Perry-Lecompton Elementary Music

I can’t believe we have already had two weeks of school and are started on the third!  I am very excited to start my 3rd year at Perry-Lecompton and am looking forward to teaching and learning new things!

If you ever need to contact me with a question or concern, feel free to email  apowell@usd343.org.  Thank you for all of your support!

The 3rd and 4th grade spring program will be held May 4, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the PLHS Theatre.

The K-2 Spring Program will be held May 6, 2010 at 7:00 pm in the PLHS Theatre.  For both nights, the doors will open at 6:30-please have your students in their assigned rooms by 6:40.

Your students should receive a more detailed note about the program today.  This includes information about what to wear, what the shows are about, and time reminders.

Let me know if you have any questions or if your child will not be able to make it to the program!  Thanks!

Wow! March has flown by and it’s already five weeks until the spring program.  I would just like to share a little information about that event.  Many of your children will be drawn for speaking parts or solos during the next couple of weeks.  If your students receives a part, they will be given a copy of their part to practice at home.  If you practice with your child, please make sure they read their part slowly, and with a loud and clear voice.

Some parts this spring do require costumes.  I may ask those students to wear a certain clothing color, but otherwise I will try to provide most of the costumes.

Also, please don’t forget that if your student brings a cd to school I will put the program music on it in case they want to practice at home or have it as a good memory! Please let me know if you have any questions!

I can’t believe it’s already two weeks until spring break!  That means it’s time to start working on the spring program.  Each class listened to their program last week and will begin singing through it this week.  Then we will go through the process of adding actions, drawing for speakers/soloists, gathering props, and working on the decorations!

The 4th graders just finished a very successful recorder unit.  Many students  felt like Hot Cross Buns was very tricky when we first started, but now they can play it with their eyes closed!

Please let me know if you have any questions as we enter the last quarter.  I know that everyone is happy that it’s almost spring!

The second semester is now well under way, and the music classes at Perry-Lecompton have been very busy!  The fourth graders are now in their fourth week of playing the recorder.  The students have learned the notes B, A, G, D, and E.  They have also played songs such as Hot Cross Buns, Merrily We Roll Along, and Down By the Station.  The fourth graders are using a recorder program called “Recorder Karate” to earn their recorder “belts” as they pass songs of increasing difficulty.  Several students are already working on their fourth or fifth belt! (out of nine).

The third graders are just starting a Black History Month unit in music.  The students will learn about African American musicians who have had a large influence on music in the United States.  They will also learn about several types of music that originated in the African American culture, such as jazz, blues, spirituals, and ragtime.  The third graders started this unit by learning about Ray Charles and listening to some of his music.  Many students recognized his version of “America the Beautiful” because it was used on “The Sandlot.”

The second graders have been learning several new songs in music as well as reviewing treble clef notes, rhythms, and instruments.  We also spent last week celebrating Kansas Day by singing and playing “Home on the Range” using a resonator bell set.

The 1st grade classes are quickly learning the line and space notes of the treble clef.  We have played Around the World and Secret Word to review the notes, and the students have also practiced writing the notes on a staff.

The kindergarten students have made it to the last instrument family-percussion!  The students will know instruments from the string, woodwind, brass, and percussion families.  Most recently, the kindergarten classes have been singing “Home on the Range” and learning about Camille Saint-Saens, a composer known for his song, “The Carnival of the Animals.”