Over the last few months, YES musicians have continued to shine as performers, composers, and listeners. Across all grade levels, students have been building music literacy skills that help them become more independent musicians and communicate through music with others around the world.
Here are some highlights from the music room:
Second graders explored the characteristics of Native American music in November and took a musical journey through Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker in December. They are currently working with barred instruments and becoming increasingly confident reading more complex rhythms.
Third graders focused on meter, learning how strong and weak beats work together to create movement and flow in music. In January, they began reading notes on the staff, a skill that will remain a major focus for the rest of the year.
Fourth graders continue to strengthen fine motor skills, music reading, and self-control through recorder playing. They have also explored the concepts of unity and variety in music and how musical organization affects the listener’s brain. This learning will lead into a technology-based composition project using GarageBand in the coming weeks.
Fifth graders created original film scores to accompany the animated short Say Cheese. Working in groups, they planned and performed music that helped shape the emotional landscape of each scene. They are currently mastering complex eighth- and sixteenth-note rhythms and exploring how layers of sound create intensity and interest in music.
The YES music room continues to be a place where growth, teamwork, and creativity go hand in hand. Students are taking pride in their effort, recognizing their own progress, and supporting one another as musicians. Most importantly, your children have been focused learners, kind and caring friends, and responsible members of our musical community. Thank you for sharing them with me!
