Music News
October 2012
Happy Halloween!
Kindergarten
Our kindergartners have been exploring our vocal ranges and discovering all of the different things we can do with our voice! We learned that there are four different types of voices: singing, speaking, whispering and calling. Ask your child to demonstrate these voices for you! We've also used various stories and songs to help us find our high, middle, and low voices. Two of our favorite songs this October that used listening maps are "Five Little Pumpkins" and "A Round Little Pumpkin".
1st Grade
Our first graders have been learning about pairs of opposites in music, such as loud and soft, fast and slow, and high and low. We have been reviewing our long and short rhythms using "ta", "ta-di" and "rest". We've also learned some new Halloween songs that are in a minor key. We discovered that these songs sound more spooky or sad than songs that are in a major key. Ask your child to share our favorite spooky Halloween song, "Skin and Bones", with you!
2nd Grade
Our 2nd graders have already been working hard to prepare for our upcoming concert! Our theme this year is "'Tis the Season" and will feature songs about all of the different aspects of the holiday season - playing in the snow, eating gingerbread cookies, decorating the tree, waiting for Santa, and of course, spending time with family and friends. Be sure to mark your calendar for Tuesday, December 11th at 6:30 PM!
3rd Grade
Our 3rd graders have also been working hard on our concert songs this month! Our theme is "We All Celebrate!" and will feature songs which encompass a wide variety of winter holidays from different cultures. Ask your child to share some of the things they've learned about Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Las Posadas traditions from around the world! Be sure to mark your calendar for Tuesday, December 11th at 7:30 PM!
4th Grade
Our 4th graders spent a lot of time singing folk songs and tall tales which are unique to Wisconsin and our state's history. Ask your child to share their favorite lumberjacking song with you! Recently, we've focused on reading rhythms using traditional counting, which is what students will use when they start band and/or choir in 5th and 6th grade. We have learned how to count quarter note, eighth note and even sixteenth note patterns with a steady beat!
5th Grade
Our 5th graders' recorder skills have improved immensely since the beginning of the year! They have worked very hard to learn new notes and songs and to produce a good tone on their recorder. We will wrap up this unit in the next couple of weeks with a final composition project, where students will have the opportunity to compose their own song for recorder! Once this unit is complete, please be sure to have your student turn in their school-owned recorders and books.
5th Grade Band News
A lesson schedule for November should have been sent home with your student. I will also post the lesson schedule on my website. Please help your student remember to bring his/her instrument and supplies to school on lesson days!
Remember - if your student needs any supplies, such as reeds, valve oil, cork grease, or general maintenance supplies, I can place an order through Ward-Brodt and have these materials delivered directly to the elementary school at no extra charge. Please be sure to pay for your items in a timely fashion so that we may continue to use this convenient service.
2nd/3rd Grade Concert
3rd Grade - 7:30-8:00 PM
Both concerts will take place in the DES Gymnasium.
See you there!
Tuesday, Dec 11, 2012, 06:30 PM
Deerfield Elementary School, West Quarry Street, Deerfield, WI
Other Important Dates
1st/4th Grade Concert - Thursday, March 21st, 2013
Kindergarten/5th Grade Concert - Thursday, May 16th, 2013
Contact Me!
Email: ericksona@deerfield.k12.wi.us
Website: www.deerfield.k12.wi.us/faculty/ericksona
Location: 340 West Quarry Street, Deerfield, WI
Phone: 608-764-5442 (5137)