Students in grades K-5 receive 30 minutes of music per week. Grades 6-8 have music everyday for half of a quarter during the school year. Pre-K (AM and PM) has music once a week for 15 minutes.
Kindergarten
We are learning songs to help with our routine: “Hello,” “Let’s Make a Circle,” “This is My Space,” and “Goodbye Song.” We are exploring percussion instruments such as the hand drum, rhythm sticks, triangle, sand scrapers, woodblock etc. At the end of our percussion unit, we will create kazoos and maracas.
First Grade
First graders are learning a series of school rule songs. Our voices sound great! So far, we know “Follow the Instructions,” “Go Back,” “Keep Your Hands To Yourself,” and “Life Is Better With a Friend.” We are adding movement and instruments to our songs. Please ask your child to sing for you!
Second Grade
Students are beginning their mini- musical, Little Red Hen. They are singing songs and learning to play the classroom Orff instruments. Our performance in November will feature instrumentalaccompaniment. We can’t wait to perform for family and friends.
Third Grade
Third grade is an exciting year as we begin our recorder program. In the first few lessons we will learn how to take care of our recorder, its parts, holding the recorder, proper posture, breathing and tonguing. Next,we will learn to finger the notes B, A, and G. Using those three notes we will know how to play our first song “Hot Cross Buns.” Of course, we have not forgotten about developing our singing voices. We can follow a musical score and sing: “I’d like to Teach the World to Sing,” “Alpine Song” and “Home on the Range.”
Fourth Grade
Fourth graders are doing a terrific job playing on Orff instruments. They are layering parts to an Irish-American folk song: “Paddy Worked on the Railroad.” Students know all four verses of the melody and can perform all instrumental parts such as the Bass, xylophone and percussion accompaniment. They have also focused on reviewing note names using our floor staff.
Fifth Grade
Fifth grade is into the science of note values. We used manipulatives to study the relationshipbetweenvariousnotes. Wehave learned part one of a two-part song called “Best Friends.” Once we master part two, we will be able to sing in harmony.
Chorus
Chorus is open to all students in grades 6-8 and meets in Room 182 on Tuesday mornings from 7:20-7:55. Culver Chorus begins January 26, 2016 and culminates with a concert performance on May 11, 2016.