music update

Tomowrrow we begin our third week of music classes, delving deeper into instruction. These last two weeks have been spent teaching students how to conduct themselves in music class, and the expectations for listening to music. Students have been learning to distinguish between high notes and low notes, reenforcing the concept by sining sirens while moving their hands up and down with the pitch.

In Kindergarten we have continued to listen to the "Carnival of the Animals" and talked about how some music is fast and some is slow. We modeled this idea by singing a song at a moderate tempo, then singing the song again very slowly, after which, of course, we sped up really fast. This led into a discussion of beats where I intorduced students to the quarter note which gets on beat. Next week we will learn about half notes getting two beats!

In First Grade, my theory lesson was pushed back to this week because of the half days so your studens will learn about half and quarter notes together discussing the differences, visually and aurally between the two (aurally being one gets one beat, the other gets two beats). We were able to finish our unit on Peter and the Wolf listening to the themes of Peter, the Little bird, the duck, Grandpa, the Wolf, and the hunters. Students discussed differences they heard between each chracter, and how the music portrayed the characters. some students described the little bird as being 'light' in sound while the duck was 'low' or 'deep'. They learned to describe music as fast or slow. This week students will begin a study of Boroque music beginning with J.S. Bach.

Click here for information on our back to school Social, Friday August 15th!

welcome to Music class!

Dear Kindergarten and 1st grade Parents,

My name is Esther Bolzman, and I will be instructing your child’s music study over the next year. I’m so excited for the opportunity to teach your child about my favorite subject, music! Over the next few months, your child will be exposed to many great pieces of music, and learn about composers such as Bach and Mozart. While learning how to listen to music is important, your child will also learn about performing and what it takes to make music. Students will learn about steady beat, rhythm, and tempo; defining dynamics, and high and low pitches. Students will learn how to aurally distinguish between speaking, whispering, shouting, and singing voices. 

Each month, the students will be learning a different patriotic song. In addition to learning lyrics and melodies, the students will learn about the history connected with some of our country’s most influential songs.

Every student will have a chance to proudly present their progress in the concert at the end of the year. This year, the K-1 concert will be December 2^ndat 5:30 P.M.  This concert will be a celebration of Western traditional music. We ask that all students wear black and white performance attire for the concert. The boys should be wearing black pants and shoes with a white shirt. The girls should wear black pants or shirts with a dressy white top.  I will update the class website with more details as information becomes available.

I will be updating the class website on a weekly basis to keep you updated on what we are learning in class. I do not plan to send practice work home with the students, but may ask you to practice with your student if he/she is struggling with lyrics and time is running short before the concert. Another thing you will be able to find on the class website is a list of the classical music your student will be listening to that week. I will be adding the pieces as we listen and discuss them together. Feel free to listen with your child at home and ask them what they learned about the piece in class. 

Thank you for your involvement in your child’s music education. I look forward to meeting your student and walking with them through the weeks and months as they discover the world of music. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to e-mail me at ebolzman@archwayarete.org and I will get back with you by the end of the next school day. Please visit the class website weekly to keep updated on important information. The link is http://aretemusic.blogspot.com/.

Looking forward to a great year!

Miss Bolzman
K-1 Music teacher
Archway Arete
(480)222-4233