Music Notes for December

Fifth Grade Music
Fifth grade students are busy discovering Native American culture through playing games and singing songs. We have listened to a traditional Athabascan bead-chant song, performed a Navajo singing game with drum accompaniment, and played a Comanche Hand Game song called “Eka Muda. We will soon play and improvise patterns along with a stick game from the Ute tribe. Within our unit, we have discussed the word texture in art and music, experienced some new rhythms, and connected to Social Studies class through discussion of Native Americans.

Fifth graders are also preparing for a performance in the D.A.R.E. graduation, which will be next Monday, December 6th at 7:00pm in the gymnasium. We hope you are able to attend this awesome event to honor fifth graders’ accomplishments in D.A.R.E.

6th Grade Music
Sixth grade students are currently in the middle of a rock unit. Within our rock unit, we have listened to, discussed, and sung rock songs from the 1950’s to now. We are currently working on playing mallet instruments along with a rock track. In the next couple of weeks, we will compose ostinatos along to accompany a contemporary rock song. Within our rock unit, students have been experiencing syncopated rhythms and repeating patterns in music.

Sixth Grade Choir
Sixth grade choir is looking forward to their next concert on December 14th at 7:00pm in the IS gymnasium (this will be a combined concert with the elementary school) and their performance at Crown Center on December 15th at 5:45pm. Crown Center information is due this Friday, December 3rd. Sixth grade students will also be performing at the Pleasant Hill Health and Rehab Center at 1:30pm on December 20th, 2010. Our final performance this semester will be for the school on December 22nd before we leave for holiday break.

**Honor choir will also be performing on December 14th at the IS, December 15th at Crown Center, and December 22nd for the school.

We look forward to bringing cheer to many people through the gift of music this holiday season!

Sing-cer-ely,
Mrs. Williams

No Honor Choir Rehearsal on 11-23 -10

Honor Choir Announcement:
We will not have rehearsal tomorrow, November 23rd.
Remember Crown Center forms are due no later than next Friday,December 3rd!
Our rehearsal schedule for the rest of the year is...
Tuesday, November 30th
Tuesday, December 7th
Tuesday, December 14th
Concert: Tuesday, December 14th, IS Gymnasium 7:00pm
Concert: Tuesday, December 15th, Crown Center
Honor Choir Party: Tuesday, December 21st!!!
Perform for school assembly: Wednesday, December 22nd.