetically by stepping to a beat I played on the drum and freezing "like trees" when it stopped. We explored different movement levels (high, medium, low) and different tree shapes (twisted, round, tall, straight, etc). Solo Singing: -At this time, almost every student has had a turn to sing a solo as part of the game, "Doggie Doggie Where's Your Bone?" It is wonderful to hear students matching pitch and singing alone with confidence! Echo Songs: -Echo songs, in which a leader sings a phrase and the group repeats it, are so much fun. We use these songs to practice matching pitch. Ask your student to sing these echo songs with you at home! |
Ask me to read these rhythm patterns! (Ta/TiTi)We had fun singing "Pitter Patter" and accompanying the song on glockenspiels and xylophones. |
Wise Old Owl
One of these days (One of these days) Look up and see (Look up and see) A wise old owl (A wise old owl) Sitting in a tree (Sitting in a tree) He'll look at you (He'll look at you) He'll look at me (He'll look at me) Those two big eyes (Those two big eyes) They don't scare me (They don't scare me) One of these nights (One of these nights) When raindrops fall (When raindrops fall) He'll give a hoot (He'll give a hoot) He'll give a call (He'll give a call) |
Tongo (Polynesian Rowing Song)
Tongo (Tongo) Chimney bye bye oh (Chimney bye bye oh) Tongo (Tongo) Oom bah de kimbay oh (Oom bah de kimbay oh) Ooh a lay (Ooh a lay) Mah le ka-ah lo way (Mah le ka-ah lo way) |