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First through third grade is a time when children are eager to explore and create in
the expanding world around them. Music offers this age group a rich medium for learning
and growing by teaching them to:
 | listen carefully |
| be part of a team as an instrumental ensemble |
| translate tonal and rhythmic sounds into symbols |
| think in terms of historical perspective |
| express themselves through performance and composition |
| practice to get things "right"! |
Class Goals
In Music Makers, my goal is to expose young students to the many facets of music
through age-appropriate and skills-oriented activities.
It is essential that children love what they are learning, and so I frequently draw on
themes which appeal to this age group--habitats in nature--for supporting musical and
visual aid materials. I choose songs, instrumental pieces, listening examples, movement
games and dances which are creative, new and, above all, fun! Imagination--a
distinguishing characteristic of a life-learner as well as of a good musician--is an
important ingredient in the activities which we do in Music Makers.
Class Content
Each Music Makers session is organized around two main projects:
- Learning to write a short musical composition. Every student creates and learns
to notate his/ her own original sound, rhythm, or melodic theme. A performance of the
students' works takes place at the last class, and usually a tape of the compositions is
sent home along with the written version. Students need to have basic writing skills to
complete this project successfully, which is why I begin opening Music Makers to
kindergarten and first grade students.
The composition project has been highly successful in past sessions of Music Makers.
Students thoroughly enjoy the chance to create something uniquely theirs. They learn a
tremendous amount and both they and their parents are impressed with the finished product!
Samples of compositions by previous students:
Variations on the theme "Hot Cross Buns" (see also Creature
Feature)
- Learning to play a classical tune on resonator bars. Students learn the melodic
line of a famous piece of music and practice together as an ensemble. At the last meeting,
students perform their newly-learned excerpt. Parents and siblings are invited to join in
on a percussion accompaniment. Children love this activity. As a teacher, I
love knowing that they have experience playing melodic patterns on a tonal instrument;
relating written notes and solfege (do re mi) to an actual instrument; performing together
as a group; hearing and playing classical themes and learning about the composers who
created them.
As preparation for the composition and performance projects, students will be
introduced to the following:
| basic tonal and rhythm patterns--recognizing them both aurally and in written form;
reproducing them, first vocally and then on simple instruments; and learning to write them
on the staff. |
| movement games to help internalize concepts such as speed nuance and a steady beat and
to aid in improving concentration and impulse control. |
| listening detective games to teach aural acuity as well as introduce children to the
classical repertoire. |
| singing and pitch matching. |
Parents and siblings are invited to join us at the end of each class for some musical
fun. I hope this will encourage you to "do music" together at home. Sharing
music as a family can bring children and grown-ups together in a special and lasting way.
Note to Parents
If you are anxious to get your child involved in learning music, this is the perfect
time to start! Just as the visual arts are more than crayons and paper, music encompasses
much more than singing. We need to introduce our children to music history, composition,
tonal instruments, creative movement, music theory, and an interesting song
repertoire--while making sure that what they listen to and perform appeals to their
imagination. At least one of these elements is sure to fascinate the kindergarten through
third-grade age group.
Class Times
See Class Schedule |
