Grade 1/2

March 13, 2020

In music students continued practicing the Freedom March songs and started playing instruments!  We are making sure we play the rhythms correctly for our part in the song!

March 6, 2020

This week students continued using rhythm sticks to play the rhythms included with the 'Rockin Stix' song, then we moved on to play the Freedom March medley.  Some students finished their Curwen hand signs this week.

February 28, 2020

This week students are starting to learn about the xylophone names and some rhythm patterns related to these instruments.  Also we have been using rhythm sticks to play patterns.

February 21, 2020

Grade 1/2 have been increasing their skill with the Curwen hand signs.  They are doing very well!

February 12, 2020

Students have been continuing to get the feel of the Cuckoo song and add their movements in partners.

February 7, 2020

Students have been practicing their solfegge using Curwen hand signs.  Also they have started using scarves to show movement to the instrumental song "Cuckoo In The Woods" by Camille Saint Saens.

January 31, 2020

This week we performed 'The Aquarium' in a second way using scarves and a partner.  We will practice again next week.

We are also going to start a new way of sharing our talents in music.  Once a month a few students will share a special musical talent with their class.  It can be performed in class, bring in a recording, send a video, or something else.  If your child suggested bringing in or sending a recording, I will be emailing parents soon about it.  I am very excited to get to observe the many talents of Ramsay students!

January 24, 2020

We have continued with the "Carnival of the Animals" and are focusing in on 'The Aquarium."  Students heard a story about a giant octopus and the issues he was having with the other sea creatures in the ocean.  Ask your child about what happened!

January 17, 2020

This week students were introduced to "Carnival of the Animals" by Camille Saint-Saens.  This was a musical joke that Saint-Saens wrote for his students.  We are learning about form and using movement to some of the songs of his carnival.  We started with the Royal March of the Lion this week.

January 10, 2020

This week in music students are working on connecting the hand signs (known as curwen hand signs) to the so-mi-la song we learned last year.  Also the students have been singing a variety of songs including "Apples, Peaches, Pears and Plums."  Ask your child to share one of the songs with you!

December 12, 2019

As well as practicing body percussion, grade 1/2 have been learning about Boomwhackers this week. 'Thud' are a well known Boomwhacker group from Harvard University whose skills in playing Boomwhackers has been a focus of our observations this week.  The students have also been practicing beat by doing very well in passing during Obwisana.

December 5, 2019

"Bim Bum" is a wonderful song that helps students understand body percussion using patterns, colors, or words.  We began learning this song this week.  We are working on rhythm using steady beat in various ways, through song, body percussion, and rhythm sticks.

November 27, 2019

In music students continue practicing so-mi-la singing with solfegge. Obwisana is a fun rock (bean bag) passing song that helps students learn steady beat.  We began this song this week as well.

November 22, 2019

This week students practiced the final possible movements for "Ahoy!"  They also were practicing so-mi-la singing with solfegge.  They are still working on rhythm cards as well.

November 15, 2019

Please see the links below if your child is in choir so that they may practice the songs.  Students were practicing their so-mi-la and the song, "Ahoy!"  Ask your child to show you some of the actions for the song.

Yours Musically,

Ms. Courtney

November 6, 2019

This week for the choir, I stated that I would put links to some of the songs we are practicing so here they are:

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Rockin Around the Christmas Tree

Jingle Bells

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

Yours Musically,

Ms. Courtney

November 1, 2019

This week in music we celebrated Halloween by playing music on the instruments such as "In a dark, dark, wood."  Also we played 'The Witch's Cat.'

Yours musically,

Ms. Courtney

October 24, 2019

This week in music students continued their singing and movement to the song, 'Hello Everybody.'  We started practicing our So-Mi-La singing and some students even did the Big Blue Jello Cards!

Yours musically,

Ms. Courtney

_____________________________

During the week of October14, 2019 I will begin teaching Music and Math at Ramsay School.

I am very excited to begin this journey with staff and students.  See you soon.

Yours musically,

Ms. Courtney