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November 2008

All third and fourth grade parents should have received a “recorder letter” in October.  If you did not receive the letter, please contact me to get one.  Also, there is a correction to my article in the last newsletter:  if you want to see my grade policy, go to the Marshall Web site and select “specialists” from the drop-down menu that appears when you click on the white box labeled “select one”.  You’ll see my picture come up along with the other specialist teachers.  Click on “News from the Music Room” underneath my picture and you will find the information there.

Following is information on the skills I teach at each grade level.

K-2   Children in this age group need lots of physical activity.  They do many movement activities to develop muscle coordination.  Games such as the “Beanie Bag Dance” are one of their favorite activities.  They have to balance the bean bag on their heads, fingers, elbows, knees…etc.  They imagine being an astronaut and going into outer space on the “Space Song”.  They love to freeze in place when the music stops on the “Freeze Dance.” 
Young children’s voices are developing at this age as well.  We sing many songs from various cultures.  They learn solfege using:  do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti, and high do.  They learn to hear and identify pitch intervals as well as distinguish between high, low, and the same pitches.  Children learn to play a variety of percussion instruments including bells, tambourines, maracas, rhythm sticks, and drums.  They use instruments to create sound effects to accompany stories.  They perform rhythm patterns and melodies.  In K-1 we focus primarily on teaching basic rhythm reading.  By second grade, we begin to learn to read the pitches on the musical staff using “Every Good Boy Does Fine” and “FACE”.

Grade 3 and 4 In grades 3 and 4 children learn to play the recorder (flute-like instrument).  In third grade we drill learning to read music notes on the staff through games and the use of worksheets.  The children will take a written test at the end of the unit in December. Those scoring an “A” on the test will get an S+ on their next report card.  In January the children begin their recorder unit.  I will get a letter out to all parents in November explaining the recorder program.  Parents are asked to purchase a recorder through the school at a very low cost, less than $5.00.  I require each child to have an Ivory Yamaha YRS 24B recorder.  When the children all have the same recorder, their sound is more in tune.  Also other cheaper brands of recorders, for example one from the dollar store, are meant as toys and have a shrill tone.  Some recorders may be keyed differently too.  If you have a recorder at home but it is not a Yamaha Ivory YRS 24B, then your child may use that one to practice at home.  Please purchase the Yamaha for school use.  I do want to encourage all parents to consider getting two recorders for your child:  one to leave at home for practice and one to keep at school.  This will eliminate problems with children forgetting to bring their recorders to school on music days.

2.  Children will earn karate belts this year for learning new songs on their recorders.  This will help to motivate the children to practice.  Students may choose to test ahead of their peers earning higher belts if they want to.  Please also have your child bring a simple folder with pockets to music during the recorder unit.  Make sure their name is on the folder and on both the case and recorder itself.  I will be giving the children handouts, worksheets, and song sheets.  They may take their folders home for practice.  If they forget to bring it back on music day, that’s okay because they can share music with another child or see the song on the overhead projector.  Feel free to call or email me if you have any questions about the recorder unit.  791-2099 and vancetl@pwcs.edu.

Grade 5
In grade 5 students perform on bells (Orff instruments) creating song accompaniments.  Later in the year, they will get to compose their own “blues” song.  They perform rhythms of increased complexity and learn advanced music terminology.  They learn about the families of instruments:  strings, brass, woodwinds, and percussion.  They learn about history and other cultures through music.

My Grading Policy
Grades in music include: S+, S, S-, and N.   “S” is for satisfactory and “N” is for needs improvement.  In grades K-2, I determine a child’s grade based on their participation and behavior.  I only have your child in class once a week.  After seeing your child 4 times, I must give them a grade for their interim.  On the interim, I can only use an S or an N grade (no plus or minus).  So if there is any concern with behavior or participation, I am required to give your child an “N” on the interim.  If your child receives an “N”, I encourage you to schedule a meeting with me to discuss how we can help your child improve in the class.  Those showing improvement after the interim, will be able to bring their grade up to an “S”.

 Third and fourth graders have an opportunity to get an S+ on their report cards.  In these grade levels, I give written tests and playing tests on recorder.  Those children who score the equivalent of an “A” will get an S+ on their next report card.  Since I teach every child in the school (approximately 760 children), it is hard for me to determine who should get an S+ over an S in the lower grades, so that is why I only give S or N in those grade levels.   Written tests are too hard for the younger children and there are too many papers to grade.  I grade 400 test papers just testing third and fourth graders. 

    I hope this helps you to understand how I grade.  If you still have questions, feel free to contact me either by phone at 791-2099 or by email vancetl@pwcs.edu

Sincerely,

Miss Vance J