Music

Listed below are the songs, poems, speech pieces and literature that we used in First Grade to learn musical concepts. Each piece is listed under the musical element that is taught. Although only listed once, some pieces may fit under more than one element. Rhythm A Tisket a Tasket………………………………………………………American Game Song The students used to different instruments in this song. One instrument was used for the rhythm and the other was used for the beat. They also played a game the corresponded with the song. March of the Lion…………..From Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saens Listening to this exciting music we followed a listening map and then moved about the room like lions. Doggie, Doggie………………………………………………………………………….Singing Game We learned this call and response song and sang it as a class. We then played a game and allowed each student to use his or her singing voice independently. Using pictures of short and long dog bones, we read the rhythm of the song and played it on the instruments. Melody Green Eggs and Ham……………………………………………………………Book by Dr. Seuss We sang a refrain to this classic story. We then figured out the high and low pattern to our song and played it on the stair step . A Tree is Nice………………………………………………..…. Book by Urdy and Simont We sang a refrain in this story, (the part that repeats). We also figured out the melody for the refrain and played it on the stair step bells. Taffy………………………………………………………………..Traditional American Song We learned about high and low pitches with this song as well as the melodic direction that a song can have. After we played this song on the stair-step bells we used the parachute to show the high and low pitches. Tideo………………………………………………………………………………………..Traditional After learning a fun folk dance with this song the students figured out the 3 different ways “Tideo” was sung in the song and played those ways on the bells. Expression/Timbre We discussed different things that could be used inside to make different sounds. We then used candy inside plastic eggs to make our own maracas. We used our special maracas as we danced the bunny hop. Oh a Hunting We Will Go………………………….Traditional/adapted by DeLelles and Kriske We sang and danced to this fun, rhyming song and then played a game that allowed us to listen to the different instruments and guess which ones we heard.

The students took two musical assessments this semester. The first one was on identifying different non-pitched percussion instruments (triangle, frame , , , and guiro) by sound. The second was to listen for if a melody moved up, down or stayed the same. If you have any questions about how your child did on these assessments please feel free to contact me.

We have had a great time discovering and learning together. I have really enjoyed teaching music to your child. Please feel free to contact me if there are questions regarding the curriculum or the district benchmarks. Thank you for this opportunity to work with your child and I look forward to the musical adventures in learning that we will have next year! Have a musical summer!

Michele Helner Music Educator 323-6610 [email protected]