Music with Mrs. Wressell
Friday, May 22, 2015
I write the songs...
Students in 1st grade all the way up through 5th grade have all had a composition project this quarter where they have had the opportunity to write their very own songs. You can see examples of the 1st grade compositions below. They wrote songs that they could play with a variety of non-pitched percussion instruments. After writing their songs they got to hear what the songs sounded like by playing them in small groups. Some even got to hear their songs played by the entire class!
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Recorder Time!!!
The 3rd, 4th and 5th graders have been having fun and working hard, playing their recorders. Some of the songs and other recorder resources will be available on the Jefferson Recorder Music page which you can get to by clicking here, or by using the link on the right side of this page (hint: It's under the heading "Important Links!!) Students will need to sign in to the page using their school login information (the same way you login to the Chromebooks at school).
Read on, for more of what each grade is doing with recorders.
3rd Grade
The 3rd graders are beginning to learn how to play recorders this year. They are focusing on playing the notes BAG. Even though this didn't seem like a lot, the students are quickly realizing how much they need to know in order to play songs using only three pitches. Ask your child some of the things they need to know and remember in order to play their recorders!
4th Grade
The 4th graders have begun reviewing the notes BAG that they learned from last year and have added on high C and high D. They have been using their recorders to accompany songs that they can sing along too. They have also combined their recorders with other instruments including drums, boomwhackers and triangles to accompany songs. Ask your child about their "Can Can" project which required them to work in really big groups to work on an accompaniment for the song!
5th Grade
The 5th graders have begun Recorder Karate. Students have an opportunity to earn belts by learning and playing a variety of songs. All students have already earned their white belts and many have also earned their yellow belts. Ask your child what they need to do in order to earn all the belts!
While playing the recorder we are working with the following learning targets...
I can...
Perform a rhythm pattern using quarter notes, quarter rests, eighth notes, half notes and whole notes.
Read a rhythm pattern using ta, ti-ti, ta-ah, and ta-ah-ah-ah from traditional notation.
Students will identify, read, and perform melodies using the notes on the staff starting with B-A-G.
Read on, for more of what each grade is doing with recorders.
3rd Grade
The 3rd graders are beginning to learn how to play recorders this year. They are focusing on playing the notes BAG. Even though this didn't seem like a lot, the students are quickly realizing how much they need to know in order to play songs using only three pitches. Ask your child some of the things they need to know and remember in order to play their recorders!
4th Grade
The 4th graders have begun reviewing the notes BAG that they learned from last year and have added on high C and high D. They have been using their recorders to accompany songs that they can sing along too. They have also combined their recorders with other instruments including drums, boomwhackers and triangles to accompany songs. Ask your child about their "Can Can" project which required them to work in really big groups to work on an accompaniment for the song!
5th Grade
The 5th graders have begun Recorder Karate. Students have an opportunity to earn belts by learning and playing a variety of songs. All students have already earned their white belts and many have also earned their yellow belts. Ask your child what they need to do in order to earn all the belts!
While playing the recorder we are working with the following learning targets...
I can...
Perform a rhythm pattern using quarter notes, quarter rests, eighth notes, half notes and whole notes.
Read a rhythm pattern using ta, ti-ti, ta-ah, and ta-ah-ah-ah from traditional notation.
Students will identify, read, and perform melodies using the notes on the staff starting with B-A-G.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Everything is Awesome!
Everything is Awesome in the 2nd - 5th Grade music classes. Students in these classes have been singing the song "Everything is Awesome" and doing a rhythm activity to go along with the song.
The 2nd and 3rd Grade classes each came up with a word list of things that are awesome and we matched them to rhythms. They then composed their own rhythm composition using words and rhythms that they chose from the list, as well as some that they created on their own. As we move forward, the students will be learning about form as we take the song and combine it with the rhythms that they created to make our own version of the song.
The 4th and 5th graders worked in groups to create a list or phrase of things that are awesome, with a goal of it being 4 beats long, or multiples of 4 beats long. They have performed this pattern in a variety of ways including, clapping it, using body percussion and using non-pitched percussion instruments. Additionally the students will be learning how to play an accompaniment part for the song using the xylophones.
The 2nd and 3rd Grade classes each came up with a word list of things that are awesome and we matched them to rhythms. They then composed their own rhythm composition using words and rhythms that they chose from the list, as well as some that they created on their own. As we move forward, the students will be learning about form as we take the song and combine it with the rhythms that they created to make our own version of the song.
The 4th and 5th graders worked in groups to create a list or phrase of things that are awesome, with a goal of it being 4 beats long, or multiples of 4 beats long. They have performed this pattern in a variety of ways including, clapping it, using body percussion and using non-pitched percussion instruments. Additionally the students will be learning how to play an accompaniment part for the song using the xylophones.
Friday, December 19, 2014
Our hard work paid off (and we learned something at the same time!)
Wow! What a great job at our Winter Concert Monday night! I am so proud of all the students for the hard work that they put into learning their songs. All that hard work really showed by how great everything went!
Did you know that as the students were learning their songs they were also working on building their musical knowledge and skills? Here are some examples of what the students learned as they were working on the concert...
Kindergarten
"I can make my voice change pitch" - This is where good singing starts! In addition to using their singing voices, students also used a whisper voice and a speaking voice.
"I can keep a steady beat" and "I can echo a simple rhythm" - As we were learning our songs we added instruments to many of them, sometimes keeping a steady beat, and sometimes playing a simple rhythm.
1st Grade
"I can match a series of pitches" - This is building on our skill of using a good singing voice.
"I can distinguish high and low sounds" - This skill is helpful in singing, playing and listening.
"I can perform patterns using quarter notes and eighth notes" - 1st graders also used instruments to play along to their songs. Some even got to play instruments at the concert!
2nd Grade
"I can read and perform short rhythmic patterns." - Students practiced reading and performing with some of the rhythms from their songs. They even got to experience reading and performing a complex rhythm that is not part of the normal 2nd grade curriculum!
3rd Grade
"I can read and perform short rhythmic and melodic phrases" - Students practiced reading and performing with some of the rhythms and melodies from their songs. We spent a lot of time looking at the melodies of our songs and determining whether our voices would have to get higher, lower, or stay the same.
The 3rd graders also helped create a new song, using the melody of a song that we already knew!
4th & 5th Grade
"I can read and perform short rhythmic and melodic phrases" Students learned to read and perform syncopated rhythms. We also spent a lot of time looking at the melodies of our songs and determining whether our voices would have to get higher, lower, or stay the same.
"I can sing with two or more parts" Three of our songs had more then one part which meant that students really needed to be secure with their own part.
All Students
In addition to the grade specific skills students worked on, they all also worked on the important skill of being a performer. One of the most important aspects of being a performer that was worked on, was how to handle mistakes. As with most performances we made a few mistakes, but in many cases, most of the audience probably didn't even notice due to the way that the students handled themselves as performers!
Did you know that as the students were learning their songs they were also working on building their musical knowledge and skills? Here are some examples of what the students learned as they were working on the concert...
Kindergarten
"I can make my voice change pitch" - This is where good singing starts! In addition to using their singing voices, students also used a whisper voice and a speaking voice.
"I can keep a steady beat" and "I can echo a simple rhythm" - As we were learning our songs we added instruments to many of them, sometimes keeping a steady beat, and sometimes playing a simple rhythm.
1st Grade
"I can match a series of pitches" - This is building on our skill of using a good singing voice.
"I can distinguish high and low sounds" - This skill is helpful in singing, playing and listening.
"I can perform patterns using quarter notes and eighth notes" - 1st graders also used instruments to play along to their songs. Some even got to play instruments at the concert!
2nd Grade
"I can read and perform short rhythmic patterns." - Students practiced reading and performing with some of the rhythms from their songs. They even got to experience reading and performing a complex rhythm that is not part of the normal 2nd grade curriculum!
3rd Grade
"I can read and perform short rhythmic and melodic phrases" - Students practiced reading and performing with some of the rhythms and melodies from their songs. We spent a lot of time looking at the melodies of our songs and determining whether our voices would have to get higher, lower, or stay the same.
The 3rd graders also helped create a new song, using the melody of a song that we already knew!
4th & 5th Grade
"I can read and perform short rhythmic and melodic phrases" Students learned to read and perform syncopated rhythms. We also spent a lot of time looking at the melodies of our songs and determining whether our voices would have to get higher, lower, or stay the same.
"I can sing with two or more parts" Three of our songs had more then one part which meant that students really needed to be secure with their own part.
All Students
In addition to the grade specific skills students worked on, they all also worked on the important skill of being a performer. One of the most important aspects of being a performer that was worked on, was how to handle mistakes. As with most performances we made a few mistakes, but in many cases, most of the audience probably didn't even notice due to the way that the students handled themselves as performers!
Sunday, November 23, 2014
The Winter Concert is coming!
Our Winter Concert is right around the corner. This year's concert will be held on Monday, December 15th at 6:30pm at Wausau West. Students will need to be there by 6:15.
The theme for the concert is "Walking in a Winter Wonderland" and there are many songs about snow, snowflakes, snowmen, winter, and all the fun that this time of year brings!
Many students have asked for the words to the songs to practice at home. Below are links to the song sheets for any students that may not have the sheet they were given.
Kindergarten songs
1st Grade songs
2nd Grade songs
3rd Grade songs
4th & 5th Grade songs
The theme for the concert is "Walking in a Winter Wonderland" and there are many songs about snow, snowflakes, snowmen, winter, and all the fun that this time of year brings!
Many students have asked for the words to the songs to practice at home. Below are links to the song sheets for any students that may not have the sheet they were given.
Kindergarten songs
1st Grade songs
2nd Grade songs
3rd Grade songs
4th & 5th Grade songs
Welcome!
I am Mrs. Wressell and I am very excited to be teaching music at Jefferson this year! This is my 2nd year living in and teaching in Wausau. Prior to this I taught elementary music for 8 years in the Franklin Public School District and my very first year of teaching was in Marathon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)