Due to my change in last name, this will no longer be the website address for the official Wayne Thomas Music Blog. Have no fear; everything has been moved over to the new website! I will be updating the new site from now on. You can find my updated blog at http://blogs.nssd112.org/ecrutchfield/ The only part of the address that changed is that the name at the end is now “ecrutchfield” instead of “egavin.” Thanks for reading!
I thought I would pass this on in case anyone is interested. “Billy Elliot” is a fantastic Tony Award-winning musical that is currently playing in Chicago. I loved it when I saw it! This special promotion is valid for any Tuesday-Thursday evening performance through September 16. One child’s ticket is free with the purchase of an adult ticket! See the ad below for more information. Click here and use code KIDSFREE to take advantage of this offer. You can also get tickets by calling 800-775-2000.
This has been another great year at Wayne Thomas. I will be getting married on June 19, so next year my new name will be “Mrs. Crutchfield.” I will post some pictures during the summer, and Solami will be there, so be sure to check Solami’s Solo for updates throughout the summer! I hope each of you has a wonderful summer! See you in August!
This was a busy week at Wayne Thomas with class picnics, a PBIS celebration, and the fifth grade vs. teachers kickball game!
In music class, the kindergarteners learned about making music with unusual instruments by finding out about “Stomp!”
First, second, third, and fourth graders had their “sharing days.” Any student who wanted to got to perform an instrument, do a dance, show a karate move, or something else of that nature that he wanted to share with the class. The students got to see lots of talents they didn’t even know their classmates had!
The fifth graders got to watch their Spring Sing dress rehearsal and have their Spring Sing celebration this week. It was very fun to see the students singing and dancing along with the video as they watched it!
Congratulations to the fifth graders on a Broadway-worthy Spring Sing performance!! Next week each class in first through fourth grades will have a “sharing day,” which is their chance to perform for one another during their music time. If your child plays an instrument, takes a dance class, etc., and would like to share his talent with his peers, this is his chance! Students have been informed which day their “sharing day” will take place, so they should come prepared if they plan on performing for the class!
This week, the kindergarteners enjoyed performing a folk dance called “Kinderpolka.”
First graders played several unpitched percussion instruments to a Spanish song in AB form. We discovered that students in Miss Shapiro’s class know how to count to ten in five different languages!
Second graders reviewed macrobeat and microbeat by playing a singing game called “Cobbler, Cobbler Pass the Shoe. They also enjoyed doing a body percussion memory activity.
Third graders added the shekere part to their drumming ensemble this week, so now they know the low and high drum parts, the cowbell, and the shekere parts.
Fourth graders worked on a drumming ensemble this week. They learned parts for the low an high drums, cowbell, and shekere. They also enjoyed the “Question of the Day” drumming activity.
The fifth graders did a fantastic job in their Spring Sing! They learned about different Broadway shows and all kinds of different songs from Broadway musicals. They worked really hard and should be very proud of their performance!
Kindergarteners sang and played instruments to the book Ten In The Bed. They also used rhythm sticks to show the actions of the characters in “Jack and Jill” and did movement to show the low to high pitches in “Kitty Cat, I Hear a Mouse.”
First graders learned about Bach and his “Minuet in G Major.” They learned about three-four time signatures through this song. They had a great time playing a singing game called “Cobbler, Cobbler, Pass This Shoe!”
Second graders demonstrated rhythmic and melodic dictation to a song called “Clap Your Hands” by using bingo chips to show the different rhythms and pitches. They also used various unpitched percussion instruments to create soundscapes based on pictures they were given.
Third graders began an ensemble using the tubanos and djembes. This week, they learned the low and high drum parts and the cowbell part. They really enjoy the drumming question of the day because each student gets to play a solo, and they learn new things about their classmates.
Fourth graders began African drumming this week. They learned about different types of African drums, reviewed how to play the high and low tones, did several question and answer activities, and began a drumming piece.
The fifth graders had their full grade level rehearsal in the music room this week in preparation for next week’s Spring Sing. They are working very hard and have been doing a great job with their Broadway music! If you need an extra copy of the information sheet that was sent home last week, you can access it under the “Important Dates” section of the blog.
Kindergarteners sang a song with rhythm sticks and got to decide what kind of movements the rhythm sticks should do next in the song. They also enjoyed singing a song about a farm.
First graders read the final chapter of “Luigi’s Baton” to review the the instrument families of the orchestra. They also did a folk dance and created movement to a song in AB form.
Second graders performed a round called “If You Goad a Toad” in four parts, created movements to go with each line of the song, and then taught the rest of the class their movements. They also did a folk dance called “Alabama Gal.”
Third graders began their African drumming unit this week! They learned learned how to play the high and low tones on tubanos and djembes. They especially enjoyed playing question and answer phrases on the drums!
Fourth graders learned a folk song called “Chicken on the Fencepost.” They had fun playing a game with this song and enjoyed playing a three-part Orff arrangement on the xylophones, metallophones, and glockenspiels.
Fifth graders have been working very hard in preparation for their Spring Sing! Your fifth grader should have brought home a sheet this week with information about the Fifth Grade Fine Arts Night, which is on Wednesday, May 26. If you did not receive this sheet, you can access it under the “Important Dates” section of the blog. *The fifth grade art show will be taking place after the Spring Sing this year!!*
Congratulations to all 2010 Graduates!
Kindergarteners sang and did a creative movement activity with a song called “Jim Along, Josie.” They really liked being able to decide what movements in the song should come next!
First graders worked in groups to compose rhythm patterns and create body percussion to go with these patterns. Each group performed their composition for the class. They also read the story A Band of Coyotes and were excited to find out that it was written by a class of students not much older than them!
Second graders sang and played instruments to a song called “Riding in the Buggy.” This song introduced them to the concept of syncopation. They also began working on a round called “If You Goad a Toad.”
Third graders learned about Thai music and about a festival in Thailand called Loy Krathong. They learned a Thai song and enjoyed playing instruments along with it.
Fourth graders had a great time singing and creating body percussion ostinati to a folk song called “Frog Went A-Courtin.” This song tells a detailed story and uses many unusual nonsense words, so they really enjoyed trying to figure out how to sing the nonsense words.
Fifth graders were excited to find out their parts for the Spring Sing this week. They learned the movement for the rest of their songs, and are doing a great job putting everything together. Remember that lyric sheets can be found under the “Spring Sing Song Sheets” section of the blog! An information sheet will be sent home next week with the details for the fifth grade concert. You can currently find this posted under the “Important Dates” section of the blog.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Kindergarteners learned a new pitch and hand sign this week! Your child should be able to show you the hand sign for “la” and tell you that “la” sounds higher than “sol” and “mi.” They enjoyed playing a singing game called “Icha Backa” and playing rhythm sticks.
First graders had fun doing creative movement while playing a singing game called “The Cowhand.” They also learned about Robert Schumann and his composition “The Happy Farmer.” They used this song to review repeat signs, bar lines, measures, and to learn first and second endings.
Second graders worked in groups to compose rhythm patterns, create body percussion to go with these patterns, and select appropriate instruments to use with their rhythms. They then performed their compositions for the class. They also read the story Dimity Dumpty and related that to experiences they have had.
Congratulations to the third and fourth graders on a job well done Wednesday evening! They worked extremely hard through the practice and performance process and should be very proud of themselves. Way to go!
Fifth graders learned the xylophone parts for two of their Spring Sing songs and the recorder part for another one. They are doing a great job preparing for their Spring Sing comprised of Broadway songs!
Kindergarteners listened to a book called Buzz and Ollie’s Loud, Soft Adventure to review loud and soft sounds. They remembered that “forte” is the music word for “loud,” and “piano” is the word we use for “soft.” They also listened to a Spanish song about a drum, called “El Tambor” and distinguished between forte and piano in this song. They enjoyed playing hand drums, too.
First graders learned half notes this week! They rhythmically dictated a song called “Here Comes a Bluebird,” and played a game along with this song. They also selected nursery rhymes, created movements to go with their rhymes, picked appropriate instruments to go with their masterpieces, and performed for the class.
Second graders reviewed all of the music notes they know so far by playing a singing game called “Cut the Cake.” They also did rhythmic dictation for this song and used creative locomotor and non-locomotor movements in the game. They played a singing game called “Down By the Banks” to reinforce steady beat, too.
Students in both third and fourth grades took part in full grade level rehearsals in the music room this week. That’s a lot of students singing, dancing, and playing instruments in one classroom, but they did a very nice job! They are getting extremely excited for their Spring Sing, which is next week. Their dress rehearsal assembly is on Monday, and their evening performance will be on Wednesday. If you need an extra copy of the Fine Arts Night information sheet that was sent home a couple of weeks ago, see the “Important Dates” section of the blog, and click on “3rd-4th Grade Fine Arts Night Information.”
Fifth graders learned the movement and a difficult xylophone part for one of their Spring Sing songs. They also learned an African drumming part for one of their songs and were introduced to several other various instrument parts.
