Dear Families,
Ask me about my visit with Mr. Jeff! We got to meet Jeff Stockton this week and he told us an awesome story using the music on his harp! We are so excited to continue our work together next week.
Music Notes
Hello West Springs Parents,
I hope you are keeping warm this week! Here are a few learning highlights from the past few weeks:
Grade 4: Learning the C, F, and Am chords on ukulele. Learning a bit about rock n' roll history, and how earlier rock n' roll musicians from the 1950s like Chuck Berry were an influence on The Beatles in the 1960s. The Beatles eventually added their own unique style to the music, and their music was an influence on later bands like Queen and Genesis in the 1970s, who made bigger and fancier rock songs.
Grade 3: Practicing singing several rounds (songs where two or more groups start singing a the same song at different times, creating harmony), and adding some xylophone and metallophone to the rounds we sing. Learning a bit about some of the styles created by Black Americans in the last century (they invented most of the big genres: jazz, blues, rock n' roll, gospel, funk, R&B, hip hop, etc), and listening to Stevie Wonder with all classes, and a bit of Chuck Berry with some classes.
Grade 2: Practicing "Edelweiss" and "Dum Dum Diddy" for our upcoming sharing assembly. Practicing proper singing posture, and learning to sing high notes better (raise eyebrows, drop jaw, smile a bit to create space in your mouth and throat to accurately and safely sing the high note), and to follow different conducting gestures for singing.
Grade 1: Listening to the second movement of "Concerto for Oboe and Violin" by JS Bach, and learning a few new songs, including "Engine, Engine Number 9", a simple So-Mi song we learned by reading the notes and "Aikendrum" (with most classes), which we learned by ear.
Kindergarten: Learning the new song "I Am a Pizza" and playing the singing game "Doggie, Doggie".
I hope you have a wonderful and restful long weekend,
Mr. Peter Vooys
On the Horizon
- Feb 13, 14 Teacher’s Convention (no school for students)
- Feb 17 Family Day (Public Holiday, schools closed)
- Feb 18, 19 Grade 4 Ski Lessons
- Feb 19 Kindergarten Fun Lunch-Booster Juice
- Feb 20 Spirit Day (dress as your favourite story character); Fun Lunch - Booster Juice
- Feb 21 Grade 2 Sharing Assembly 12:00 pm
- Feb 25 Pink Shirt Day
- Feb 27 Family Nutrition Seminar
- Feb 28 Professional Learning Day (no school for students)