Please read to the end for a music listening assignment.

We are having loads of fun in music class. We started the year by learning about a magical musician who could change the way that people feel with his music. The students agreed to become apprentices to this gnomish wizard and work hard to learn the ways of music. They have been doing a great job.

First and Second Grades - Besides having lots of fun, our focus in first and second grade has been on learning a variety of songs, understanding high and low sounds, and the ways notes can move. We have begun to use these concepts on the bells and penny whistles.

*Penny whistles go home on Wednesday and need to be brought back to school on Monday. Please help your child to remember to practice and bring back their instrument on Monday.

Third and Fourth Grades - We started the year with a focus on rhythm. The students have begun to create a class rhythm composition. That has been put on hold for a while with the arrival of first, the penny whistles, and second, the ukulele.

*Ukuleles and penny whistles go home on Wednesday and need to be brought back to school on Monday. Please make sure that your child has a clip on tuner for their ukulele. Also, please remind your child to play when they have their instruments at home.

Fifth Grade - Fifth grade also started the year with a focus on rhythm and has worked to create a class rhythm composition. We have begun a new ukulele skill with the playing of individual notes.

*Please make sure that your child has a clip on tuner for their ukulele. Also, please remind your child to play when they have their instruments at home and remember to bring them back on Monday.

Listening assignment - We learn by being exposed to quality works of art. To that end, I am going to share with parents some musical selections that will be good for your children’s musical brains. Please share this music with your kids.

At this time I would like to introduce you to an album called Bolling’s Greatest Hits. (which you can find on Spotify and YouTube). The composition and playing are excellent. The different sections tell stories without a single word. The track Africaine is one of my favorites, but many of them are wonderful. I hope you enjoy it!

Warm regards,

Ki Ben