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Mrs. Cervino
ccervino@fboe.org
Music K- 8
Kindergarten
Our youngest students continue to learn about
the four families of instruments. They have
already covered the strings and woodwind
families; the students even had an opportunity
to try a violin! Next they will explore the
brass and percussion families. They will
especially enjoy lots of hands-on exploration of
many percussion instruments.
First Grade
The first graders have enjoyed acting out the
story of “The Snobby Pears” to the piano music
of Mozart’s “Menuetto.” This activity enhances
listening skills as the students must detect the
change of phrases to correlate the motions of
the different characters. Soon they will hear
the music of “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” by Paul
Dukas. This music features the bassoon.
Second Grade
The second graders are enjoying learning about
Chinese New Year. They are learning the song
“Gong Xi” a traditional Chinese New Year song.
They will create paper lanterns and perform a
dragon dance for the conclusion of the New Year
Festival.
Third Grade
The third graders are enjoying participating in
the longest note contest. After learning about a
music symbol called a fermata from our dance
“John Kanaka,” each student holds his/her
fermata note as long possible in one breath. So
far the best time has been 17 seconds! The
students try to beat their own time while
working on breath control and good singing
habits.
Fourth Grade
The fourth graders are beginning to prepare for
the spring concert in April. The song “Be a
Star” is a great song with a wonderful message
about being and doing your best. This song is
very dramatic and changes styles several times.
The students have discovered what swing music is
and the difference between straight and swing
rhythms while preparing this song.
FIFTH
GRADE
The fifth
graders are very excited to be learning another
instrument. This year they will have the
opportunity to try their first string instrument
-- the guitar! Before receiving their guitars,
students first have to learn the history, parts,
and care of the instrument. They will enjoy
learning about the strings and frets. They will
also be learning the A chord soon!
SIXTH
GRADE
The sixth
graders will focus this year on the percussion
family of instruments. They will complete an
introductory course in snare and bass drumming.
They are already learning about proper stick
gripping and position. They have also been
introduced to key music terms and will have a
quiz shortly. They will read and play snare drum
music using quarter notes and rests while
following sticking indications.
SEVENTH
GRADE
The seventh
graders have started the cycle by concentrating
on the performing art of theater. The students
will be involved in several small and large
group role playing activities to develop
characters and basic blocking techniques. In the
weeks to come, they will develop scripted
scenarios involving more serious topics such as
bullying.
EIGHTH
GRADE
The eighth grade
music cycle will focus on music in media. We
have started with a unit on radio. After
discussing the history of radio, the students
are working in small groups to create station
IDs and taglines for a station they create.
Recording these will give them the experience of
being on air. The second project will be to
create an advertisement or promo to air on their
station. The final project will be a
thirty-minute class radio show done in live
time!
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