Music is in the Air! Guest blog from LS Music team

Dear parents,

This week’s message is a special guest blog from our Lower School Music team – Enjoy!

Namita

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 Music Teacher Sue Ribaudo on the learning behind the fun in Early Childhood music:Dear Parents,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!Ledell Mulvaney – LREI LS Music TeacherMusic Assemblies:

  • April 15th – First grade assembly
  • April 29th – Second grade assembly
  • May 13th – Third grade assembly (featuring recorders)
  • May 20th – Fourth grade original musical

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And, lastly an important note from Phil:Dear LREI Families,As you know, from time to time, members of our Village or New York City community with a visible public profile participate in the admissions process and, as the process moves towards its logical conclusion, join the LREI Community. For understandable reasons this can be exciting for all, parents, faculty and students alike. It is important, however, that we not do anything to alter the LREI experience for these families.Many well known parents have chosen our school because they feel at home here and often comment on how they appreciate being allowed to “just be parents.” It is important that this sense of LREI as a safe community, which begins during the admissions process, continues as these families begin to make a place for themselves in our school. I ask that you please remember that when these parents visit the school, when they participate in school activities or when they are, simply, here as moms and dads, that they are hoping to be treated in the same manner as you would treat any other member of the community. Thank you for your understanding.Sincerely,Phil 

 

LOWER SCHOOL NOTES & ATTACHMENTS

(click on the links below to view and print information from teachers and specialists.)

  • All grades: Please click here for the ‘at a glance’ calendar for the 2008-09 school year. Click here for the 2009-10 school calendar. To view photo galleries from all divisions of the school, click here.
  • Fours: A message from Seth & Stacey, click here

 

 

UPCOMING PARENT MEETINGS & EVENTS

  • For the most up-to-date, searchable all school calendar, please visit www.lrei.org/calendar. Click here for the 2009-10 school calendar.
  • Monday, May 4 – 8:45am: What to Expect in First Grade
  • Monday, May 4 – 6pm: New Families Reception
  • Wednesday, May 6 – 8:45am: Fours and Early Kindergarten Assembly
  • Wednesday, May 6 – 6pm: Parent SEED Meeting
  • Wednesday, May 6 – 6pm: Alison & Becka’s Third grade picnic
  • Thursday, May 7 – 8am: Lesbian, Gay, Straight (LGSA) Alliance
  • Thursday, May 7 – 8:45am: What to Expect in Second Grade

 

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 What to Expect: Please join us on the following mornings for discussions about moving on to the next grade level. All meetings will be held in the Bleecker street cafeteria.

  • What to expect in first grade – May 4 at 8:45am
  • What to expect in second grade – May 7 at 8:45am
  • What to expect in third grade – May 14 at 8:45am
  • What to expect in fourth grade – May 15 at 8:45am
  • What to expect in fifth grade – May 20 at 8am

 

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 LS class picnic schedule – All class picnics start at 6pm. Please contact your classroom parent representative to confirm the time, date and location for your class.

  •  Wed, May 6  – Alison’s 3rd Grade Picnic 
  •  Tue, May 12  – 4th Grade Picnic 
  •  Wed, May 13  – Dot’s 3rd Grade Picnic 
  •  Mon, May 18  – Rebecca’s 1st Grade Picnic 
  •  Tue, May 26  – Colleen’s 2nd Grade Picnic 
  •  Wed, May 20  – Gina’s 1st Grade Picnic 
  •  Wed, May 27  – Jamie’s 1st Picnic 
  •  Thu, May 28  – Tasha’s 2nd Grade picnic 
  •  Mon, Jun 1  – Luise’s K’s Grade Picnic 
  •  Wed, Jun 3  – Crystal’s K Picnic 
  •  Mon, Jun 8  – Diane’s EK Picnic 
  •  Tue, Jun 9  – Fours Picnic 
  •  Wed, Jun 10  – Kate’s 4th Picnic  

 

 

WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS

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From Dawn, LS Math Specialist:  This week is the last opportunity to contribute to the St. John’s Food Pantry this year. Bins have been placed on each floor. Please click here for the list of requested items. Please remember that we cannot accept items that are in glass jars, items that are past their expiration date, or items with nuts or seeds. Several items have had to be discarded recently. The last day to bring things in is Monday, May 4th. Thanks to all who have contributed!

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Red is Green: May will be our last recycling drive for the LREI school year. During the month of May we are teaming up with the Community Service Committee. We will be collecting and recycling travel size toiletries. These items will be donated to the Outreach Program at St. Francis Xavier Church on West 15th Street. We need the following UNUSED travel size toiletries: soaps, shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shaving cream and razors. These items will be given out free primarily to homeless individuals who come to the church where they are offered food, clothing and toiletries.

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Save the Date: The Annual LREI Camping Trip will take place June 5-7 at the Riverbend Group Campground along the Delaware River, about 15 miles North of the Delaware Water Gap. Students and their families may camp Friday and/or Saturday night. Watch for details and sign-up tables – coming soon.

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LREI High School students help kickoff opening festival for WNYC Radio’s (NPR) The Greene Space: A New Theater of Sound at The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space-a new multipurpose, multiplatform street-level studio and performance venue located right next door to the High School on Charlton Street. Click here for more information. To participate or for more information contact Meghan Farley Astrachan: mastrachan-at-lrei.org Friends and family can buy tickets to the live performance at http://www.wnyc.org/splas.html or listen in on May 4th from 7-8pm on 93.9 FM!

 

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