Jan.25, 2018

For part of October and November, the grade one to six students of CJFS were in the Learning Commons practicing the correct technique for playing the xylophones.  

We then connected the playing of xylophones to melody by playing songs.  The grade one and two students would play one note each of a five - note (pentatonic) song. The grade threes, fours, fives and sixes learned to play a simple melody.  The grade fives and sixes also learned 4 different parts to "Purcell's Canon".  Some of the grade fives and sixes performed "Purcell's Canon" at the Remembrance Day Assembly.  The students also connected singing, rhythm pattern and beat with the playing of xylophones.

In December, the students from grades one to six were in the Learning Commons for two weeks before the break.  Each grade group was building their skills on different musical instruments.

The grade one and two students played tone educator bells.

Grade three and four students played tone chimes.

Grade five and six students played handbells.

Each grade group learned the proper technique of playing their respective instruments as this is the basic idea of playing any instrument. They also played and sang Christmas songs.

 In the classrooms in January, some of the students memorized how to correctly play each of their respective instruments because they consistently referred to the rubric on a sheet of paper as they hclped and coached each other.

One new concept the students learned while they were playing each of the above instruments was the concept of harmony.  Harmony is when two or more notes of a chord are sung or played at the same time.

The grade one and two students mainly just learned to watch the conductor and play when they were signalled to play.

The grade three to six students learned which note to play on a specific number chord that was cued by the director.  (See below) 

The grade five and six students also began practicing the harmony  by singing sol-fege notes like do-mi-sol. 

On the instruments, we practice it by chording in the key of C.

I chord:     C chord (CEG=dms)
IV chord:   F chord (FAC=fld)
V7 chord:  G7 chord (GBDF=strf)

The students are connecting the understanding of harmony by chording with singing, melody (the tune), rhythm pattern and beat.

The  djembes (drums) are being rotated from class to class in grades 1, 2.  They are learning how to hold the drums, and basic patterns of playing them.

1. Palm -- Go, do hit in the middles
2. Fingers--on outside of drum goon, doon
3. They also played some simple patterns on them.