Over the past two weeks, students have started learning the music they are going to sing at the winter concert. Many of them are very confused, asking why we are singing these songs so early. Each grade si going to be singing 3-4 songs each. This means a lot of memorization of a lot of words, this takes time. So the first time I play "Walking in a Winter Wonderland" the students may be confused, but when they start singing it they are filled with joy and excitement. Many students have even starting asking to do more winter and christmas music. In my classroom we start singing about all those little holidays early, and that's okay with me. Below you will find a recording of K practicing one of their songs for the winter concert. 

Today fifth grade students took to the stage for the first time. While the cast isn't set yet, it was fantastic to see students read through and act out scenes. This is a new experience for most of them, but they had an open mind and took stage direction very well. Seeing students come out of their shell as they try out different characters is one of the best parts of theatre. This is a wonderful class of fifth graders, and they are going to put on a great show!

Kindergarteners and first graders are discovering how sounds can carry emotions. While listening to different songs, students help up cards saying if they thought the piece sounded happy or sad. Later in class each student got a scarf and they were invited to move the scarf with the music. Students moved the scarves slowly through the air on "sad" songs and threw the scarves up with joy with "happy" songs. 

Why should students learn to play the ukulele?

​It's a fun, inexpensive instrument that teaches students about harmony, beat, and tempo. It also helps develop fine motor skills and independence in the movement of their fingers. Soprano ukuleles are the perfect size for 4th grade students, and they have taken to the instrument quickly and with excitement. They have enjoyed experimenting with the different sounds of this small instrument, and have learned to play their first melody.

Fun fact - did you know the ukulele is originally a Portuguese instrument? The Machete is a small four stringed instrument. Portuguese immigrants brought the instrument to Hawaii in the mid 1800s where locals were amazed by the quick movements of the player's fingers across the fretboard and changed the name to "Ukulele" meaning "jumping flea."

Pictured below are the two makes of ukulele 4th grade is learning to play on, as well as some students working on their skills.