GENERAL MUSIC CURRICULUM
Click below for the link to Wayland's general music curriculum which is based on the National Standards in Music and the Massachusetts Frameworks.
MUSIC CLASS HIGHLIGHTS
SEPTEMBER MUSIC NOTES - 2019
In music class the students are off to a great start learning the routines, getting to know each other, and of course making music! Classes are playing name games to help everyone (especially me!) remember names. We are also having fun with the music class expectations by drumming the rhythms of the words in our rules. The younger students echo these drumming rhythms while the older students are divided into groups so we have two or three rhythms happening at the same time. I can tell already that it is going to be a great year of music making at Happy Hollow!
I introduced chorus to the 4th and 5th grade students. If your child is interested in joining, we rehearse after school this year on Thursdays from 2:25-3:15 starting October 3rd. Click the button below to register. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to me at [email protected].
SEPTEMBER MUSIC NOTES - 2016
“Kindness matters at Happy Hollow
That’s the motto that we all follow
K-I-N-D Kind (clap clap)
K-I-N-D Kind (clap clap)”
From the Happy Hollow School Rap
The kids are off to a great start, filling our school with the sounds of singing, chanting, drumming, and other percussion. We are beginning the year with the Happy Hollow rap and talking about how “kindness matters” in music class in order to create a strong community of musicians. In addition we are doing activities that help us get to know each other and learn classroom routines all while making music!
Ms. Pohl
MARCH MUSIC NOTES - 2016
KINDERGARTEN
In music class kindergarten students are practicing keeping a steady beat with songs and poems. We use body percussion, movement, xylophones, drums, maracas, boom wackers, guiros, and rhythms sticks to explore this important concept. During one class the theme was trains and the room was set up with instrument stations. The children sang “Little Red Caboose” as they traveled to stations at which point they chanted the poem “Engine Engine Number 9” while playing the steady beat on an instrument. The children had a great time acting like trains traveling to the different stations and trying out all the instruments!
1st GRADE
First graders are working on reading and performing basic rhythms as well as developing their singing voices in music class. Recently we used the story of “John Henry” to play rhythms on drums and sticks. The reoccurring theme of hammers lent itself nicely to the sounds of the percussion instruments. The students were fascinated by this compelling legend about strength and courage. In future weeks we will explore the folk tale “Bremen Town Musicians” where we will combine acting, singing, and instruments to tell at story.
2nd GRADE
Second graders are on the move in music class! Recently, we finished the folk dance Jubilee Rag where we practiced moving to the beat and dancing with a partner. Now the students are creatively moving with scarves to a piece by Mozart. During this project children will create their own choreography with a group to show the contrast between the smooth (legato) and detached (staccato) sections in Mozart’s music. I cannot wait to see what they come up with!
3rd GRADE
RECORDERS! We are having a great time learning recorder in music class. During the early stages we focused on holding the instrument properly with the left hand on top and playing with a gentle sound by blowing slowly. Their tone and hand position has come a long way since the first class! So far we know four songs: Bransle, Hot Cross Buns (a classic), Merrily We Roll Along, and Pierrot. Ask your child to perform one for you at home! Also, please remind your child to bring his or her recorder and recorder binder each week to music class!
4th GRADE
DRUMS! As we study sixteenth note rhythms the fourth grade students are drumming in music class and playing a variety of percussion instruments. One of our favorites recently was the piece “Listen to my Heartbeat” by Jim Solomon. The fourth graders identified three types of drums in the music room (doumbeks, djembes, and tubanos). Using these drums the students played the piece “Listen to my Heartbeat ” switching instruments with each repetition of the piece. They played together as an ensemble of over twenty drums!
5th GRADE
The fifth grade students are focused on the play in music class. The play this year titled Pirates, is Wednesday, May 25th at 10:00 am for the school and 7:00 pm for families. The children are working on learning the songs and developing acting skills. They are working hard in music class and sounding great!
“Kindness matters at Happy Hollow
That’s the motto that we all follow
K-I-N-D Kind (clap clap)
K-I-N-D Kind (clap clap)”
From the Happy Hollow School Rap
The kids are off to a great start, filling our school with the sounds of singing, chanting, drumming, and other percussion. We are beginning the year with the Happy Hollow rap and talking about how “kindness matters” in music class in order to create a strong community of musicians. In addition we are doing activities that help us get to know each other and learn classroom routines all while making music!
Ms. Pohl
MARCH MUSIC NOTES - 2016
KINDERGARTEN
In music class kindergarten students are practicing keeping a steady beat with songs and poems. We use body percussion, movement, xylophones, drums, maracas, boom wackers, guiros, and rhythms sticks to explore this important concept. During one class the theme was trains and the room was set up with instrument stations. The children sang “Little Red Caboose” as they traveled to stations at which point they chanted the poem “Engine Engine Number 9” while playing the steady beat on an instrument. The children had a great time acting like trains traveling to the different stations and trying out all the instruments!
1st GRADE
First graders are working on reading and performing basic rhythms as well as developing their singing voices in music class. Recently we used the story of “John Henry” to play rhythms on drums and sticks. The reoccurring theme of hammers lent itself nicely to the sounds of the percussion instruments. The students were fascinated by this compelling legend about strength and courage. In future weeks we will explore the folk tale “Bremen Town Musicians” where we will combine acting, singing, and instruments to tell at story.
2nd GRADE
Second graders are on the move in music class! Recently, we finished the folk dance Jubilee Rag where we practiced moving to the beat and dancing with a partner. Now the students are creatively moving with scarves to a piece by Mozart. During this project children will create their own choreography with a group to show the contrast between the smooth (legato) and detached (staccato) sections in Mozart’s music. I cannot wait to see what they come up with!
3rd GRADE
RECORDERS! We are having a great time learning recorder in music class. During the early stages we focused on holding the instrument properly with the left hand on top and playing with a gentle sound by blowing slowly. Their tone and hand position has come a long way since the first class! So far we know four songs: Bransle, Hot Cross Buns (a classic), Merrily We Roll Along, and Pierrot. Ask your child to perform one for you at home! Also, please remind your child to bring his or her recorder and recorder binder each week to music class!
4th GRADE
DRUMS! As we study sixteenth note rhythms the fourth grade students are drumming in music class and playing a variety of percussion instruments. One of our favorites recently was the piece “Listen to my Heartbeat” by Jim Solomon. The fourth graders identified three types of drums in the music room (doumbeks, djembes, and tubanos). Using these drums the students played the piece “Listen to my Heartbeat ” switching instruments with each repetition of the piece. They played together as an ensemble of over twenty drums!
5th GRADE
The fifth grade students are focused on the play in music class. The play this year titled Pirates, is Wednesday, May 25th at 10:00 am for the school and 7:00 pm for families. The children are working on learning the songs and developing acting skills. They are working hard in music class and sounding great!
SEPTEMBER, 2015
"We're going back to school, we're going back to school
We're going back to Happy Hollow and taking our friends along."
1st grade name song
This year music class in a bright new classroom filled with natural light and more space. Both the students and I are excited about the new location! During the month of September in music class we are creating music that focuses on names, getting to know each other, and our schools motto "Kindness Matters." We are talking about how this motto applies to music class in order to create a strong community of respectful musicians.
If your child is in 4th or 5th grade they are welcome to sign up for chorus. We begin rehearsing on Tuesday, October 8th, at 8:00 am in the music room. If your child would like to sign up click on the link below.
"We're going back to school, we're going back to school
We're going back to Happy Hollow and taking our friends along."
1st grade name song
This year music class in a bright new classroom filled with natural light and more space. Both the students and I are excited about the new location! During the month of September in music class we are creating music that focuses on names, getting to know each other, and our schools motto "Kindness Matters." We are talking about how this motto applies to music class in order to create a strong community of respectful musicians.
If your child is in 4th or 5th grade they are welcome to sign up for chorus. We begin rehearsing on Tuesday, October 8th, at 8:00 am in the music room. If your child would like to sign up click on the link below.
JANUARY, 2014
FIRST GRADE
In music class 1st Grade students are working on reading rhythm notation. In December our favorite puppet Simon the squirrel visited our classes to help us practice sound and silence rhythms. The children also had fun with a poem titled “Toyshop.” After we chanted the words some children moved creatively acting out their favorite toy that has come to life while others played glockenspiels. Later we connected these toy names to rhythmic notation. First graders drew a picture of their toy on one side of a piece of paper and then drew the rhythms notes to match. In the coming month we will continue to work on reading rhythms and identifying them in songs we are singing.
SECOND GRADE
Second graders are also working on reading rhythms. They are practicing by identifying long and short rhythms in songs and on rhythm cards. With a song titled “TIdeo.” the children focused on reading/playing long and short rhythms on xylophones and glockenspiels. In addition to rhythm work the second grade students are currently working on the folk dance “Bridge of Athlone.” The children are have fun moving to the steady beat and creating a long bridge for a student to go under. By the end of a class full of dancing the children are full of smiles and very thirsty!
THIRD GRADE
The third graders are focused on reading pitch notation on the music staff and playing the recorder. We are playing games to help identify line and space notes in the treble clef. This week on recorder we are adding two more notes and beginning “Hot Cross Buns.” The kids are working hard to produce a clear sound by playing with slow, calm air.
FOURTH GRADE
Fourth graders are practicing sixteenth note rhythms in class. We identified them in Mozart’s “Rondo Alla Turca,” and are also playing them in a drumming piece titled “Listen to my Heartbeat.” In addition to rhythm work we are developing our singing skills in the coming weeks as we sing the round “One Bottle of Pop.” We are focused on singing in harmony as different notes blend together in a round.
FIFTH GRADE
Fifth grade students just completed a unit on Jazz music. We learned about the life of Louie Armstrong and watched clips of his performances. He was an amazing musician who persevered even when life was challenging. Fifth graders learned about basic jazz vocabulary and performed a jazz piece on mallet instruments. They had opportunities to improvise their own jazz melodies.
NOVEMBER, 2014
MUSIC NOTES FROM Ms. POHL
In general music classes students in kindergarten through fifth grade often move to music. Movement and dancing are included in class for a variety of reasons. Sometimes the purpose is to help students play an instrument part. When children walk a rhythm or perform a rhythm with body percussion they are prepared for success on percussion instruments. Other times we use movement to explore different styles of music such as Classical, Jazz, or Motown. For example fifth grade students were practicing their jazz walks and some basic lindy hop steps this week. Other times we move creatively to music for an aesthetic, expressive experience. First and second grade students this fall practiced moving like leaves to music focusing on the different shapes and pathways these images invoke. During these moments students are practicing their 21st century learning skills of creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. Lastly, movement is used to learn about music concepts such as tempo (speed), dynamics (loud-soft), and form (order of the music).
OCTOBER, 2014
Leaves, leaves floating down
Red, Yellow, Orange, Brown
Leaves, Leaves floating down
Swirling, gliding to the ground.
Poem by, Jay Broeker
This month in music class the children are performing autumn themed songs and poems to explore music concepts. We are having fun playing percussion instruments as we learn techniques for creating warm, rich sounds. The children are using such instruments as drums, xylophones, metallophones, glockenspiels, guiros and finger cymbals. Lastly, the students are developing their singing voices through warm-ups, large group singing, and small group singing.
FIRST GRADE
In music class 1st Grade students are working on reading rhythm notation. In December our favorite puppet Simon the squirrel visited our classes to help us practice sound and silence rhythms. The children also had fun with a poem titled “Toyshop.” After we chanted the words some children moved creatively acting out their favorite toy that has come to life while others played glockenspiels. Later we connected these toy names to rhythmic notation. First graders drew a picture of their toy on one side of a piece of paper and then drew the rhythms notes to match. In the coming month we will continue to work on reading rhythms and identifying them in songs we are singing.
SECOND GRADE
Second graders are also working on reading rhythms. They are practicing by identifying long and short rhythms in songs and on rhythm cards. With a song titled “TIdeo.” the children focused on reading/playing long and short rhythms on xylophones and glockenspiels. In addition to rhythm work the second grade students are currently working on the folk dance “Bridge of Athlone.” The children are have fun moving to the steady beat and creating a long bridge for a student to go under. By the end of a class full of dancing the children are full of smiles and very thirsty!
THIRD GRADE
The third graders are focused on reading pitch notation on the music staff and playing the recorder. We are playing games to help identify line and space notes in the treble clef. This week on recorder we are adding two more notes and beginning “Hot Cross Buns.” The kids are working hard to produce a clear sound by playing with slow, calm air.
FOURTH GRADE
Fourth graders are practicing sixteenth note rhythms in class. We identified them in Mozart’s “Rondo Alla Turca,” and are also playing them in a drumming piece titled “Listen to my Heartbeat.” In addition to rhythm work we are developing our singing skills in the coming weeks as we sing the round “One Bottle of Pop.” We are focused on singing in harmony as different notes blend together in a round.
FIFTH GRADE
Fifth grade students just completed a unit on Jazz music. We learned about the life of Louie Armstrong and watched clips of his performances. He was an amazing musician who persevered even when life was challenging. Fifth graders learned about basic jazz vocabulary and performed a jazz piece on mallet instruments. They had opportunities to improvise their own jazz melodies.
NOVEMBER, 2014
MUSIC NOTES FROM Ms. POHL
In general music classes students in kindergarten through fifth grade often move to music. Movement and dancing are included in class for a variety of reasons. Sometimes the purpose is to help students play an instrument part. When children walk a rhythm or perform a rhythm with body percussion they are prepared for success on percussion instruments. Other times we use movement to explore different styles of music such as Classical, Jazz, or Motown. For example fifth grade students were practicing their jazz walks and some basic lindy hop steps this week. Other times we move creatively to music for an aesthetic, expressive experience. First and second grade students this fall practiced moving like leaves to music focusing on the different shapes and pathways these images invoke. During these moments students are practicing their 21st century learning skills of creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. Lastly, movement is used to learn about music concepts such as tempo (speed), dynamics (loud-soft), and form (order of the music).
OCTOBER, 2014
Leaves, leaves floating down
Red, Yellow, Orange, Brown
Leaves, Leaves floating down
Swirling, gliding to the ground.
Poem by, Jay Broeker
This month in music class the children are performing autumn themed songs and poems to explore music concepts. We are having fun playing percussion instruments as we learn techniques for creating warm, rich sounds. The children are using such instruments as drums, xylophones, metallophones, glockenspiels, guiros and finger cymbals. Lastly, the students are developing their singing voices through warm-ups, large group singing, and small group singing.
SEPTEMBER, 2014
As another year begins, the music room is full of smiling faces, singing, dancing, performing body percussion, and rhythmic speech. This month in music class we will focus on creating a strong community of musicians stressing the importance of respect, and the schools motto "Kindness Matters." All the while we will be making music, having fun, and getting to know each other.
The Happy Hollow 4th and 5th Grade Chorus begins rehearsing Thursday, October 2nd at 8:00 am in the music room. If your child would like to join this fun ensemble please click on the chorus registration button below.
As another year begins, the music room is full of smiling faces, singing, dancing, performing body percussion, and rhythmic speech. This month in music class we will focus on creating a strong community of musicians stressing the importance of respect, and the schools motto "Kindness Matters." All the while we will be making music, having fun, and getting to know each other.
The Happy Hollow 4th and 5th Grade Chorus begins rehearsing Thursday, October 2nd at 8:00 am in the music room. If your child would like to join this fun ensemble please click on the chorus registration button below.
DECEMBER, 2013
2nd Grade
Second graders are working on their singing, rhythm, and percussion instrument skills in music class each week. Currently we are studying melodic direction as we work on singing and playing melodies that move up and down. The children are having fun conducting up and down patterns on the xylophones using their feet. Envision the movie “Big” where Tom Hanks walks on the giant piano to play “Heart and Soul” or the Museum of Science stairs that play music as you walk. In the music room colorful dots on the floor represent the keys of the xylophone and as the conductor walks on the dots the class plays the up and down melodies on their xylophones. Each of the children are eager for a chance to be the conductor.
3rd Grade
Third graders are eager to start playing recorder in music. We are anxiously waiting for them to arrive in the mail! In the mean time we are working on our music reading skills. The students practiced drawing the treble clef sign and labeling the line and space notes. We are having fun playing a game where the students toss a bean bag onto a giant size floor music staff and are asked to work with their team to identify the note.
4th Grade
Ms. Aronian’s students have really shown their creativity in music class! Using a piece titled “Rondo Alla Turca” by Mozart the students performed the rhythms from this piece using rhythm sticks. The real fun began when cooperatively in groups the children created their own beat patterns with the sticks. They performed them for each other and with Mozart’s music. Each group had a unique pattern that matched the beat. They were truly entertaining to watch!
5th Grade
Fifth graders are having fun with a Zimbabwean Marimba piece called Mbira Jam. The syncopated rhythm of this piece is both infectious and challenging to play. We combined a high, middle, and low part together to create harmony. Thanks to the wonderful world of Youtube we watched some impressive examples of Marimba ensembles and Mbira musicians from Zimbabwe to understand the roots of this style of music.
2nd Grade
Second graders are working on their singing, rhythm, and percussion instrument skills in music class each week. Currently we are studying melodic direction as we work on singing and playing melodies that move up and down. The children are having fun conducting up and down patterns on the xylophones using their feet. Envision the movie “Big” where Tom Hanks walks on the giant piano to play “Heart and Soul” or the Museum of Science stairs that play music as you walk. In the music room colorful dots on the floor represent the keys of the xylophone and as the conductor walks on the dots the class plays the up and down melodies on their xylophones. Each of the children are eager for a chance to be the conductor.
3rd Grade
Third graders are eager to start playing recorder in music. We are anxiously waiting for them to arrive in the mail! In the mean time we are working on our music reading skills. The students practiced drawing the treble clef sign and labeling the line and space notes. We are having fun playing a game where the students toss a bean bag onto a giant size floor music staff and are asked to work with their team to identify the note.
4th Grade
Ms. Aronian’s students have really shown their creativity in music class! Using a piece titled “Rondo Alla Turca” by Mozart the students performed the rhythms from this piece using rhythm sticks. The real fun began when cooperatively in groups the children created their own beat patterns with the sticks. They performed them for each other and with Mozart’s music. Each group had a unique pattern that matched the beat. They were truly entertaining to watch!
5th Grade
Fifth graders are having fun with a Zimbabwean Marimba piece called Mbira Jam. The syncopated rhythm of this piece is both infectious and challenging to play. We combined a high, middle, and low part together to create harmony. Thanks to the wonderful world of Youtube we watched some impressive examples of Marimba ensembles and Mbira musicians from Zimbabwe to understand the roots of this style of music.