Music Room
Formal music education begins in the first grade at Woodland Elementary School. All students learn to read music and discover their beautiful singing voices. These children learn to read music notation of many of the folk songs they have learned. They also learn fun, singing games. which help them to interact with other children in a positive way. Voice training is taught by good role modeling and helping the students discover how they can improve their singing through listening to their own voice and good breath support. Each grade level continuously reviews concepts they have learned in prior grades. Their musical knowledge is developed further each year. Student in grades 1-4 have music class for 30 minutes 3 times a week. Kindergarten students have music for 30 minutes 2 times a week 1st and 2nd grade perform in the winter concert in December
3rd and 4th grade perform in the Spring concert in March. |
Students in 1st grade develop a strong sense of steady beat and discover their beautiful singing voices. First grade students learn to read ta, rest, and ti-ti, rhythms, as well as la, sol, mi and do melody syllables on a staff. They know that a staff has 5 lines and 4 spaces and sol is a higher sound than mi. These children have learned to read the music notation of many of the folk songs they have learned. Ask your first grader to teach you to sing “Cuckoo”. This is a call and response song using some the music concepts they have learned thus far. These students perform in the Winter Concert.
At second grade level students learn about the pentatone scale. This scale consists of the following 5 tones: do, re, mi, sol and la. Knowing this scale helps children to identify the notes to many more folk songs they have learned to sing. They are able to read these songs from a staff as well as notate them. New rhythm concepts are also taught. Students learn about 2/4,3/4 and 4/4 time signatures. They also learn 2 beat, 3 beat and 4 beat notes and rests. These students perform in the Winter Concert. Third grade students learn the major scale. This scale consists of the following 8 tones: do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti and high do. Knowing this scale helps children to identify the notes to even more folk songs they have learned to sing. They are able to read these songs from a staff as well as notate them. The new rhythm concepts taught at this level are: real note names such as eighth note, quarter note, half note, whole note and dotted half note. These students perform in the Spring Concert. During this fourth year of formal music training all students will sing the major scale in tune. They are very capable at this level to sing songs with harmony. The harmony experience is begun by singing rounds and 2 part songs. These students perform in the Spring Concert. The recorder instrument is introduced in October to give all children the experience of instrumental playing and as a pre-band experience. In May students are invited to sign up to be in the 5th Grade band program. In the Fall 4th grade students have the opportunity to be a part of a state AWAKE Choral Festival. |