Videos for 9/10 and 9/11 Music Class

First Grade 

Below are the three listening examples I'd like you to listen to. I have included the specific time markings you need to go to in the piece. 

Parental Supervision Requested for Piano Sonata 19. Please pause the video at minute 1:02.

Late Classical Piano Music:

*Please listen until minute 1:02 

Symphony No. 8 "Unfinished Symphony"

*Please watch until minute 2:40

Hark! Hark! The Lark! (text by Shakespeare)

*Please watch all of this

Return to Google Classroom to finish today's assignment!

-Ms. Widdowson

Videos for 9/10 and 9/11 Music Class

Kindergarten

Below are the three listening examples I'd like you to listen to. I have included the specific time markings you need to go to in the piece. 

Baroque Organ Music:

*Please listen to at least minute 2:55 

Almira (Handel's First Opera)

*Please watch until minute 1:31

Parental Supervision Requested for Agrippina. Please pause the video at minute 5:12 and return to Google Classroom assignment for Music. 

Agrippina (Handel's First Italian Baroque Opera)

*Please watch from 3:05-5:12

-Ms. Widdowson

Videos for 9/10 and 9/11 Music Class

Second Grade 

Below are the three listening examples I'd like you to listen to. I have included the specific time markings you need to go to in the piece. 

Sonatina in C (Typical Classical Piano piece)- Clementi

*Please listen until minute 1:15

Etude No. 1 (Gradus ad Parnassum)

*Please watch/listen to all of this

Symphony No. 1- Clementi

*Please watch until at least minute 3:10 if not longer

Return to Google Classroom to finish today's assignment! 

-Ms. Widdowson

May 25-29

Week 10 Distance Learning

Enrichment/Review

Dear Griffins, 

The end of the year is here and our time together, as strange as it has been, is coming to a close. I hope this video will remind you of just a few of the important things you learned before our world completely changed! What remains are the simple truths about Great Hearts students. We are friends who strive to be kind, honest, and trustworthy. Even when the circumstances prove to be adverse, we look for truth, goodness, and beauty in the world around us. 

To my littles, I can't wait to be back together again, learning, laughing, and making beautiful music together. We've only just begun! I'm so sorry we couldn't learn more wonderful songs and games together!

To my second graders, I know you will make Mrs. Trujillo proud because you have made me proud! It will be hard work, but you are some of the hardest working young scholars I have ever met. I will miss you, but I can't wait to hear you sing from the audience this time!

To my sixth graders, it's time to take a leap into Upper School. You will be challenged and stretched, but your tenacity has already pulled you through these unprecedented times. I know you will remember the lessons you learned in your Houses and keep the spirit of brotherhood alive as you walk the halls of your new school! 

I feel deeply honored to have learned from each one of you. Every day brought me a brand new lesson and even more love for this community. I feel a deep sense of gratitude to this years' students for teaching me how important education really is. Most of all, I'm grateful for the chance to make music together because I believe music is a time-honored way of story-telling, expression, healing, and sharing together in our humanity. Now it's time to breathe in rest and prepare for a new adventure!

Joyfully, 

Ms. Widdowson

Have a GRIFFIN summer and congratulations on a break well-earned!!! 

This links to Swivl:

Click Here if Video won't load!



This links to YouTube:

Week 10 Enrichment and Review Video

Videos for K, 1, 2, 6

Kinder Review begins at 0:25
First Grade Review begins at 1:54
Second Grade Review begins at 4:08
Sixth Grade Review begins at 6:40

If you want to watch your review and skip to see what Ms. Widdowson
learned in her first year of teaching you can go to 10:56!

~ROAR AND SOAR~

April 6-10

April 6-10, 2020

Welcome to Week 3 of Distance Learning! 

Below you'll find the resource sheets for your students organized by grade level. There is a JPEG version visible and a link to the PDF file in my Google Classroom. Either one should be printable!

Please don't hesitate to reach out if you need help understanding instructions, or if you need clarification. I am available for conferencing/tutoring by email or phone! Check the bottom of this post for more information. 

Kindergarten: 

Beat Chart

First Grade: 

Rhythm Patterns/Solfa Street

Second Grade: 

Rhythm Patterns/Solfa Street

Sixth Grade: 

Treble Clef Ledger Lines

Bass Clef Ledger Lines

I hope you are staying safe and finding joy in whatever small things you can. Music should be an escape, not a chore. If there is anything I can do to serve you and your families, please don't hesitate to reach out. My office hours for helping parents and students are from 10am-11am every day and I am always available by email!

Don't forget to bookmark the Music Blog in your browser for easy access and check back often!  

With love, 

Ms. Widdowson

kate.widdowson@greatheartsnorthernoaks.org

210-816-3809

March 30-April 3

March 30 - April 3, 2020

Welcome to the Music Blog!

You may find yourself here for the first time this year as a result of the current distance learning situation. If so, welcome! I'm glad you're here and hope you will take a moment to bookmark this page for easy access when you need a music resource. If you ever lose this page, you can visit your grade Grade Level Blog to find it again! 

Check out our first video of the Distance Learning school year here! I miss your students and hope you are enjoying your time together in as many ways as possible. Please let me know if and how I can better serve you during this time. 

Each week the blog will be updated with activities and videos to support music involvement at home. I understand that some families are able to access the online packets, and some are using paper packets, so any resources posted here are meant to support the assignments in the packet and are optional.

If you need something for your little ones to do to get up and moving, my dear colleague Mr. Brown has a wonderful warm-up to Rondo Alla Turca available here safely. 😊

Please feel free to contact me via email or by phone if you have any questions, or want your student to leave a message! 

Email: kate.widdowson@greatheartsnorthernoaks.org

Phone: 210-816-3809

Hello from Ms. Widdowson!

March 23-27

March 23-27, 2020

Distance Learning

Dear Griffin Parents, 

As we move into the realm of distance learning please know that this is new for almost all of us! I am here to answer as many questions as possible for you and to support you and your scholars through this exciting, different, challenging adventure. 

This week should be a review for everyone in music, but as we move along I hope to introduce new concepts as we discover the need. 

Kinder kiddos will need the most support with their work, but all our students are going to need a little guidance through their music work. 6th graders should be doing all their work with little to no help, but I am available for tutoring!

As you know, Specials have been made optional. I am planning and providing as if it was required, however, and want to make sure we don't lose ground with your little musicians. 

Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions for me or Mrs. Trujillo!

With love, 

Ms. Widdowson

kate.widdowson@greatheartsnorthernoaks.org
210-816-3809

March 2-6

March 2-6, 2020

Another week has flown by and your Griffins are gearing up for the Spring Concert! By now all grade levels have reviewed "America" (My Country 'Tis of Thee) and working hard on their first concert piece. These scholars are showing focus, dedication, and wonderful musicianship, as they learn to shape beautiful phrases, sing with pure vowels and enunciate their consonants. 

Here's a look into the first week of March in your child's classroom: 

Kinder: 

• Students are practicing singing with their high and low voices and showing the contour of the melody with their bodies
• Our first concert song is almost 100% memorized and they are starting their second song this week! 
• We will be reviewing our February Composer of the month, Robert Schuman

First: 

• Students now know the name for "a beat with no sound"
• First graders are practicing sight-reading rhythms that contain a quarter rest
• Our first concert song is memorized and being polished, so they are starting their second song this week!
• We will be reviewing our February Composer of the month, Antonin Dvorak

Second: 

• Students are able to perform "four sounds on a beat" with the rhythm syllable "ta-ka-di-mi"
• Second graders know how to write four sixteenth notes
• Our first concert song is extra long! Second graders will learn the second verse of "I Vow to Thee My Country" a wonderful text set to a favorite melody by Gustav Holst
• We will be reviewing our February Composer of the Month, John Philip Sousa

Sixth: 

• Students have learned proper singing stance, controlled and measured breathing in the choral context and are practicing performance mode
• Sixth graders are practicing sight-reading rhythms in 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4 time signatures
• We have reviewed the construction of a Major Scale, describing the intervals using Major and minor 2nds 
• We are almost done learning our first concert song and will begin introductions to the Kyrie Canon this week

The main focus as we prepare for the Spring Concert is healthy singing. While loud singing sounds confident and strong, soft singing shows that our young musicians are being sensitive to the message of the music and the health of their instrument. 

As a singer, which all Griffins are, the health of our bodies is essential! During this time of year, sicknesses are abundant! Remind your little musicians to wash their hands often and drink lots of water!!! 

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. I am working hard to make sure your students are ready for the concert and get all those essential, foundational skills for being a successful musician and music lover. 

Thank you for all your support each week and for making sure your scholar is ready to learn!

-Ms. Widdowson

kate.widdowson@greatheartsnorthernoaks.org

February 10-14

February 10-14, 2020

Hello Griffin Families! Welcome back to your K-2 and 6 music blog! The fall semester was full of so many exciting changes and experiences including our much anticipated Winter Concert! With it came many challenges and learning opportunities, but ultimately was a reflection of the hard work of your students. Congratulations, and thank you for your support! 

As it is the time of year when many people resolve to better at something, I have made mine to maximize the tool that is our blog. The past semester has proven that it takes extra concentration to make it happen. To celebrate the new year, please join me in using the music blog to benefit our student musicians. 

I wish to make this a place that informs you of our goals in the music classroom, keeps you updated on our progress and can help you help your student! Please email me with any questions about music class without hesitation! 

kate.widdowson@greatheartsnorthernoaks.org

This week Ms. Widdowson will not be at school on Thursday, Feb. 13th and Friday, Feb, 14th, as the annual TMEA (Texas Music Educators Association) Convention is being held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in lovely downtown San Antonio. This is an opportunity for music teachers to come together, refresh our approach, deepen our pedagogical practices, strengthen our understanding of elementary curricula and expand our music libraries. We will be learning about the best and most effective strategies for teaching your little ones. 

That being said, we have some HIGH expectations and HUGE goals for what we want to get done this week! 

While I am gone, our lovely ATs will be taking care of music class and helping make sure our scholars don't miss any content: 

This week in music: 

Kinder: 

• We will be giving a new name to "Bird" voice and "Bear" voice! 
• Students will improvise their own motions to a new song
• Good musicians are able to hear music in their heads; this week we'll be practicing audiation or inner-hearing
• Kindergarteners will learn about Robert Schuman, a prominent German composer!
• We will preview our second song for the Spring Concert!

First: 

• We will be giving a new name to "a beat with no sound"
• Students will practice performing an ostinato while singing familiar folk songs!
• Musicians must know many articulations such as staccato and legato. First graders practice these styles throughout music class.
• Your student will learn about Antonin Dvorak, a world-famous Czech composer!
• We will preview our second song for the Spring Concert!

Second: 

• We will show what four sounds on a beat looks like!
• Students will improvise a melody that contains the Solfege syllable Re
• Second graders will learn FOUR new songs this week!
• Second graders will show their responsibility by leading warm-ups and breathing exercises
• Your student will learn about John Philip Sousa, the classic American composer of marches!
• We will preview our second song for the Spring Concert!

Sixth: 

• We will practice using Curwen hand signs and Solfege syllables during warm-ups and rehearsal
• Sixth graders will review known rhythm elements and demonstrate their sight-reading by performing rhythm patterns
• We will learn about the minor and Major Second intervals and how these intervals make up the construction of the Major Scale
• Your student will learn how to identify and differentiate between an Aria and a Recitative through defining characteristics and listening examples
• We will practice audiation or inner-hearing 
• Sixth graders will learn about Antonio Vivaldi's masterwork Montezuma 

Looking forward to another week with our wonderful music scholars!

- Ms. Widdowson