Classroom Music

Kii from the Music Room! 

Years 3-6 have begun their 2024 musical journey in the last few weeks! 

The legendary 3/4s have started with playing games that practise singing, rhythm and keeping a steady beat. 

Circle game: Down By the Banks

Clapping Game: Double Double This This

They have also been dusting off their tuned percussion skills while working together to play our marimbas and xylophones. 

Learning at home:

Keeping a steady beat is one of the fundamental practices in music and one that we can always keep practising. As you are listening to music at home, tap, clap, stamp or pat along to the music. Practise feeling it in your body. Find a song with a fast beat and then one with a slow beat. Ask someone at home to do it with you. Can your auntie do it? Can you make an ostinato with body percussion?

The fabulous 5/6s have been getting straight into playing a tuned percussion piece called Antigravity. They have been choosing the instrument they prefer, learning to play three different ostinatos and then choosing their favourite to play as an ensemble. Some courageous kids have tried solos.

We are exploring the way musicians change the dynamics to make the music more interesting.

 They have been considering…

• What does it mean to be a part of an ensemble? 
• How did we work together as an ensemble today?
• How did someone in the ensemble help me today?

Music words:

Ostinato: a repeated musical pattern.

Body percussion: sounds you make on or with your body (clap, click, tap, stamp).

Dynamics: the volume of the music.

Ensemble: a group of musicians

Rhythm syllables: words we can use to remember how that rhythm sounds.

Rhythm syllables that we are using this term are: 

ta 

ti-ti

ticka-ticka

ti-ticka

ticka-ti