MUSIC AT ST. MARY'S
second "QUARTER NOTES"
We're off to a wonderful start of music making at St. Mary's! I
f you are visiting this web site to check out our school, welcome! Read on for a little information about our music program.
We've been busy singing, listening, and learning about all kinds of music and musical information. Our music curriculum is set up to teach a wide variety of the basic building blocks of music – rhythm, notes, sight reading, and eventually chords and harmony.
Elementary students come to music class twice each week. Singing is always my main focus, so that is a big part of each music class. We learn to use our voices well.
AND . . . we've been using them more than usual lately as we prepare for our upcoming concerts. Please mark your calendars: Wednesday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m. in the big gym for the K-5 Christmas Concert;
Wednesday, Dec. 16, at 7 p.m. in Topper Hall for the Band/Chorus Christmas concert.
What else we've been up to:
Kindergartners are discovering their singing voices and learning to use them properly together. We've been listening for loud and soft, high and low, and fast and slow.
First graders are gaining confidence in their singing ability. We've been playing some fun circle singing games, as well as learing about form and tempo.
In second grade, students are getting used to having music books for the first time. We've been learning to follow multiple verses of a song. We've also been reviewing the first three solfege syllables we learned last year -- mi, so, and la -- and learned a new one, "do."
Students in grade three already have a lot of musical learning under their belts. We started out the year with a focus on rhythm and learned about the orchestra, listening to some classical music excerpts that are perennial third-grade favorites, such as Haydn's "Surprise Symphony." American folk songs are another highlight of our third-grade books.
Fourth graders have a fun year to look forward to. Their musical ability at this level allows us to do part singing, and our books provide us with a lot of interesting music.
The same is true of "Music Express" magazine, which the older elementary students really enjoy. They are doing an outstanding job learning harmony parts for the Christmas concert. Fourth graders always look forward to starting to play recorders later in the year.
Fifth graders have lots going on musically. Many of them have started band lessons this fall with Mr. Ackerman. In music class, we will be doing lots of part singing and working on our sightreading. And this is the BIG YEAR for fifth graders as our concert approaches, because they get to be the stars!
We'
re busy working on our script and our songs.
Sixth graders have options regarding their music classes: they may choose middle school chorus or band (grades 6, 7, and 8), or general music (grade 6 only). Students who want to try both band and chorus are able to do so.
Their general music class has been learning about musical texture and the orchestra, and they've learned to play parts on pitched rhythm instruments.
In grades seven and eight, it's a Fine Arts option; students choose art, band, or chorus. The chorus, naturally, has been singing. They've made great strides as we prepare for their upcoming concert with the band.
It's my tenth year at St. Mary's. I enjoy working with my students and look forward to reconnecting with parents, as well as meeting those who are new to our school family.
Anyone with questions or concerns, either current parents or new visitors to this page, may contact me at lthorngate@stmb.org.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Thorngate
