Ms. Miller's Music Blog

 The grades 3/4/5 classes have been experiencing and learning about strong beats and weak beats.    We sang a song that had a pattern of strong/weak, strong/weak and placed an accent mark above all the strong beats.  We discovered that this song had beats grouped in 2's, meaning that there are two beats between the bar lines with a strong beat and a weak beat.  The students are learning to understand the vocabulary TIME SIGNATURE.  The time signature of the song we learned is 2/4.  The top number means how many beats are per bar and the bottom number means the type of note that gets the beat, in this case it is a quarter note.

Hi Parents; Grade 1 and 2 students have been learning how to hold the mallets properly!  The top picture shows, "come from the top, come from the top, curl and stick your thumb, curl and stick your thumb".  Below we show that the mallets are held at an angle, although they are not supposed to cross!  This is the students practicing pre-paper/pencil notation of rhythms.  The circles represent the beat and we use pop-sickle sticks to 'draw' the rhythms.  Our next step is to use paper and pencil, which they have now completed.  Grade one's can print a 'ta' and grade two's know how to notate 'ta', 'ti-ti' and a rest.  

Grade 3/4 students have played a game that practices  the note values, moving the number of spaces with corresponding note values and missing a turn if they roll a rest!  We have also been learning about ACCENTS, and that music is grouped in groups of 2, but could also be grouped in 3 or 4.  We have stepped the strong  beat so strongly that the vibrations activated the cymbal! That was a very interesting discover! We have practiced patting the strong beat and clapping the weak beat.  Our next step was to then show the accent mark on paper above the strong beats and discovered a pattern of strong/weak.  We discovered that the song we were singing is grouped in 2's, which means there are 2 beats/bar.   Grade 3-4's have also been focusing on FORM of music.  Understanding that music is arranged in sections and that each section is different.  We learned a song that has an AB section and we have now created our own forms using a 4 x 4 grid an...

  KG students have learned the 4 non-pitched percussion (NPP) instrument families:  metals, skin, woods, shaker/scraper. KG's are learning about syllables.  We are creating a 4 beat pattern using animals and fruit (not seen here).  To ensure success, we have started with animals that are only one syllable, then will add two-syllable animals/objects and have them create a 4 beat pattern using both.  Our next step will be for them to create these patterns independently.     Not pictured:  students have been using scarves while listening to music about the fall leaves falling to the ground to experience self-expression and are they moving to the music appropriately.  For example, if the music is fast are they acknowledging that tempo in their movement, or if it is slow, are they following the music with their bodies or doing their own thing. 

Hi Tuscany Families; We are very excited this year to participate in the CBC Canadian Music Challenge .  There are 8 first place prizes to be won, along with a gold-plated record with our name on it.  The grades 3, 4, & 5 classes in both the French and English programs will participate and learn the song we have chosen.  The name of the singing groups collectively is, Tuscany Together Ensemble.   Tuscany School is a school that is rich in learning Indigenous ways of knowing and because of our work surrounding this, we have selected a Canadian Indigenous Artists song called,  "Strawberry Moon" .     Please scroll down until you find the song, "Strawberry Moon".  Tara Williamson has composed this beautiful song about the Strawberry Moon and is sung in Ojibwa with one verse in English.  Students can listen to the song using the hyperlink above.   Thank you for your help to learn this song and help Tuscany students to...

Hi Parents;   Please see the diagram below for an overview of what students will learn in music in grade 5. I am looking forward to an awesome year with these fantastic and talented grade 5 students!  

Hi Parents:   Please see the diagram below for an overview of what students in grade 4 will learn in music this year.  I look forward to a great year with awesome students!