Lower School Music is in the Air

Music Teacher Sue Ribaudo on the learning behind the fun in Early Childhood music:

It’s true. I get to sing and dance all day. In music class with the fours, EK’s and Kindergartens, we’re busy playing singing games, singing story songs and dancing with an orchestra. Click here to listen to some of their recent spring songs: http://blog.lrei.org/earlychildhoodmusic/2009/04/30/early-childhood-songs-of-spring/  But behind the scenes, your children are learning music skills to enjoy now and to build on in the future.

• Marching to the music can lead to counting beats in a measure.
• Playing rhythm sticks can lead to playing the Orff xylophones rhythmically.
• Distinguishing the sounds of different rhythmn instruments will help students learn to recognize the sounds of instruments in the orchestra.

Your child is learning about vocal expression while singing a story song. Dynamics and tempo are integrated into our movement exercises with classical music. And their music vocabulary builds throughout the year. At different times, we are performers, audience, musicians, song-writers and dancers. They learn to recognize a guitar, violin, autoharp, mandolin, dulcimer, jembe, shakere and many more. And of course, having fun with music will carry over to a life-long love of music.Musical wishes,Sue Ribaudo – Early Childhood Music Specialist

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 Music Teacher Ledell Mulvaney on integrating Music and Social Studies for assemblies in grades one through four:

“Ta, ta, ta-ti- ta, ta-ka-te-ka ta-ti, ta, ta” are the sounds of reading rhythms coming from the music assemblies. Students clap with determination to match rhythm syllables to a steady beat. At the double bar line they smile with the confidence that they have just sight read a complicated rhythm in front of their parents. Music assemblies are a wonderful opportunity for parents to glimpse what children are learning in music class.Besides reading rhythms, the students sing warm-ups to strengthen their vocal range and pitch and echo solfege patterns. Students demonstrate that they are beginning to internalize pitch intervals with their inner ear. Third graders are learning to read music by playing the recorder.Music assemblies are also an opportunity for parents to learn about the integration of music with LREI’s social studies curriculum. When first graders are learning about their neighborhood and playgrounds, in music class they are learning street chants and jump rope songs. Second graders take many field trips throughout New York City and in music they are learning songs about specific places ie: the library, the zoo, the train station, the rivers as well as songs from different cultures. In third grade, when the students are studying Native American cultures the students are singing Native America songs and playing stick games.The largest integration project between social studies and music is the fourth grade musical about immigration. The students wrote the script, and new songs are being composed each week, as well as choreography steps being learned. Presently we are in full rehearsals, exploring our characters and memorizing blocking cues. Learning about such an important part of our history through the musical is exciting for all. So, if your toe is tapping, or a song is going through your head, maybe you have just come from a music assembly! Sing along!