xylophones & Kindergartners

Finally, they've been waiting all their life for this moment, at least since they were in Pre-School.  The moment to play the big xylophones.  Here's a few pics:

a glimpse into Kindergarten fun

Check out our interesting shapes!  Kindergarten parents, you'll love this video:

Marching for Sept. 30 too

Here's some of our Third graders showing everyone the march/movement for our Sept. 30 (Primary School Night at the Football Game).  The National Emblem March by Bagley.  It's going to be fun!

3rd Graders - practice at home "Panis Angelicus"

Here's the link to You Tube featuring "Panis Angelicus".  Of course you're welcome to download the song off of I-tunes also.  The group Libera has a very nice recording.

Maestro and his friend, the talking Baton

 Here our First graders were practicing conducting with Maestro!

Listening Map

Hello 1st grade fans,
We followed a listening map to a song written by Aaron Copeland called Fanfare for the Common Man.  Many of the kids really wanted to take our Music Express magazine home with them...so I thought I'd share the map on the blog.

This classical pieces features two families of instruments, the brass and the percussion families.  They loved listening and following along.  Don't be surprised if your kids would like it downloaded onto their mp3 or i-pods...enjoy!

A Special Day

My 1st-2nd-3rd graders enjoyed a book called September 12th, We Knew Everything Would Be Alright written & illustrated by a class of 1st graders in Missouri. The art-work is wonderful and the words are very reassuring. Then we enjoyed singing our National Anthem "The Star Spangled Banner".  Wow, so many of your kids know their history and they loved hearing more about how the song came to be.  We all walked away with a renewed sense of pride in our great country, U.S.A.!

Let's Practice our song for Sept. 30!!

Hello Primary School Families,
It's almost time for our Primary School Night at the Holland Hall Football Game.  Details about the event (including times and locations) will be coming home soon.  Until then, let's all practice this song together.  Here's a variety of classes practicing the song:

"Oh beautiful, for spacious skies             for amber waves of grain
for purple mountain majesties                  above the fruited plain.
America, America                                  God shed His Grace on thee,
and crown thy good with brotherhood   from sea to shining sea."

pics of 1st grade (Red/Blue Color Groups)

Hello Fans of First Graders,
Here's some great pictures of your curious and bright children.  After taking some moments to talk about the xylophones (size, keys, musical alphabet, sound box, order, etc.) I surprised the kids.  I turned the xylophone over and all of the keys fell to the ground out of order.  After a few moments of gasps...I proceeded to mix up all of the keys even more.  I asked if anyone may be able to help me put this mess back together.  THE HANDS FLEW UP - READY TO SOLVE THIS DILEMA!  Look at their eager faces ready to face this challenge!

3rd Graders (Blue Color Group)

More Third Grade Fun!  Here, we're playing the xylophones for the first time this year.  We're learning to play a song called "Music Magic" and are planning to perform it for our Christmas program in December.  Lots of fun to see them improve throughout the year!  OH MY GOODNESS!  As you can see, I'm learning how to video using my phone.  OOPS!

3rd Graders (Red Color Group)

Hello  3rd Grade Fans -  Here's some of my Third graders reviewing movement terms:
     Open Spaces, Locomotor, Levels, Pathways, Body Facing
                                          VS.
     Non-Locomotor, Body part dance, CREATIVITY!
The music in the background is just right for the two contrasting activities.  They love expressing their creative self :)  Enjoy!