This activity involves students putting the phrases from a familiar melody in the correct order. To do this, they must use what they know of the C major pentatonic scale and triple meter rhythm notation to identify the written phrases of the familiar "Fall Song". I was impressed with how well students matched what was written on the cards to the melody in their ears. This is a great way to bridge the gap between what we can sing and what we can read.
Music class ties into the circus residencies
Check out this 5 minute video outlining a project that MRV 5th and 6th graders worked on this spring in music class!
It's all about familiarity. Students from 1st through 6th grade are using the staff as a jumping off point for learning about and experiencing a range of music literacy-infused topics and activities. Our older students are focusing on the skill of "inner hearing" music before they sing it. Some can already do it with familiar note combinations!
Our 3rd through 6th graders have extended their singing activities to the xylophone where they've been learning to play and accompany a familiar melody. They rhythmically improvise a section for this song in triple meter, and also explore the material in its written form. They are developing the ability to sing harmony with a type of song called a round. Engagement with both of these activities improves their skills and their joy making music with a group. These students have had some time to play ukulele and there will be more of that to come, and they've recently enjoyed composing with the Musicfirst software called Soundtrap by selecting and arranging from thousands of pre-recorded loops in the Soundtrap library.
Fayston 5th and 6th graders dance, sing, and accompany with xylophones.
And just like that, we're back in action! The air already feels cooler and crisper while students sing, dance, play instruments, and continue their musical journey here in our Mad River Valley elementary schools.
Fayston 5th and 6th graders are engaging with some electronic composition using the software Soundtrap, which is part of the MusicFirst suite our district is subscribed to.
