Week of March 15th, 2021

Grade 8: Building Their Own Instruments 

Grade 8 is excited every year to build their own instrument.

Each year they build an instrument called a dulcimer, a fretted string 

instrument of the zither family that first appeared in the early 19th century.

Step 1 is to design and paint the frame in the art room. 

 

After they have successfully painted them,

 they begin to assemble the various parts.

Here they are seen, installing the fret board, 

attaching the bridge, putting the tuning pegs 

in place and tuning the strings.

The final step is learning to play 

their newly-assembled instrument.

Grade 5 - Lenten Prayer Service

Grade 5 is leading our prayer service for lent this week. 

In addition to sharing the readings, and a skit to describe the 

importance of fasting and sacrifice, 

they learned a Christian song entitled 

"They'll know We Are Christians by Our Love. "

They added percussion instruments to enhance the rhythmic

flair and to provide an additional layer of musical accompaniment. 

Grade 3 Celebrates St. Patrick's Day

 Grade 3 celebrated St. Patrick's Day by taking a virtual field trip to Ireland.

They learned about the country, the landscape, 

the music and its indigenous instruments.

They topped it off with a lesson in Irish Dancing seen here. 

Grade 6 Drumming: Radetzsky March

Grade 6 continues to develop their drumming skills.

Here they hone their ability to read music and 

play specific rhythmic ostinatos while

performing along with a recording of 

The Radetzsky March by Johann Strauss.

Grade 5 Rhythm Drills with Bucket Drumming

Grade 5 is learning coordination, and improving their drumming skills.

With consistent practice, it eventually evolves into this...

Bruno Mars, Uptown Funk 

And better yet, the Cha Cha Slide....

Grade 1 Lenten Prayer Service

Grade 1 is preparing for their participation in this week's Lenten Prayer Service.

In addition to their leadership in proclaiming the Word and reciting petitions,

they will perform two songs: "Our Father" and "Be Kind."

The second selection is an original composition, lyrics written by 

their first grade teacher, Mrs. Sheila Kennedy, 

and the music composed by Ms. Patricia Brown, Director of Music. 

Tropical Rain Forests

In collaboration with the Lower School theme, studying Rain Forests,

2nd graders learned several new songs to reinforce what they are 

discovering about Tropical Rain Forests. 

They completed their lesson by coloring their own versions.

 

Grade 4 : South African Folk Songs

4th grade is developing their percussion skills.

They studied a South African Folk Song entitled "Siyahamba."

The translation is "We are marching in the light of God."

They learned to play various rhythmic patterns on a variety of percussion instruments. 

Delineating Rhythmic Patterns

Grade 1 is learning to delineate rhythms using a variety of methods.

They imitate patterns they hear using rhythm sticks.

Then they have to create the pattern visually using popsicle sticks. 

Instrument Families

1st Graders are also studying instrument families.

After listening to the story entitled, Zin, Zin, Zin, A Violin by Lloyd Moss, they 

created  line puzzles representing all of the instruments of the string family.