In music this term we will be learning about music from West Africa to prepare for an African Drumming incursion in week 8. Through this unit of work will we learn to:

•          Perform a variety of music through singing, playing and moving
•          Listen to, and respond to, a variety of music
•          Represent sound using symbols
•          Identify different features of the music E.g. instruments used
•          Sing songs developing a sense of beat, pitch, tone colour and structure
•          Move to music maintaining a constant beat
•          Play music using body percussion and percussion instruments to explore the concepts of duration, dynamics, tone colour and structure
•          Be respectful of different types of music.

Welcome back to 2016

The students and I will regularly post on the blog to share what we are learning in music class.

In music this term we will:

• Revise known rhythms and learning to read, write and play the 2 beat rhythm ta-a
• Learn to improvise using instruments and movement
• Learn to identify instruments by their sound and to classify them into their instrument families
• Learn to identify long & short sounds & respond to them by moving & creating graphic notation
• Create and perform an ostinato arrangement
• The names of different percussion instruments and how to play them
• Learn to sing and perform with increased confidence and accuracy.

Stay posted for photos and videos from our lessons.

This week we continued learning the notes B, A & G on the recorder. We learnt how to play the song Mr Sun and added percussion instruments.

We have finished our music learning for the year. We will have a music games lesson next week and a rewards lesson the week after. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at the Christmas Carols on Thursday.

This week we learnt a poem about a snowman and added boom whackers to represent the building and the melting of the snowman.

We have finished our music learning for the year. We will have a music games lesson next week and a rewards lesson the week after. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at the Christmas Carols on Thursday.

This week we learnt a poem about a snowman and added boom whackers to represent the building and the melting of the snowman.

We have finished our music learning for the year. We will have a music games lesson next week and a rewards lesson the week after. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at the Christmas Carols on Thursday.

This week we learnt a poem about a snowman and added boom whackers to represent the building and the melting of the snowman.

We have finished our music learning for the year. We will have a music games lesson next week and a rewards lesson the week after. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at the Christmas Carols on Thursday.

This week we learnt about tone-colour.Generally speaking, tone colour is what allows a listener to identify a sound as being produced by a specific instrument and to differentiate between instruments of the same type.

We worked with a partner to explore the different sounds 1 percussion instrument could make. The students chose the best 3 and created a symbol for each sound, they then created a plan of how they would play these sounds. Here are the performances.

We have finished our music learning for the year. We will have a music games lesson next week and a rewards lesson the week after. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at the Christmas Carols on Thursday.

This week we learnt about tone-colour.Generally speaking, tone colour is what allows a listener to identify a sound as being produced by a specific instrument and to differentiate between instruments of the same type.

We worked with a partner to explore the different sounds 1 percussion instrument could make. The students chose the best 3 and created a symbol for each sound, they then created a plan of how they would play these sounds. Here are the performances.

This week in music we were learning about Texture. We learnt that 1 singer or performer is called a soloist and creates a thin texture and when a group of musicians sing or perform they create a thick texture.

We did lots of activities to explore creating a thin and thick texture. We did movement activities where 1 students moves when the soloist played and the whole group copied the soloists movement when the band played. The students enjoyed creating movements for their class mates to copy.

We then used instruments to create a thin and thick texture, with a conductor picking a student to play during the soloist part.

To finish the lesson, the students performed the Clare Jig with 4 different Soloist performing the movements.

This week we composed a verse for the ice-cream chant. They came up with a type of ice cream and created a melody to go with it.

We then performed the chants as a class.

This was the finale to our learning about rhythm and melody this year. For the remainder of the term we will look at tone colour and texture.

We have also been working very hard to learn the Year 2 Christmas Carol Jingle Bell Rock ready to perform at the Christmas Carols which is on Thursday 10th December. you can find the letter here or under the home tab on this blog.

In week 5 we started learning about Tone Colour. Generally speaking, tone colour is what allows a listener to identify a sound as being produced by a specific instrument and to differentiate between instruments of the same type. We look at a range of percussion instruments and discussed whether the instrument would make a hitting, banging, shaking or scraping sound.

As a class we listened to the poem ” The Sounds I Like” and in small groups decided what instrument would be the best tone colour for the line they were given. We then performed the poem as a class.

We have also been working very hard to learn the Year 1 Carol We Wish You a Merry Christmas and the Year 2 Christmas Carol Jingle Bell Rock ready to perform at the Christmas Carols which is on Thursday 10th December. You can find the letter here or under the home tab on this blog.

Over the past few weeks we continued our learning about form. We composed our own piece of music with a partner that had an A and a B section. The students had to ensure that there was a contrast between the 2 sections.

The students then performed their compositions to the class and their audience had to say what the contrast was.

Over the past couple of weeks K2 have continued learning about pitch and melody and have developed their xylophone skills.

The students worked with a partner to create a composition using the notes C,D & E. They then practiced their piece and performed it. Whilst performing they had to play the correct rhythms and notes as well remembering to use the correct beater technique – alternate hands and bouncing beaters. All students did very well and I was pleased to see their technique has developed over the past few weeks.

The students then composed a verse for the ice-cream chant. They came up with a type of ice cream and created a melody to go with it.

We then performed the chants as a class.

This was the finale to our learning about rhythm and melody this year. For the remainder of the term we will look at tone colour and texture.

We have also been working very hard to learn the Year 2 Christmas Carol Jingle Bell Rock ready to perform at the Christmas Carols which is on Thursday 10th December. you can find the letter here or under the home tab on this blog.

Over the past couple of week K3 have continued learning about pitch and melody and have developed their xylophone skills.

The students worked with a partner to create a composition using the notes C,D & E. They then practiced their piece and performed it. Whilst performing they had to play the correct rhythms and notes as well remembering to use the correct beater technique – alternate hands and bouncing beaters. All students did very well and I was pleased to see their technique has developed over the past few weeks.

Here are the performances

Lewis R & Luke

This week in music we continued to learn this years Music:Count us in song- Gold.

We then continued to learn about the form of music and how the different sections are different. The students moved to the music Sliding and Skipping. We discussed the difference in the sections and worked out the form was AB.

After this we revised the song My Bonnie and learnt that the sections of the song are called verse and chorus and that this song is also in the form AB. We then learnt a dance that had different movements for the A and B sections.

This week in music we learnt this years Music:Count us in song – Gold.

We then did different activities to practice using alternating hands when playing the xylophones. This year we are trialing having the year 3 students try out for the talent quest. Interested students would have brought a letter home on Tuesday.

This week in music we learnt this years Music:Count us in song – Gold.

We then did different activities to practice using alternating hands when playing the xylophones.

This year we are trialing having the year 3 students try out for the talent quest. Interested students have brought a letter home today.

K3 have been working very hard to learn this years Music:Count us in song – Gold.

As part of our learning about pitch and melodies, the students danced to different types of music.

The students also wrote their own 2 note compositions, they will perform them on xylophones on Friday.

In Term 4 we will be learning:

• To recognise the rhythms ta, ti-ti sand Za
• To recognise higher and lower sounds and changes in pitch
• To make a connection between music symbols and sounds
• That an instrument can produce different sounds depending upon how it is played
• To compose and play melodies on xylophones
• The Music: Count Us In song “Gold”
• To sing Christmas songs

In the final week of Term 3 I brought my cello in to show the students. We discussed that the cello belongs to the string family and would make a low sound as it is big. I answered questions and then played a piece for the class. The students then got to have a turn trying to play the cello. Here are some pictures

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As this is our final week of the term and K4 made it to the top of the music chart I brought my cello in to show the students. We discussed that the cello belongs to the string family and would make a low sound as it is big. I answered questions and then played a piece for the class. The students then got to have a turn trying to play the cello. Here are some pictures.

As this is our final week of the term and K2 made it to the top of the music chart I brought my cello in to show the students. We discussed that the cello belongs to the string family and would make a low sound as it is big. I answered questions and then played a piece for the class. The students then got to have a turn trying to play the cello. Here are some pictures.\

As this is our final week of the term and K3 made it to the top of the music chart I brought my cello in to show the students. We discussed that the cello belongs to the string family and would make a low sound as it is big. I answered questions and then played a piece for the class. The students then got to have a turn trying to play the cello. Here are some pictures.

Have a great holiday everyone 🙂

Today we performed the rhythm ostinatos we wrote on Monday.

We then swapped instruments

This week in music we learnt and performed the song Alphabet Rondo. We learnt the alphabet song and then sandwiched other songs in between. The tricky part was singing known nursery rhymes to the melody of the alphabet song. The students really enjoyed this activity. Some children didn’t know the words to many nursery rhymes so we’ll work on this and get more nursery rhymes into our repertoire.

We then continued learning about dynamics. We learnt the rhyme Way Down South and performed it in a group watching the crocodile conductor for changes in dynamics.

As K4 have worked very hard this term and have made their way up our Music Chart they will be having a music games lesson next week as a reward. Keep an eye out early term 4 to find out what we will be learning in our last term of 2015. I hope everyone has a great holiday..

This week we revised the song Peas Pudding and performed it in a canon – singing, humming and putting the words in our head. I was very impressed with how the class went as this was a difficult activity.

We then split into 4 groups and chose a rhythm each. Each group then performed their rhythm as an ostinato to the song Tongo. We are getting very good at playing rhythms and staying in time.

This week in music we split into 4 groups and chose a rhythm each. Each group then performed their rhythm as an ostinato to the song Tongo.

This week we revised the song Peas Pudding and performed it in a canon – singing, humming and putting the words in our head. I was very impressed with how the class went as this was a difficult activity.

We then worked with a partner to write a four bar rhythm that we will perform in Fridays lesson.

This week in music, we learnt the song “All around the buttercup” This song uses the pitches, Do, Re, Mi and Sol. We are getting very good at using the hand signs and singing in tune. We then played the game.

We then continued learning about Dynamics. We listened to the story 3 Billy Goats Gruff and learnt the little goat had a soft voice, the middle sized goat had a louder voice, the big goat had an even louder voice and the troll had the loudest voice of all. We then acted the story out and added instruments.

This week we learnt the song “All around the buttercup” Students had to walk to the beat of the song and then find a partner. The last person to find a partner played the beat on the xylophone when we played again.

This week students worked with a partner to write a 4 beat rhythm ostinato. They then performed the osintato on a xylophone and untuned percussion instrument.

We then swapped instruments.

Next week we will work in 4 groups to learn and perform a rhythm ostinato and create a mini performance.

This week we learnt the song “All around the buttercup” Students had to walk to the beat of the song and then find a partner. The last person to find a partner played the beat on the xylophone when we played again.

This week students worked with a partner to write a 4 beat rhythm ostinato. They then performed the osintato on a xylophone and untuned percussion instrument.

We then swapped instruments.

Next week we will work in 4 groups to learn and perform a rhythm ostinato and create a mini performance.

This week in music we learnt the correct way to hold a beater when playing the xylophone. We then played a single note ostinato and performed it in a call and response form.

Next week we will write our own single melodic patterns and perform them to class.

In week 6 students learnt about call and response. We have used a Polynesian Song called “Tongo” to sing both call and response parts, to create a movement for a partner to copy in the response section and to create and perform a body percussion ostinato (repeated pattern).

In week 7 we learnt the correct beater technique and performed rhythm ostinatos on xylophones using the note D.

In week 8 we will write our own rhythms and perform them on a chosen note on the xylophone.

Since the incursion K4 have been learning about dynamics (volume of the music). We learnt the song “My Bonnie” and performed it with different dynamics conducted by different students.

We learnt that the symbol F stand for Forte and means loud, and the symbol P stands for Piano and means soft.

This week we also learnt the song “who’s that tapping at the window,” the game that accompanies this song included solo parts. Well done to Ella, Luke, Jayden, Chloe, Jahzia, James, Jye, Lachlan, Daniel, Jasmine, Tommy and Matthew who all had a go at singing the solo part.

Next week we are going to add instruments to the story The Three Billy Goats Gruff and perform with appropriate dynamics.

In week 6 & 7 students learnt about call and response. We have used a Polynesian Song called “Tongo” to sing both call and response parts, to create a movement for a partner to copy in the response section and to create and perform a body percussion ostinato (repeated pattern).

In Week 8 we will learn the correct technique to hold and use beaters and we will play rhythm ostinatos on xylophone.

In week 6 students learnt about call and response. We have used a Polynesian Song called “Tongo” to sing both call and response parts, to create a movement for a partner to copy in the response section and to create and perform a body percussion ostinato (repeated pattern).

In week 7 we learnt the correct beater technique and performed rhythm ostinatos on xylophones using the note D.

In week 8 we will write our own rhythms and perform them on a chosen note on the xylophone.

For the remainder of this term students will be learning how to read the notes on the treble clef. Over the past 2 weeks we have learnt that to remember the notes on the line we use the rhyme “Every, Good, Boy, Deserves, Food” and the notes on the space spell “face.”

We have been using the program “Staff Wars” to practice our note reading skills. This is a great program and helps student get faster at recognising the notes. They really enjoy it too. It can be downloaded onto a laptop / computer for free from http://www.themusicinteractive.com/downloads.html make sure you chose Staffwars V1.4. It can also be downloaded as an app on to an Ipad from https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/staffwars/id810405576?mt=8 but is a paid app and is $1.29. In my opinion the app is easier for the students to use but either would be good for practice at home and we use the computer version in class as well as the app.

In week 8 and 9 we will be using our knowledge of the notes on the treble clef to write our own music and perform it on the xylophones.

We will post our work once completed. Lots to learn in the last 3 weeks of term

Today we transferred what we learnt last week from the body percussion activity onto percussion instruments and performed it.

We then learnt to play the music on Boomwhackers and chime bars.

Finally we learnt how to perform the cup rhythm pattern to go with the music. This was lots of fun .

Next week we are going to learn a new piece of music. Hopefully every family has received the letter about the incursion if not, it can be found under the home tab on the blog.

Today we transferred what we learnt last week from the body percussion activity onto percussion instruments and performed it.

We then learnt to play the music on Boomwhackers and chime bars.

Finally we learnt how to perform the cup rhythm pattern to go with the music. This was lots of fun .

Next week we are going to learn a new piece of music. Hopefully every family has received the letter about the incursion if not, it can be found under the home tab on the blog.

Today we transferred what we learnt last week from the body percussion activity onto percussion instruments and performed it.

We then learnt to play the music on Boomwhackers and chime bars.

Finally we learnt how to perform the cup rhythm pattern to go with the music. This was lots of fun .

Next week we are going to learn a new piece of music. Hopefully every family has received the letter about the incursion if not, it can be found under the home tab on the blog.

Today we learnt a body percussion ostinato (repeated pattern) and performed it as a class.

We then transferred what we learnt from the body percussion activity onto percussion instruments ad performed it.

On Friday we will attempt to play the melody on boomwhackers and chime bars.

This week we started learning the song “Boom Boom Beat,” this is the first song we are learning for our music incursion. We listened to the song, listening carefully for important features and instruments used.

After this we learnt a body percussion ostinato (repeated pattern) and performed it as a class.

Next week we are going to transfer what we learnt from the body percussion activity onto percussion instruments.

This week we started learning the song “Boom Boom Beat,” this is the first song we are learning for our music incursion. We listened to the song, listening for important features and instruments used. We then used the Musica Viva interactive resource and learnt the names of 15 instruments, the families they belong to and watched short videos of them being played.

Next week we will be learning a body percussion ostinato (repeating pattern) to perform with the music.

This week we started learning the song “Boom Boom Beat,” this is the first piece of music we are learning for our music incursion. We listened to the piece of music, listening carefully for important features and instruments used. We then used the Musica Viva interactive resource and learnt the names of 15 instruments, the families they belong to and watched short videos of them being played.

After this we learnt a body percussion ostinato (repeated pattern) and performed it as a class.

This week Darci learnt what bongos were, Zayn learnt that you can play the vibraphone with 4 beaters and Chloe learnt that it is possible to make music with plastic cups.

Next week we are going to transfer what we learnt from the body percussion activity onto percussion instruments.

This week we started learning the song “Boom Boom Beat,” this is the first song we are learning for our music incursion. We first listened to the song, listening for important features and instruments used. We then used the Musica Viva interactive resource and learnt the names of 15 instruments, the families they belong to and watched short videos of them being played.

After this we learnt a body percussion ostinato (repeated pattern) and performed it as a class.

Finally we transferred what we had learnt from the body percussion onto percussion instruments. We are going to perfect this next week.

The students really enjoyed the challenge of the body percussion. Sienna enjoyed playing the guiro, Brodie liked playing the egg shakers, Peter learnt the name of some new instruments and Evie learnt that you can play boomwhackers with a drum stick.

This week in music we learnt the song “Let us chase the squirrel.” This song was good for practicing our new note “re”

We then had fun playing Boomwhackers. Boomwhackers are pitched colourful plastic tubes. Each colour is a different pitch. The students had fun playing along with an Interactive Whiteboard Program. Here is the class playing the song Pancakes.

I hope everyone has a fantastic break and I look forward to seeing you in Term 3.

This week in music we played Boomwhackers. Boomwhackers are pitched colourful plastic tubes. Each colour is a different pitch. The students had fun playing along with an Interactive Whiteboard Program. Here are 2 videos of the students in action.

Zavier enjoyed playing the green Boomwhacker. Laith’s favourite was the Low C Bomwhacker and Isabelle like playing the song Percussion Is Cool.

I hope everyone has a fantastic break and I look forward to seeing you in Term 3.

This week in music we played Boomwhackers. Boomwhackers are pitched colourful plastic tubes. Each colour is a different pitch. The students had fun playing along with an Interactive Whiteboard Program. We were working so hard and having so much fun we forgot to record a video or take photos.

Harry thought the song Boom boom beat was cool, Bella like the song Pancakes and Mia likes the rhythms.

I hope everyone has a fantastic break and I look forward to seeing you in Term 3.

This week in music we learnt the song “Let us chase the squirrel” and participated in the movement activity.

After this we split into 5 groups and played rhythms on our instruments.

In our groups we wrote our own rhythms and performed as a class.

Logan enjoyed singing “Let us chase the Squirrel.” Luke thought he improved his guiro playing. Scarlett thought she got better at playing the claves.

In music this week we learnt the song Dinah. Charlotte and Jye had a go at singing the solo parts.

We continued learning about pitch. We played the song “Ipsy Wipsy Spider” on the xylophones. The students aer becoming more confident finding their way around the xylophone and understanding which is the low end and which is the high.

This week in music we learnt the song “Let us chase the squirrel” This song used a ta-a – a 2 beat rhythm. We then played the singing game that goes along with the song.

We then recapped 2 songs we have learnt this year and learnt to play them on xylophones.

Isabelle enjoyed playing Bee, Bee, Evie enjoyed singing the song Let us catch a squirrel and Katherine enjoyed playing the singing game.