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