Each General Music class students take part in many different activities that includes whole brain learning. Here is what your student is currently completing in General Music and what the expectations are for each grade: Grade 3 Singing: Frog in the Millpond, Juba, Miss Mary Mack, Solfa patterns (do, re, mi) Instrument: Recorders Folk Dancing: Heel and Toe Polka Rhythm Reading: 2/4 and 4/4 time signatures using "Du" and "Du-de" patterns (instead of former "Ta" and "Ti-Ti" patterns which are not as effective) Composing: Simple student compositions using familiar solfa patterns and familiar rhythms Movement/Listening: "Carnival of the Animals: Aquarium" by Camille Saint-Saens Expectations: Students will practice their recorders a minimum of four times during the entire week. Students are expected to spend at least 5 minutes per practice session. This is easily accomplished by playing the instrument between breaks in homework or commercial breaks while watching television. Students are graded on recorder playing skills, singing skills and rhythm reading skills. Grade 4 Singing: Heel and Toe Polka, solfa patterns Do, Re, Mi, Sol Instruments: Xylophones Folk Dancing: Heel and Toe Polka Rhythm Reading: 4/4 and beginning 6/8 time signatures Composing: Simple student compositions using Movement/Listening: "Sylvia: Pizzicato Polka" by Leo Delibes Expectations: Students will expand their listening repertoire by listening to a classical piece of music at least one time during the week and finding a way to describe it using music vocab learned in class. Students are graded on singing skill sets, rhythm reading, folk dancing and instrument playing. Grade 5 Singing: Sea Chanties: The Ghost Ship Instruments: Xylophones and Ukulele introduction Folk Dancing: The Sweets of May Rhythm Reading: 6/8 time signature Composing: Simple ostinati that accompanies their singing repertoire Movement/Listening: "The Red Poppy: The Russian Sailor Dance" by Reichmond Gliere Expectations: Students will sing "The Ghost Ship" to at least two adults in the household, using proper singing voice and clear timbre. Students are graded on singing skill sets, rhythm reading, folk dancing and instrument playing. Grade 6 Singing: Review of literature learned since September as vocal warm ups Instruments: Xylophones Playing: Bala Fon and Two/Three (West African Marimba pieces) Folk Dancing: Oranges and Lemons Rhythm Reading: 6/8 time signature Composing: Simple and complex ostinati that accompanies Bala Fon Movement/Listening: "The Red Poppy: The Russian Sailor Dance" by Reichmond Gliere Expectations: Students will sing using appropriate singing voices. Students will teach several singing games and world dances to their Third Grade Music Buddy. Students are graded on singing skill sets, rhythm reading, folk dancing and instrument playing. ___________________________________________________________ Attention Third Grade Parents: Mr. Turner and I are starting a Family and Me Music class which will begin in April and run for one week. Family and Me Music classes invite parents to attend their childs' music class during the regular school day and experience a typical 45 minute period of music making. Parents and children alike will get to sing, play instruments, hear small ensembles perform, move interperatively to selections of music, audiate, play games and read rhythms! This is such a wonderful and exciting way to see what your child experiences in General Music each week and it will allow you to try new things that are not part of everyday life. More information will follow in the next Spofford Times, so please keep your eyes open! In the meantime, please check out the Music web page to see your child's schedule online: http://teacherweb.com/MA/SpoffordPondSchool/KristenGalardi/table0.aspx We hope you can make it! Best, Mrs. Galardi Mr. Turner | 
