November in the music room

Cascade Ridge Kindergartners have greatly enjoyed learning two songs for the upcoming Veteran’s Day assembly: “Oh, I love, America,” and “One nation.” I know they will be thrilled to add their voices and join in with hundreds of other Cascade Coyotes! Our musical vocabulary has grown to include the word “rhythm.” Ask your student to recite our rhythm chant and be sure to watch for the hand signs. Using motions, words and melody to learn new concepts is a strategy that is helpful in music and across all other subjects! This month we continue to practice composing rhythm patterns made up of short and long sounds. At home you can help your young musician by pointing out long and short sounds heard around the house – a short beep versus a long buzz for example. In November we also begin a two-month unit on pitch.

Endeavour 2nd graders are preparing a mini-musical titled: “Oceans of fun!” In addition to singing as a combined group, this year students have the option of individual speaking parts. Sign-ups will be available in early December. Please check out the website for videos of each song to sing along with for at-home practice: https://ginacaulton.wixsite.com/elementary-music/2nd-grade. 2nd graders are also learning a new pitch in the major scale, “Do,” enabling them to sing major triads: “Do – mi – sol.” This skill makes several new Quaver songs possible, including a 2nd grade favorite: “Ants in your pants.”

Endeavour 4th graders are learning a medley of songs collectively titled: “I have a dream.” The songs are inspired by the 1963 March for Freedom when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. made his historic “I have a dream” speech. Students have been listening to historic recordings of songs sung at the march and learning about the different causes promoted by marchers. Here is a web page from the Smithsonian Institution that I shared with students: https://www.si.edu/spotlight/1963-march-on-washington. I’ve asked students to consider if any concerns of marchers back then are still of concern to people today. Please check out the website for videos of each song to sing along with for at-home practice: https://ginacaulton.wixsite.com/elementary-music/4th-grade.​