KINDERGARTEN
Kindergarten students typically love music and we take advantage of that in class, enjoying a variety of musical activities. Singing and movement are crucial to a Kindergarten student’s cognitive and creative development. Kindergarten students discover how to use their voices through a variety of songs, chants, echoes, games and activities.
Students play musical instruments such as hand-held percussion instruments, drums, and xylophones, which helps young children develop their fine and gross motor skills. Foundational musical skills are learned and experienced in Kindergarten such as music reading, which are built upon year after year.
We touch on many different themes throughout the school year such as seasons, holidays, and animals, to support and enrich what is going on in their regular classroom. A strong emphasis is placed on helping all kinds of learners learn basic skills such as letter identification and phonics through the use of our fantastic curriculum "Letterland" using many different songs and games and various styles of music. Every effort is made to encourage a lifetime love for music!
Students play musical instruments such as hand-held percussion instruments, drums, and xylophones, which helps young children develop their fine and gross motor skills. Foundational musical skills are learned and experienced in Kindergarten such as music reading, which are built upon year after year.
We touch on many different themes throughout the school year such as seasons, holidays, and animals, to support and enrich what is going on in their regular classroom. A strong emphasis is placed on helping all kinds of learners learn basic skills such as letter identification and phonics through the use of our fantastic curriculum "Letterland" using many different songs and games and various styles of music. Every effort is made to encourage a lifetime love for music!
FIRST GRADE
First graders begin the school year learning about the instruments of the orchestra. We learn about the four different families of instruments. Through web activities, videos, games, and written activities, students become familiar with the characteristics of each instrument in those families. Mrs. Rothra also demonstrates as many actual instruments as possible so the students can hear and touch the real thing in our "instrument petting zoo" which causes lots of giggles! Why giggles? Well....just because Mrs. Rothra is a music teacher doesn't mean she can actually PLAY all the instruments! Some sound better than others!
In the spring, first graders enjoy a unit of study called "The Carnival of the Animals." This is a collection of music written by Camille Saint-Saens, with fourteen different parts each written about a different animal. We use this piece of music as a springboard to learn musical concepts and have a lot of fun along the way. This unit culminates in watching the video of Carnival of the Animals and eating animal crackers, which students talk about for years after. Hopefully they remember more about the unit than just the animal crackers!
In the spring, first graders enjoy a unit of study called "The Carnival of the Animals." This is a collection of music written by Camille Saint-Saens, with fourteen different parts each written about a different animal. We use this piece of music as a springboard to learn musical concepts and have a lot of fun along the way. This unit culminates in watching the video of Carnival of the Animals and eating animal crackers, which students talk about for years after. Hopefully they remember more about the unit than just the animal crackers!
SECOND GRADE
During third quarter each year, we study the Science of Sound. Enjoy singing our theme song!
Once students begin second grade, our focus begins turning toward actually reading music in order to prepare for third and fourth grade when students begin playing the recorder. Students learn note values and practice reading and playing rhythms. Time is spent learning the names of the notes on the treble clef which is reinforced through games and activities. These skills are solid by the end of second grade, which is a great preparation for applying those skills in the following years on the recorder and other instruments.
In the spring, music class often feels more like science class than music class! Mrs. Rothra teaches the 2nd Grade Common Core Science Standards on sound. We learn about vibration, pitch, frequency, and how the human ear works. Then, of course, we apply these principles to how they work in music and musical instruments (it is music class after all!). The use of centers and a wide variety of hands-on activities and experiments are used as we learn about sounds all around us!
In the spring, music class often feels more like science class than music class! Mrs. Rothra teaches the 2nd Grade Common Core Science Standards on sound. We learn about vibration, pitch, frequency, and how the human ear works. Then, of course, we apply these principles to how they work in music and musical instruments (it is music class after all!). The use of centers and a wide variety of hands-on activities and experiments are used as we learn about sounds all around us!
THIRD GRADE
Students enter third grade with great excitement as they know they will be buying their first recorder and learning how to play it! This is a most anticipated event as students have been looking forward to this since they heard about recorders in Kindergarten!
Third graders continue building and practicing their rhythm reading skills along with reading notes on the treble clef, which is essential to being able to play the recorder. Students are challenged with a set of songs to play for Mrs. Rothra by the end of third quarter. Many activities are used to build these skills and keep students on their toes, such as centers, rotating stations, small groups, partnering with others, games, and some written activities.
Third graders also spend time on a unit of study about Musicals. We discuss the difference between a play, a musical, an opera and a ballet. Students do their own performance of one of those genres in class, and are videotaped in order to reflect and evaluate their performances. This includes lots of laughter and fun and students hardly know they are learning something along the way!
Third graders continue building and practicing their rhythm reading skills along with reading notes on the treble clef, which is essential to being able to play the recorder. Students are challenged with a set of songs to play for Mrs. Rothra by the end of third quarter. Many activities are used to build these skills and keep students on their toes, such as centers, rotating stations, small groups, partnering with others, games, and some written activities.
Third graders also spend time on a unit of study about Musicals. We discuss the difference between a play, a musical, an opera and a ballet. Students do their own performance of one of those genres in class, and are videotaped in order to reflect and evaluate their performances. This includes lots of laughter and fun and students hardly know they are learning something along the way!
FOURTH GRADE
Fourth graders continue their study of the recorder throughout the year, culminating with the much anticipated "RECORDER KARATE." Don't worry...no student has ever been harmed in Recorder Karate! Just as in the martial arts, karate students learn and practice various skills in order to advance to the next belt level. Recorder Karate follows the same idea but instead of actual karate skills, we are learning musical skills. Students advance from "white belt" all the way to "black belt" and all students reaching the black belt level earn the privilege of ringing a large gong! (Believe it or not, ringing the gong provides great motivation for students to become Recorder Karate Black Belts!)
Fourth graders also spend some time during the spring learning about Appalachian music of North Carolina. The Music, Art and Media teachers have developed a unit that enhances and reinforces the fourth grade North Carolina Standard Course of Study about North Carolina history. In music, we spend time learning about the culture of NC and how music is reflected in the culture. We learn about specific North Carolina musicians, what instruments they play, how to sing some of their songs, and various styles of Appalachian music. When possible, a special guest is invited in at the end of our Appalachian unit to perform Appalachian music with Appalachian instruments.
Fourth graders also spend some time during the spring learning about Appalachian music of North Carolina. The Music, Art and Media teachers have developed a unit that enhances and reinforces the fourth grade North Carolina Standard Course of Study about North Carolina history. In music, we spend time learning about the culture of NC and how music is reflected in the culture. We learn about specific North Carolina musicians, what instruments they play, how to sing some of their songs, and various styles of Appalachian music. When possible, a special guest is invited in at the end of our Appalachian unit to perform Appalachian music with Appalachian instruments.