| Second and Third Grade Music |
| In second and third grades we learn more about steady beat and also add rhythm patterns using quarter notes, eighth notes, half notes and whole notes. We learn to read pitches, such as mi, so and la. The students are able to play many instruments, including the Orff instruments (metallophones, xylophones, and glockenspiels). We try to learn the names of each Orff instrument and how to identify each one. These instruments teach the children how to read the different rhythms and notes, and they help them to hear the differences in high and low, loud and soft, and fast and slow. The Orff instruments are so much fun to play and they sound good. We do alot of movement activities such as marching, galloping, trotting, walking, skipping, etc. all to the steady beat. We demostrate the difference in equal and unequal rhythm patterns with these movements. This year we are learning songs about the sea to go with our school-wide theme of Sunnyvale School is Oceans of Fun! We are learning such songs as :"My Fish ", "Going Over the Sea", "Down By the River", "Row, Row, Row Your Boat", and "Turn the Glasses Over." We have put together a Social Contract for Music Class. Each class in the school contributed to the contract which will help us learn how to treat each other. We are working on Christmas program songs. We can't wait for you to hear us sing on the Christmas program December 19 at 7:00 in the Sunnyvale gym. |