Special Subjects

Music Classes

Grade 6 - My grade 6 band class is awesome!   Students are working hard, and have raised the level of performance this year!    Students are improving their  tone, embouchure, and breathing as we learn a variety of repertoire.   A highlight was performing for the kindergarten class this week!   Please remind students to practice at least 15 minutes per day!

Grade 5- This is another awesome band class!   These beginning students spur each other on to be better musicians!   We are learning beginning embouchure, fingerings, notes, and instrument care.   Please encourage students to practice for at least 15 minutes per day!  

Grade 4 -  Students have been exploring drum sounds, and percussion instruments this term.   Students also studied the Instruments of the Orchestra and created presentations using powerpoint.

Grade 3- Students have been learning about the Instruments of the Orchestra.   We also used a website called “Musical Mysteries” and worked through a range of activities about the orchestra.   During the Christmas Season, we studied the history of Christmas Carols, and sang many different traditional Christmas Songs!  We even learned one in German- Stille Nacht!

Grade 2- Students in grade two have also been learning about the instruments of the orchestra.   We have learned about the conductor, and the four families of instruments in the orchestra.   We also went on a sound scavenger hunt, and learned about which sounds have a steady beat! 

Grade 1-  Students in grade one have been learning a range of musical terms, and demonstrating their meanings.  We have studied “piano, forte, crescendo, and presto.”   We listened to the “Flight of the Bumblebee” to demonstrate presto.  We are currently learning songs of the Caribbean!   Ask your child to sing “Yellow Bird” or “River Come Down”, we will continue to add other songs to these in the next few weeks.   The music is bright and fun to sing!

Kindergarten - Students in kindergarten have been learning various children’s songs that go along with the theme that they are studying in class.   We also love to play along to music using  rhythm sticks!     Students are learning about loud and quiet music, and are involved in activities to show the various dynamic levels in music.   

Music classes this term will be studying the following:

Grade 1- We are working through lessons in the Share the Music curriculum, and exploring music through movement, listening, singing activities, and rhythmic notation.    Students make rhythm patterns out of popsicle sticks & pipe cleaners that represent notes.

Grade 2- We have been studying about the life of composer J.S. Bach, and will be concluding our study in the next two weeks.    Students are also working through the curriculum Share the Music and learning elements of music through activities that focus on listening, performing, and creating through a variety of activities.

Grade 3 - We have started to learn to play the recorder.   Students have learned the notes G, A, B so far, and should be able to master playing “Hot Cross Buns” & “Mary Had A Little Lamb”.    As students become more familiar with their notes, we will be adding the alto and tenor recorders and some light percussion.   Please have students practice and play a song for their parents.   A key to having a nice pleasant tone, is to blow softly!   It doesn’t require much air!

Grade 4 - Students in grade 4 are also learning to play the recorder.   They were introduced to it last year, and this year we focus particularly on breathing, tonguing, and reading the music in preparation for band class next year.   Students will spend most of term 3 playing the recorder, and adding other instruments as well as students master note reading.    I like to have students learn to play familiar songs also to increase their love and enjoyment of music.

Grade 5/6 - The band class is doing well this year!    We are already learning easy arrangements of familiar songs such as “Oh When the Saints”, “Ode to Joy”, and “Old MacDonald Had a Farm”.    Students are eager and motivated to play, and we have great fun in class together.  In order to learn to play any instrument well, practice is key to making progress, and so students should be practicing 2-3 times a week for 10-30 minutes.   We are focusing on breathing, tonguing, and playing longer phrases this term.

Dear Parents:

Welcome back to another school year!   I am excited to get started with our lessons in music!    For September students in K-4 will be studying the life and selected works of composer Franz Joseph Haydn.   Students will use select musical pieces to learn a variety of concepts,  and to explore music through activities including listening, performing and creating.

Band students in Grades 5 and 6 will be introduced to our band course.   Students will be able to select an instrument, and begin to learn the care and basics needed to play a wind instrument.

Please stay tuned for more information about our upcoming Christmas musical!

I am so proud of my band students this year!   They are a great group of students who are hard working, and we have loads of fun every class.   They are playing really well, and moving quickly through the band curriculum!    You can tell from their expressions in these photos how much we all enjoy class together!

Students in Grades 3 & 4 have just completed a term learning to play the recorder.   The recorder is a great beginning instrument as it teaches students foundational skills for music such as note and rhythm reading, breathing, tonguing and producing good tone, as well as introducing fingering that will help them in the future should they study a band instrument.   We had a lot of fun learning to play familiar children’s songs, and the challenge piece for higher level students  “Here I Am to Worship” one of our favorite chapel songs!   The highlight at the end of the unit was introducing other instruments to add rhythm, and chords.   Students were also given the opportunity to play the alto and tenor recorders.   Here are some photos to document the good times!  (looks like i only captured the grade 4’s - sorry!)

FBCS students in grades 4,5,6 have an opportunity to see a concert sponsored by the Cayman Arts Festival.   Educational workshops are a very important part of the Festival, and this year they are bringing us a Music Comedy Show called “All Classical Music Explained” – ACME by Rainer Hersch.  If you would like to get more information on this show and the artist Rainer Hersch, please log on to www.rainerhersch.com   The cost is $3 per student, and should be turned into the classroom teacher.  

Music students are working hard on the Christmas Program which will be held on Tuesday, December 15th at 6:30 p.m.    Students in Grades 2-6 will be presenting the musical called “A Star is Born”.    A Star is Born follows a group of children preparing for a big Christmas television production. When Sophia the actress comes to play the role of Mary, the director and the other actors try to help her understand that the “star” of any Christmas production is Jesus Christ. The main lesson is to be humble and allow God to use you for His glory.

Students in Kindergarten and First Grade will be doing their own presentation that same evening the “ABC’s of Christmas!”    They will tell us what Christmas is all about using the alphabet!

Come out and join us for a joyous evening to celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus through music, and for the Birthday Party for Jesus following the  program!