Wrapping Up August

Greetings from Music Class!

This week in Kindergarten we have been exploring music that is high and low.
We are able to sing, speak and move high and low when we hear the music change.
We practiced this with "Teasing Song". Students are able to move high, middle and low as the music changes.

Our favorite activity this week was playing Ballerinas and Soldiers.
The students march like soldiers when the music is low and twirl like ballerinas when the music is high.

1st and 2nd graders are finishing up their study of Mr. Vivaldi. They should be able to tell you 5 facts about him and which season was their favorite to listen to.
This week, we ended with "Spring" and showed the story from the poem with scarves.
The students got to be happy people, birds, the murmuring stream or the thunder and lightening.

Springtime is upon us.

The birds celebrate her return with festive song,

and murmuring streams are softly caressed by the breezes.

Thunderstorms, those heralds of Spring, roar, casting their dark mantle over heaven,

Then they die away to silence, and the birds take up their charming songs once more.

Happy Listening!

Week 3

Kindergartners have been learning about high and low sounds with the help of Oliver the owl and the piano. They are learning to move up and down when the music goes high or low.


1st and 2nd graders listened to "Winter" this week. They loved moving in different ways to show the short and choppy parts of the music and contrasting it with the parts played by the solo violin.
"Winter"


Below is a short video that gives a bit of background on Antonio Vivaldi and The Four Seasons. 

Why Should You Listen to Vivaldi's Four Seasons?

And We're Off!

The new school year is already off to a great start.
This week the students have been getting used to being in their new music room and learning what to do when they get there. We have been practicing our procedures, cues and warming up our singing voices.

Our Kinder and 1st grade students have met Oliver the Owl. Oliver helps us find our singing voice when we have lost it. He also loves to be in charge and the students enjoy watching him conduct.

This Week's Listening

Last year, students were very excited about the music we listened to in class. Many times, I would forget to post the links on my blog. I am making a conscious effort to be more consistent with that this year so that the students can share what they are learning with you. 😊 Here is what we have been listening to this week:

Kinder- selections from Peer Gynt By Edvard Grieg.

"Morning"

"In the Hall of the Mountain King"

1st  and 2nd have a new composer every month. 

August's Composer of the Month is Mr. Vivaldi. 


By the end of the week, they should have listened to two selections from 
The Four Seasons. 

"Summer"

"Autumn"


I look forward to seeing you at Curriculum Night.

~Mrs. Boswell

Welcome to Music Class!

Hello! My name is Rachel Boswell and I am the General Music Teacher for Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade. I am a native of Rochester, NY and a graduate of Roberts Wesleyan College where I completed a B.S. in Music Education. As I am a member of the Founding Faculty, this will be my third year teaching at Archway Lincoln. A few of my hobbies are singing, playing guitar, reading, hiking and bragging excessively about my two year old niece.

I am looking forward to welcoming back our young scholars and meeting the new additions to our great school. In music class, students will explore and navigate the wonderful world of music! These early years are an essential time in your student’s development to introduce foundational musical concepts. They will serve as the basis of their understanding of music for years to come. My goal is to engage the students in singing, playing, listening, creating, performing and responding to music.

We will cover:

•    Music Theory - solfege, melody, rhythm, notation, form, articulation

•    Singing - finding our singing voice, posture, breathing, volume control, song memorization

•    Playing - technique for a variety of instruments, pitched and unpitched

•    Music History - composer’s lives and works

•    Listening - getting familiar with beautiful pieces of music and describing what we hear

•    Moving - responding kinesthetically to the music we hear

•    Performing - an essential part of being a musician. Each grade level will have the opportunity to put on a concert for family and friends twice a year. The concerts are  mandatory and part of their grade. The concert dates are:

Thursday, November 16th from 5:30- 6:15pm

and

Thursday, April 5th from 5:30-6:15pm

We will be performing at the Higley Center for the Performing Arts.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or comments.

I look forward to our correspondence and a wonderful year ahead.

Sincerely,

Rachel Boswell

rboswell@archwaylincoln.org