What We're Learning

We started out the year reviewing what we learned in Kindergarten and adding important building blocks to our musical knowledge. The musical elements are broken down into two main categories; rhythm and melody. Rhythm refers to the pattern of long and short notes that create a song. Melody refers to the higher and lower tones or pitches that are used to create a song. Last year we mastered our different voices, vocal exploration, steady beat, and the first two rhythms: quarter note (ta) and two eighth notes (ti-ti). We went on to learn all about quarter rest (rest) and repeat sign.

Our melodic elements for 1st grade start out with identifying so and mi which are our high and low notes. After solidifying so and mi we go on to explore a "mystery" melody note which is a step above so (it's la but we haven't gotten there quite yet!)

Song Bank

Using the Kodály method, I teach mainly using folk songs. These songs are typically passed down through the generations in a vocal tradition which creates many variants - so you may know a slightly different version than what I teach in class! The beauty of using folk songs to do the bulk of the learning is that each song has a game that corresponds with it - so the kids are learning even when they are playing!

Here are some songs that your child should know from music class!

• Lucy Locket

• Miss Miss

• Hey Hey Look at Me

• Doggie, Doggie

• Bounce High, Bounce Low

• Apple Tree