Glen Waverley Primary School Specialist Newsletter

Music


Welcome to Term Three 2023! We are well into our rehearsals for the Victorian State School Spectacular Mass Choir where our learners are working extra hard to learn 13 songs. In Week 2 these learners have their first excursion to the Melbourne Town Hall where they will rehearse as a 1,000 strong Mass Choir. Also, in week 2 we begin Music Innovation for Prep students where they will extend on their knowledge and learn to play various instruments. 

 

Prep

This term Prep students will be introduced to beat. They will learn a variety of different songs to sing and games to play to help them begin to develop a steady internal metronome beat. Students will also be introduced to a tuned percussion instrument called BoomWhackers and will learn various songs on them as well as composing. When students are playing the BoomWhackers they will be encouraged to transfer their knowledge of beat keeping it steady (not speeding up or slowing down) staying in time with others. Students will be consolidating their understanding of beat throughout both term three and term four.

 

Curriculum Links: 

  • Explore sound and silence and ways of using their voices, movement and instruments to express ideas (VCAMUE017)
  • Rehearse and perform songs and short instrumental pieces which they have learnt and composed (VCAMUP019)

Key vocabulary:

Beat: The pulse or heartbeat of the music

BoomWhackers:

 

Year 1

Throughout this term, students will be consolidating their understanding of beat through the use of beat games and instruments. Students will continue to develop a steady internal metronome beat to help them stay in time when playing or singing songs. Later in the term students will be introduced to the Xylophone. They will be taught the correct technique so they can produce the best possible sound. Students will also be taught many different songs including the notes do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti and do’ from last term giving them the opportunity to transfer their knowledge to the Xylophone. They will also be encouraged to keep a steady beat when playing songs on the Xylophone in preparation for playing along with a partner.

 

Curriculum Links:

  • Rehearse and perform songs and instrumental music they have learnt and composed to communicate ideas to an audience (VCAMUP023)
  • Sing and play instruments to improvise, compose and practise a repertoire of chants, songs and rhymes, including those used by cultural groups in the local community (VCAMUM022)

Key vocabulary:

Xylophone:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year 3

Throughout this term, students will continue to develop their knowledge of form by practising one called canon or round form. Students will learn to sing many songs in canon form and will also learn games to help them with the structure. During the unit students will also be revising the time signatures 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4. They will then be introduced to two new time signatures including 3/8 and 6/8. Students will transfer their knowledge by learning songs in canon form that are also in these time signatures. They will be encouraged to count out the beats to help them stay in time.

 

Curriculum Links:

  • Use imagination and creativity to explore pitch, rhythm/time and form, dynamics and tempo using voice, movement and instruments (VCAMUE025)
  • Rehearse and perform songs and instrumental music they have learnt and composed, shaping elements of music to communicate ideas to an audience (VCAMUP027)

 

Key vocabulary:

Time Signatures: A way to count the beats in the music.

Canon form: When one person begins singing and more join in at different points in the song.

 

Year 4

This term students will be undertaking a Guitar unit. They will learn how to hold a Guitar, the names of the strings, the different parts of the Guitar and a simple strumming pattern. Students will learn four different chords on the Guitar including C major, G major, F major and A minor. Each lesson students will learn a different chord and transfer it to a simple song performing it either individually or in pairs. Later in the unit students will transfer their knowledge of these chords and create/compose a short song to share with their peers. 

 

Curriculum Links:

  • Rehearse and perform songs and instrumental music they have learnt and composed, shaping elements of music to communicate ideas to an audience (VCAMUP027)
  • Use imagination and creativity to explore pitch, rhythm/time and form, dynamics and tempo using voice, movement and instruments (VCAMUE025)

 

Key vocabulary:

Guitar:

Chords: When 3 or more notes are played at once.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year 5

This term, Year Five students will be diving into a Ukulele unit. They will be taught how to hold the Ukulele, the names of the strings, the different parts of the Ukulele and a simple strumming pattern. Each lesson students will be introduced to a new chord. These include C major, G major, F major and A minor. They will consolidate this knowledge by learning to play simple songs using these four chords. During the last part of the unit students will have the opportunity to transfer their learning to create/compose a short song using the chords they have learnt to shear with their peers.

 

Curriculum Links:

  • Develop and practise technical skills and use of expressive elements of music in singing, playing instruments, improvising, arranging and composing (VCAMUM030)
  • Rehearse and perform songs and music they have learnt, including their own compositions, combining aspects of the elements of music and using performance skills, to communicate ideas and intentions to an audience (VCAMUP031)

 

Key vocabulary:

Ukulele:

Chords: When 3 or more notes are played at once.

 

Year Six

Throughout Term Three, Year Six students will begin to learn about drums. Students will be learning drumming through a chair drumming unit. This will introduce students to the different parts of a drum kit and works on their coordination and beat skills. Students will transfer their learning to play simple to intermediate songs as a class ensuring they keep a steady beat to stay together as a large ensemble. Later in the term students will begin the process of deciding on their graduation song. They will learn about the factors that make an appropriate graduation song and submit their suggestions before voting on and choosing their graduation song for term four. 

 

Curriculum Links:

  • Develop and practise technical skills and use of expressive elements of music in singing, playing instruments, improvising, arranging and composing (VCAMUM030)
  • Rehearse and perform songs and music they have learnt, including their own compositions, combining aspects of the elements of music and using performance skills, to communicate ideas and intentions to an audience (VCAMUP031)

 

Key vocabulary:

Chair drumming: Using a chair as a makeshift drum kit.

Beat: The pulse or heartbeat of the music

 

How can you support your child’s Music learning at home? 

 

  • Read a book on your favourite music artist!
  • Watch a documentary about a famous musician such as Beethoven.
  • Make your own home-made drums from buckets, pots and pans to practise your rhythm.