2nd Grade Program

SongTales

As part of becoming artful musicians, students need to hear music sung in an artful way, just as they need to hear stories read in an artful manner to become expressive readers. To help with this goal, every Kindergarten and First grade class ends with me singing them a SongTale, a story through song. The students grow to love these stories and ask for them often. They've asked so often in fact, I'm telling you how to get them here! If you follow the posted links, you can actually download the mp3s of our SongTales FOR FREE! Then, your kiddos can listen to them as much as they want!

Kindergarten:

Over in the Meadow- https://www.giamusic.com/store/resource/over-in-the-meadow-book-g9032

Had a Little Rooster- https://www.giamusic.com/store/resource/had-a-little-rooster-book-g9665


First Grade:

The Crabfish- https://www.giamusic.com/store/resource/the-crabfish-book-g6535

Risseldy, Rosseldy- https://www.giamusic.com/store/resource/risseldy-rosseldy-print-g8121

2019-2020 Off to a Great Start!

This year started off so quickly and these kiddos have been doing a great job! Our goal in the music room is to become tuneful (can remember and sing a song using the correct voice), beatful (can keep the beat to a piece of music on their own), and artful (can display and describe feeling and emotion evoked by music through dance and words). To achieve these goals, the students need a vocabulary of music terms. We have been learning those terms throughout the year so far through music games and activities! Check us out!

Kindergarten:

Through the game "Musical Houses," students in Kindergarten have been learning about the community of music, how we all have to work together to achieve a great and fun sound, and how every part is important. Look at us helping each other make it from house to house (hula hoops) as the music plays and stops!

First Grade:

First grade has been working on body and spacial awareness in the music room. A lot of kids have trouble locating where their bodies are in relation to other people's bodies, and different ways they can move their own. To help with this, we are playing a form of "freeze dance." Students are allowed to dance however they wish when the music is on as long as they are not running (safe) and can successfully avoid bumping into someone else (my body in relation to another body). Then, they have to freeze however the card I hold up shows when the music goes off (different ways I can move AND my body in relation to another body). Check us out!

Second Grade:

Second grade has been working on isolated body parts and fine motor skills through a balancing activity. While soothing music from our country of the month, Japan, plays by the koto, students must walk while balancing a paper plate on part of their body. If the plate falls off, they must freeze until someone ALSO balancing a paper plate saves them by getting and handing the frozen student their plate without dropping their own. It's a lot harder than it looks! Check it out!

Kindergarten's First Instrument Experience

Kindergarten got to play instruments for the first time in Music class this week! It was so much fun! Loud and organized chaos is the best way to get to experience music. Instruments were grouped according to their type: woods, scrapers, shakers, metals, membranes (drums), and melody. Students got to play the different types of instruments for 3 minute segments and rotated through so that they got the opportunity to play them all! It was so much fun! Check out some of them below.

Kindergarten Surprise!

I can't believe it is the end of the year already! It's insane how quickly a year can go and how much a child can grow in that short period of time. As a "Have fun this summer, and keep playing music!" gift, every year, Kindergarten gets to make their very own musical instruments. They make maracas! Using plastic easter eggs donated by various amazing people, spoons, beans, and tape, these kiddos get to make their very own musical instrument to take home and play as much as they want. Yes parents, I told them to annoy you as much as possible this summer with their beautiful maraca playing! Thank you for always supporting me and this music program by encouraging your children to sing, dance, and play all day at home!

Music Recitals

Some students have had the opportunity to take instrument lessons with me throughout the year. Their lessons have culminated into a Spring Recital. The recital consisted of music from many young musicians playing piano, ukulele, and violin. I am so proud of their performance and look forward to their growth in the coming years. If you are in want of having your child in lessons for a musical instrument, email me @ mary.manning@banks.k12.ga.us and I will be more than happy to discuss this option with you!

Second Grade Program: DONE!

The Second Graders performed their last performance at the Primary School today. It was a bittersweet moment for me, as they were my first group of awesome kiddos that I had the privilege to teach all 3 years of their primary school life. While they were performing for their classmates at school, some of their awesome teachers jumped in and danced our longways set, "Turkey in the Straw," right along with them. It just went to show that you don't have to be a musician, a music teacher, a performer, to participate in and enjoy music. You just have to be a human who enjoys connection and good music. Thank you to Mrs. Nicholson and Mrs. Ott (and Mrs. Moore and Mrs. Giles who I wasn't able to snag a picture of) for giving such a great example of life-long enjoyment of music. I teach a 30 year plan- in 30 years, I want these kids to enjoy singing lullabies to their children or be able to sing Happy Birthday in tune with a group, enjoy dancing at weddings or birthday parties with friends, and appreciate the heart and community music creates. These lovely ladies were someone's 30-year plan gone right, and a wonderful example for these kids. So long second graders; I will miss you next year, but you will grow up to do great things! Remember, no matter what anyone tells you, you CAN sing!

Second Grade Program Practice

The second grade program, "The Cheese Stands Alone," is set for May 9th! Here is a PowerPoint with all of the words and the music, so that your kiddos can practice at home for the big show! It is farm themed, so be sure to get your farm outfit ready to go! See you soon!

Bring Your Family to Music Week!

This week was Bring Your Parent (or Family Member) to Music Week and I feel like it could not have been any better! The kiddos had so much fun dancing with the family members who came and showing them how to do the dances and songs we have been learning in music class!