Music News
December 2023
Happy Holidays!
I hope you have been having a wonderful holiday season and staying healthy! All of our students have been busy singing various holiday songs and getting into the spirit of the season!
This month, all students were introduced to the fourth movement of Gustav Holst's "The Planets" suite: Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity. We learned that this movement has an ABA form, with the middle section sounding vastly different than the beginning and the ending. I've included a link to an orchestra playing the full movement, as well as a link to one of my favorite episodes of Bluey which uses this music!
What Else Have We Been Up To?
Our kindergartners have been learning about verse and refrain, and we've enjoyed singing some holiday songs that follow this form, such as "Christmas is Coming" and "Jingle Bells". We've also been skating with paper plates, playing a variety of instruments, and even pretending to grow and melt like a snow man.
1st Grade
Our first graders did an amazing job at their holiday concert! I was so proud of the energy and enthusiasm that students brought to the stage, and they truly loved sharing their music with you! If you would like to view the concert again or share the link with family members who were unable to attend, I've linked the recording from WDEE below.
Our second graders have been studying music from Pyotr Ilich Tcaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" ballet. We have followed listening maps and learned about different "road map" signs in music - ask your student to tell you about repeat signs and codas! We will also have many opportunities to incorporate movements and instruments with this music to deepen our understanding of the themes and form in music.
3rd Grade
Our third graders have also been studying "The Nutcracker", as well as learning about various holiday traditions that are celebrated around the world. Ask your student to share our song about Old Man Winter, "Knock No More", with you at home!
4th Grade
Our fourth graders also did a phenomenal job at their concert on Thursday! Though we only performed six songs this year, I am proud of all of the little details students were able to incorporate to elevate our performance. From their beautiful singing voices to playing instruments, dancing, and speaking, our students took pride in sharing their music with you! I have linked the concert below if you would like to watch it again or share it with family and friends!
5th Grade
Our fifth graders have been diving deep into the concepts of melodic direction and scales on bell sets. We've learned about sharps and flats, and how these can affect what the music sounds like. Ask your student to share the difference of whole steps and half steps with you at home! We've also started to sing songs with two-part harmony and have used our bell sets to play some familiar Christmas tunes!
5th Grade Band News
Band students have been working hard at finishing their last packets and transitioning into their red books! Students should be able to fluently play a variety of songs and exercises using their first five notes, and they are working on increasing their speed at reading the notes on the staff. We are hoping to have our first FULL BAND rehearsal on Friday, December 22nd, and students are excited to hear what we sound like when we are all together!
Please help your student remember to practice their instrument at least 2-3 times over Winter Break so that they can continue to build on what we've learned when we return in January. You can even ask your student to perform Jingle Bells or Good King Wenceslas (#26) for you at home!
Upcoming Music Department Events
December 14th
DHS Holiday Dessert Concert
December 19th
6th-8th Grade Holiday Concert
March 4th
All-Band Concert (5th-12th Grade)
March 7th
All-Choir Concert (6th-12th Grade)
March 14th
2nd & 3rd Grade Concert
May 9th
Kindergarten & 5th Grade Concert
Contact Me!
K-5 Music Teacher
Email: meyera@deerfield.k12.wi.us
Website: http://www.deerfield.k12.wi.us/faculty/meyera
Phone: 608-764-5442