Owen Public School, Wednesday Nov. 14 (3:50 - 4:50)

Hello everyone!

We have had great classes these last two weeks. We had a drumming competition last week with Djembe Drums and everyone had a lot of fun and did very well! We learned more about holding notes for 1, 2, 3, and 4 beats. We learned to clap rhythms on our hands within 4 beats phrases. When we hold notes in our 4 beat phrases, we dip our hands on each held beat. So if we are counting 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +, if we clap and hold the first two notes, we would dip our hands on the second beat to to show that we still know where the beat is and how many have gone by. We learned about Staccato, which refers to music that is short and bouncy, and Legato, which refers to music that is smooth and connected. We have learned about Double Notes, which is when you play two notes at the same time, one high and one low

Home Assignments

Primary Students

1. If there is a keyboard at home, review "Group of 2, Down to C" up and down the piano,
finding all the C's.
2. Practice holding notes as I described above. If there are any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.
3. If there is a keyboard at home, the children should try and practice double notes, playing them in a staccato fashion and legato fashion. If there is no keyboard, this exercise can be sung. Try singing Mary Had a Little Lamb staccato and legato.

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Willow and Neha have learned about playing a C major scale, musical rests, the Bass Clef (F Clef), and in class this week we played Old Grey Goose. Both girls need to practice A Tisket, A Tasket again this week. It is very important to bring the music to every class. The girls need to look one note ahead while they are practicing so they don't get lost. Remember proper hand position and all your rhythms!

Home Assignments

Willow & Neha

1. Practice C Major scale fingering, paying special attention to the thumb tuck. Fingering is 12312345 with the thumb tuck occurring after the third finger plays the note E. The thumb is curved underneath to play the F. In class we practiced 12341234 for scale fingering to work up our thumb tuck. Let the girls know that they can switch to the new fingering now.
2. Practice A Tisket, A Tasket, paying special attention to both notes and rhythms. Please remind the girls to bring their music to class.
3. Review whole rests, half rests, quarter rests and eighth rests. Also review whole notes, half notes, quarter notes and eighth notes. The girls will be tested on this information during the last class in December, so it is very important for them to review and remember.

- Whole Notes & Rests - 4 beats in a 4/4 bar (4/4) -
- Half Notes & Rests - 2 beats in a 4/4 bar (2/4) -
- Quarter Notes & Rests - 1 beat in a 4/4/ bar (1/4) -
- Eighth Notes & Rests - 1/2 of a beat in a 4/4 bar (1/8) -

See you next week!

-Laura