Classroom Music at Arlington
Music Lighthouse
The Lighthouse children are inquiring into the vast range of feelings and emotions that we experience, and how sound and music can be used to express these. Through listening to a range of pieces, the children are connecting the elements of music, particularly dynamics, tempo and the style of instrumentation and style to what the composer might want to evoke.
- “The music starts calm, but then I want to run because it gets faster”
- “The music is calm, quiet and peaceful”
- “The music sounds soft and smooth. It makes me feel happy”
Music Loft Room
With a focus on pitch and the solfege scale, this term in Music the Loft Room children are excited to be participating in a Xylophone/Percussion ensemble. Through playing xylophones and singing the children are exploring intervals, harmony and melody. They are looking at the relationship between note intervals, such as whether the pitch goes up or down a step, skip or is a next-door neighbour, in the melodies of simple Kodaly and Orff folksongs. We are also using traditional note names (C D E F G A B), learning correct mallet hold, two handed technique and exploring various effects we can create on the instruments such as glissando and rolling. The children have discussed and formed an agreement on what is important to remember and what skills we need to utilise, when playing as part of an ensemble. Playing in an ensemble allows the children to work on social skills such as cooperation, respecting others, listening skills, taking turns and importantly contribution.
Some of the Approaches to Learning that are developing through ensemble work are:
respecting others – recognising diverse perspectives, listening to others
Cooperating – working cooperatively in a group, taking turns, sustaining a part, achieving a balanced ensemble sound,
Group decision-making - negotiating creative decisions to realise a performance, asking questions, working towards a shared goal,
Adopting a variety of group roles – conducting, taking solo parts, understanding of how to contribute effectively within an ensemble, providing appropriate feedback,
Contributing- contributing to the group discussions, performances, ensembles, group well-being, and caring for equipment.
Sunroom and Peppercorns
In Term Three, the Sunroom and Peppercorn children have been investigating musical storytelling with a focus on how sound can imply, suggest and provoke an audience. These words have been chosen to help the children to understand the ways in which music can communicate. They have looked at the ways in which pitch, tempo and dynamics can be used to convey a mood or ‘paint a picture’ for the listener. These elements have been integral to our analysis of musical pieces, and will be essential when the children compose an original piece for one of three Mutthi Mutthi Dreamtime Stories:
- The Creation of Fire
- How the Moon was Created
- The Crow and the Eagle
The children will explore a range of instruments and collaborate to create and record their piece matching sound to story, and ensuring that they are provoking in the listener thoughts and feelings that match the the developing story.
