Music Agenda 3/2-3/6

***We are starting to work on scenery and props for Annual Fund Dinner(Middle School Musical)  If you have any painting rollers, brushes or painting supplies(drop cloths) you would be willing to donate please send in with the kids.  If you have a talent for painting, please let me know, we have a large mural that needs painted or just sketched for the kids to paint.    PLEASE SEND KIDS IN WITH PAINT SHIRTS, PANTS AND OLD SOCKS!!!  THANKS!

****Some plans will change slightly based on ISTEP schedule.  Depending on the schedule some students are testing before or after specials, some are coming to music 1 time others twice or more.  For the students that are testing, I want to keep them moving, it provides great opportunities for their brains to work, so depending on the kids needs some lessons may be put off to allow the kids time to move. 

Kindergarten- Kindergarten will be responding to music from other cultures.  Students will continue to play rhythm sticks with pieces from Greece, Germany, Spain, Irleand to just name a few.  Students will create and improvse using bells, melodic tunes.  Students will review reading quarter and eighth not patterns, as we begin to identify note names.  We will identify them on the map and I will show connections to Indiana and where the different songs are from.  We will sing some short songs in different languages.

First Grade-  We will continue reading with Solfege, students will read with texts with notes.  Students are singing The Old Woman and the Pig, Kitty Alone, There was a little turtle, I met a bear, Johnny works with 1 hammer to focus on pitch matching and expanding vocal range. Students will use drums to tap steady beat with the music.

Second Grade-  Students will continue to read notes, identify by sound and sight.  Students will dance to Old Joe Clark, Kye kye kule, Hop Old Squirrel, My hat it has 3.  Students will copy rhythms on the drum, and read new notes in 4 beat measures.

Third Grade: Students will be assessed on their ability to identify instruments and families by sight and sound.   We will use rhythm sticks and drums as we look at read from rhythm cards.  Students will identify voice types, but listening.  

Fourth Grade-  We did not get to our work due to ISTEP prep with writing, so we will do the same activities this week. If ISTEP is schedule falls before classes, I like to give kids brain breaks by moving or playing games.   If the time allows for it, We will sing, "Never Smile at a Crocodile" , as I ask them to predict what we will be doing today.  The song is a hint. We will read "Carnival of the Animals", this book incorporates the instruments in the orchestra. Students will listen and analyze music with identifying instruments and they families, connecting how the instruments enhance the story.  Students will begin creating a story and decide how they will put instruments with the story perform for the class. 

Fifth Grade- We did not get to our work due to ISTEP prep with writing, so we will do the same activities this week. If ISTEP is schedule falls before classes, I like to give kids brain breaks by moving or playing games. Students will continue to look at how music is math, to read music it requires counting, adding, subtracting and creating equations.  Students will sing the song, "Rhythm is Math", students will read basic rhythm cards while playing percussion instrument, then create 4 beat patterns of their own.  Mrs. Simms will give students a picture and in their notebooks they will have to identify using notes the area of the object.  Students will then create their own math equation or problem for their peers to figure out. Students will write an equation in their notebooks and others will solve. Students will explain why they got the answers they put for the problem. 

Annual Fund Dinner(AFD) Little Mermaid Jr.-Since ISTEP falls right after UA, we  like to give kids brain breaks by moving or playing games.    We will miss Mon, Tues and Thurs morning practices due to ISTEP movement. We will still have after school practices on Mon and Wed after school.  We begin off book next week, students need to have all lines memorized, their weekly grade is deducted if they are not prepared with lines or solos.  Music will be required to be memorized in the next few weeks as well.  

The Advanced and Beginning groups:  Since ISTEP falls right after UA, we  like to give kids brain breaks by moving or playing games.    We will miss Mon, Tues and Thurs morning practices due to ISTEP movement. Students are learning various songs that are common in the pep band music world, ask them about the "Hey Song", "Go Big Green", "Happy Birthday", and "Jaws".  Students will start learning "Happy" "The Holy Spirit School Song" and some others.  East Deanery Band Festival Dates are still being set, coordination of multiple schools has proved to be challenging, but I will let you know as soon as I know the date.  Many students who were in band last semester have expressed interested, please talk to you child to see if they are interested.  I will send home a form when we know the date!  

Guitars-  They continue to prepare for the concert during the school day on May 18th.  Mass utilizes a great deal of their practice time, come out and see all the hard work they do on Wednesday's.  Mrs. Newhart is being a champ, as she facilitates the students in all their hard work! 


Thank you! 
Angela Simms
asimms@holyspirit-indy.org
Any questions please contact me, I am here to advance your child musically!

317-352-1243

Music Agenda 2/23-2/27

***We are starting to work on scenery and props for Annual Fund Dinner(Middle School Musical)  If you have any painting rollers, brushes or painting supplies(drop cloths) you would be willing to donate please send in with the kids.  If you have a talent for painting, please let me know, we have a large mural that needs painted or just sketched for the kids to paint.  

****Some plans will change slightly based on ISTEP schedule.  Depending on the schedule some students are testing before or after specials, some are coming to music 1 time others twice or more.  For the students that are testing, I want to keep them moving, it provides great opportunities for their brains to work, so depending on the kids needs some lessons may be put off to allow the kids time to move. 

Kindergarten- Kindergarten will be responding to music from other cultures.  Students will be playing rhythm sticks with pieces from Israel  Puerto Rico, The Carribean, and Ireland, to just name a few.  Students will create and improvse using the rhythm sticks also.  Students will be reading quarter and eighth not patterns, as we begin to identify notes.  We will identify them on the map and I will show connections to Indiana and where the different songs are from.  We will see a few songs from other cultures, which are in different languages.

First Grade-  We will continue reading with Solfege, students will read with texts with notes. We will talk about the connection of reading music to reading words in their reading class.  They will learn new songs, using the solfege syllables and Kodaly Handsigns. Students are singing "There's a Hole in the Bucket", "Do Your Ears Hang Low", and some other songs to focus on pitch matching and expanding vocal range. Students will sing, "William he had seven sons" along with improvising movements, vocal sounds and on percussion instruments.

Second Grade-   Students will use instruments to play notes we are learning in class with rhythm cards.  Students will practice writing notes while associating with letter names. Students will sing with rhythm cards.  Students will listen to the song Old Joe Clark and create movements to go with song. Students will learn about the Song Old Joe Clark and how it is a Folk Song

Third Grade: We will sing the hello song as we enter and improve movements while singing. Instruments around the world game, where students identify families and sounds of instruments.  Students will be able to walk around and look at the different instruments in the orchestra and touch them. We will use rhythm sticks and drums as we look at read from rhythm cards.  Students will also identify voice types. Students will complete the writing prompt:  What is your favorite instrument? We will talk about proper ISTEP+ writing expectations for their paragraphs.  We will talk about how writing is used in various classes and how expectations are the same for every class, Good writing is good writing.

Fourth Grade- We will sing, "Never Smile at a Crocodile" , as I ask them to predict what we will be doing today.  The song is a hint. We will read "Carnival of the Animals", this book incorporates the instruments in the orchestra.  As we read, we will discuss reading comprehension strategies as they prepare for ISTEP+ an read in their reading classroom. Students will listen and analyze music with identifying instruments and they families, connecting how the instruments enhance the story.  Students will begin creating a story and decide how they will put instruments with the story perform for the class. 

Fifth Grade- StudentsStudents will begin to look at how music is math, to read music it requires counting, adding, subtracting and creating equations.  Students will sing the song, "Rhythm is Math", students will read basic rhythm cards while playing percussion instrument, then create 4 beat patterns of their own.  Mrs. Simms will give students a picture and in their notebooks they will have to identify using notes the area of the object.  Students will then create their own math equation or problem for their peers to figure out. Students will write an equation in their notebooks and others will solve. Students will explain why they got the answers they put for the problem. 

Annual Fund Dinner(AFD) Little Mermaid Jr.-   Students will be doing a lot of movement and dancing, students will be creating more movements to songs in the show.  We will continue to work on parts in the music. Students will write on Todaysmeet.com about ideas for various props and scenery for the show. 

The Advanced and Beginning groups will also perform at a concert during the school day on May 18th at 9:00.  I would love to have any students who would like to play at Mass on Wednesday let me know.  They can prepare a solo and play for the preparation of gifts or communion songs.   Great work to the percussion sections as they have created their own part for "Happy Birthday", creative geniuses! Students are learning various songs that are common in the pep band music world.  Students will write on padlet.com, maybe a song that would be fun to play in band

Guitars- They did a great job in "Cannon in D" at Mass Wednesday.  They continue to prepare for the concert during the school day on May 18th.


Thank you! 
Angela Simms
asimms@holyspirit-indy.org
Any questions please contact me, I am here to advance your child musically!

317-352-1243

Music Agenda 2/16-2/20

Kindergarten- Rhythm Sticks and bells.  Students will follow cards and play music.  We will also work play rhythm sticks with music from other cultures

First Grade-  Students will review notes by name, sound and writing them.  Students will read rhythms.   We will create notes to be displayed. Students will continue practice writing notes and rhythms for identification practice.  We will continue reading with Solfege. We are working toward Fierabend Curriculm which helps with improvising and pitch matching.

Second Grade-   We will be learning different notes, writing, creating and reading.

Third Grade: Voices and instruments.  Students will listen and identify instruments and their families.  

Fourth Grade- We will be learning about instruments from the US and other cultures. Writing prompt: What is your favorite instrument?  

Fifth Grade- Peer editing Johnny letter and making changes. Students will start to learn about work songs and other history in American and the songs that teach us more in depth history of our Country. 

Annual Fund Dinner(AFD) Little Mermaid Jr.-   Students are working through the script as we learn the songs, dances and lines.  First week in March students have to have all parts memorized in the script.  Please know: Absences are excused if they are for illness, funeral or for tutoring approved by their teacher.  Absences that are not excused are for appointments, missing work in classes and they are required to meet with the teacher or for any other reason.  We have practice ALMOST EVERY Mon. and Wed, it is very important the kids are present because when they miss, they get behind. 

Advanced Band- First Period band students are working on solos for ISSMA and CYO competitions. ISSMA is this Saturday.  We have one students going!  CYO is on Feb 14th.  If you do not know your child time or have any questions, please let me know there will be information sent home by the end of the week.  The Advanced group will also perform at a concert during the school day on May 18th at 9:00.  I would love to have any students who would like to play at Mass on Wednesday let me know.  They can prepare a solo and play for the preparation of gifts or communion songs.   The East Deanery Band festival is now March 16th.   . 

Beginning Band-  We will begin to work on band cheers.  The Hey song, Jaws, Holy Spirit School song, the national anthem, and many others.

Guitars- They did a great job in "Cannon in D" at Mass Wednesday.  They continue to prepare for the concert during the school day on May 18th.

Any questions please contact me, I am here to advance your child musically!

Angela Simms
asimms@holyspirit-indy.org
317-352-1243

Music Agenda 2/9-2/13

*****Anyone that has a talent for sewing we need help with costumes for Annual Fund dinner, please contact me, we want to set up a meeting next week to plan out what we can do and need.  

********Grades should be visible in the grade book, all middle school students will be listed as music.  They cannot be indicated as band or choir as the gradebook will not allow for it.  Because it will lose the first and 2nd quarter grades.  We are working on the problem to be resolved for next year.  Any questions, please let me know! 

Kindergarten- Boomwhackers and bells.  Students will follow cards and play music.  We will also work play rhythm sticks with music from other cultures

First Grade-  Students will review notes by name, sound and writing them.  Students will read rhythms.   We will create notes to be displayed. Students will continue practice writing notes and rhythms for identification practice.  We will continue reading with Solfege. We are working toward Fierabend Curriculm which helps with improvising and pitch matching.

Second Grade-   We will be learning different notes, writing, creating and reading.

Third Grade: Voices and instruments.  Students will listen and identify instruments and their families.  

Fourth Grade- We will be learning about instruments from the US and other cultures. Writing prompt: What is your favorite instrument?  

Fifth Grade- Peer editing Johnny letter and making changes. Students will start to learn about work songs and other history in American and the songs that teach us more in depth history of our Country. 

Annual Fund Dinner(AFD) Little Mermaid Jr.-   Students are working through the script as we learn the songs, dances and lines.  First week in March students have to have all parts memorized in the script.  Please know: Absences are excused if they are for illness, funeral or for tutoring approved by their teacher.  Absences that are not excused are for appointments, missing work in classes and they are required to meet with the teacher or for any other reason.  We have practice ALMOST EVERY Mon. and Wed, it is very important the kids are present because when they miss, they get behind. 

Advanced Band- First Period band students are working on solos for ISSMA and CYO competitions. ISSMA is this Saturday.  We have one students going!  CYO is on Feb 14th.  If you do not know your child time or have any questions, please let me know there will be information sent home by the end of the week.  The Advanced group will also perform at a concert during the school day on May 18th at 9:00.  I would love to have any students who would like to play at Mass on Wednesday let me know.  They can prepare a solo and play for the preparation of gifts or communion songs.   The East Deanery Band festival is now March 16th.   . 

Beginning Band-  We will begin to work on band cheers.  The Hey song, Jaws, Holy Spirit School song, the national anthem, and many others.

Guitars- They did a great job in "Cannon in D" at Mass Wednesday.  They continue to prepare for the concert during the school day on May 18th.

Any questions please contact me, I am here to advance your child musically!

Angela Simms
asimms@holyspirit-indy.org
317-352-1243