What's Up?

The sing-along is over. Kids and adults sat together in the gym and sang mostly patriotic songs, along with a couple about taking care ot the planet, and "Over the River and Through the Wood". The kids were very supportive and appreciative of each other. It was very sweet.

This week, my after-school choirs start up again with a new set of songs. I also have a new recorder class after school for fourth- and fifth-graders. I'm so proud of the third-grade recorder players; not a single one has dropped out! Thanks for putting up with their practicing--THIS year no one has told me that his parents hid his recorder from him . . .

Kindergartners "went to the opera" today with a DVD of "William Tell". They watched Ricardo Muti conduct the overture, and then they saw the apple-shooting scene. You might ask them why Tell's son Jemmy was played by a woman. If that explanation turns out to be hard to follow, you could try asking why opera singers sing so loudly!

First-graders are practicing their eighth notes and quarter notes and rests using many little songs and rhymes. "Teddy Bear" is coming up soon.

Second-graders have been working with ostinatos, which are repeated patterns. Most of ours have been vocal. Often the trickiest part is to stop performing the ostinato at the right time, which is usually when the other group's rhyme or song is ending. Listening to the other performers is very important to making music!

Third-graders are still fitting their music and sound effects with their folk tales.

Fourth-graders have begun squaredancing. It's the Washington State Dance! They are rising to the challenges of learning the terminology and responding instantly to the calls.