May 16th, 2011 Music Update

There will be a photo taken of the Brookhouse Choir on Friday afternoon, May 20^th.  Choir members are reminded to wear dark pants/skirt and white tops that afternoon.  It is very important for the choir to be in proper attire for this photo.  The choir photo will be enlarged and displayed in the hallway of Brookhouse School along with photos from previous years. 

April 19th, 2011 Music Update

Fill Our Skies with Music

Hundreds of thousands of students across Canada will unite in song on May

2nd for the 6th annual Music Monday celebration

The theme song for Music Monday, “Tomorrow is Coming” was composed by Canadian singer-songwriter, Luke Doucet.

The Coalition for Music Education in Canada created Music Monday to

celebrate the galvanizing power of music and to demonstrate how that power

is rooted in school music programs.

More than 2,500 schools and organizations from every province and

territory will participate this year in Music Monday on May 2^nd.

Music education is an important tool for engagement, harmony, creativity and achievement in our young people and Music Monday is a powerful platform to advocate the importance of keeping music in our schools.

Why learn music in school?

Develops skills needed by the 21st century workforce: critical and analytical thinking, creative problem solving, effective communication, team work and more;

Keeps students engaged in school and reduces likelihood of dropping out;

Improves the atmosphere for learning;

Helps students achieve in other academic subjects like math, science,

and reading;

Helps communities share ideas and values among cultures and generations;

Is a disciplined human endeavour with value to society;

Please join in the singing of the Music Monday Song at 2:00 pm our time by going to the website musicmakesus.ca/musicmonday/ on May 2nd, 2011,when we unite the country in a demonstration of our love of music in our lives and in our schools.

    April 1st, 2011 Music Update

African Talking Drums

The talking drum is a West African drum whose pitch can be regulated to the extent that it is said the drum "talks".

    March 16th, 2011 Music Update

    March 15th, 2011 Music Update

Hooked on

Classics

Classics for the young

and the young at heart

Eleanor Hall: Soprano Jean Trider: Accompanist

Laurene Macdonald: Narrator

SUNDAY 3:00 p.m., MARCH 20, 2011

GRACE UNITED CHURCH,

70 King Street, DARTMOUTH, N.S.

Adults:$10; Youth:$5; Family:$15 (with children under 12)

Tickets at the Door or Call: (902)466-3329

www.graceuniteddartmouth.ca

Music at Grace Presents

A multi-media presentation designed to foster enjoyment

and appreciation of classical music. The concert includes

live performances and excerpts from movies, cartoons

and commercials.

    March 11th, 2011 Music Update

The students at Brookhouse School have been learning about the Underground Railroad recently and its conductors, as well as songs with secret messages such as "Follow the Drinking Gourd",  instruments of  Africa, as well as places such as Kapiti Plain in Kenya! Here are a few pictures of some of the many instruments from Africa!

            October, 2010-2011

There will be choir for all Grade 3, 4, 5, and 6 students who wish to join starting on Wednesday, October 13^th from 2:30-3:10. Please take note that there will be no crossing guard when the children leave from choir rehearsal. Permission forms should be returned no later than October 8th. Please go over the choir rules which were in the choir newsletter before their first choir rehearsal.

The Brookhouse Choir will be singing on Wednesday morning, November 10^th for the Remembrance Day Assembly and on the evening of December 16th for the Christmas concert. Choir members should be in proper choir uniform (white shirt/ blouse and dark pants/skirt) in order to perform. The one exception is that choir members who belong to a service organization such as Scouts, Brownies, Girl Guides, Cubs etc. have the option of wearing their uniform for the Remembrance Day Assembly.

       Music Curriculum Newsletter        

                             September, 2010-2011

Dear Parents,

The aim of the music program at Brookhouse School is primarily an appreciation of various forms covering cross-cultural boundaries with growing awareness of the world around us. Themes and subjects from the classroom, such as mathematics and language arts are reinforced through musical songs and games when possible.  All students receive two thirty-minute classes of music a week. 

Children are taught to: use their voices properly and expressively in singing;  introduced to music appreciation;  taught to read the written note and symbols of music;  introduced to the great composers;  trained to listen and respond creatively to music; given a musical outlet through which to express themselves; given a chance to perform and to experience the sharing of music with others.

The elements of music, such as pitch, dynamics, duration, tempo, form, timbre and texture, will be taught through  speech, movement, melody, singing and instrumental playing, rhythm, songs, games, stories, folklore, echoes, sound gestures, dramatic play, notation, word patterns and rounds, by using the voice, body, instruments, other sounds and media, and creative activities to encourage a love of music, musical literacy, an ability to sing and to play musical instruments, and developmental skills.

The skills taught in music are to prepare any hidden talents and aspirations. Nurturing the students' talents and musical understanding help prepare them for band programs and those who wish to continue studying music, in Grade Six and beyond. The skills are meant to make the transition to the band program easier.

            Evaluation for Grade Primaries through Grade Three will be on participation and effort.  Grade Four, Five and Six will be on participation, effort, as well as mini tests both oral and written.  Participation includes working together in the music classroom, the singing of songs as a class, and the playing of instruments in music class.  Effort includes contributing to the class by answering questions, asking questions and the willingness to try new music activities. 

 “Beeing the Best in Music you can Bee” is the music motto at Brookhouse School, which includes behavior.  To achieve this goal, certain expectations need to be met in the music classroom, such as: 1) Respect must be given to others at all times. 

2) Raising your hand before speaking. 3) Listening to the teacher (Mrs. Mathieu) and other students when they are talking or performing.  4) Bringing all of your manners with you, upon entering the music classroom.

For discipline, I use the Magic 1,2,3 approach.  For the younger grades, one is a warning, two is a second warning and three would mean a time out of the circle for about five minutes.  For the older grades, it would mean a 5-minute detention at recess up to 10 minutes.  If a child is given a 10 minute detention, there will be a notice sent home stating the area of concern.  This should be signed and returned as soon as possible

 In closing, the music program provides social interaction and co-operation through various songs, games and musical instrumentation.   Looking forward to a musical year!

B. Mathieu

SCOPE AND SEQUENCE (SEPTEMBER 2010-2011)

The scope and sequence lists that follow suggest a sequential and logical progress through the various elements of music. Student needs, individual teaching styles, available resources, classroom climate, and personal strengths will create the context through which the skills and concepts are approached. Therefore, the lists do not specify particular grade levels for specific concepts. Musical skills and concepts are best learned when they are experienced and then identified, labelled, and reinforced through a wide range of activities and approaches. Thus, the learning spirals from generalized concepts to facts and specific skills that can be applied to further music learning.

• speaking voice vs. singing voice

• high vs. low sounds in music and other sound sources

• pitch direction (up/down) in music and other sound sources

• echo singing

• repeated pitches

• melody mapping

• sol, mi

• la

• step vs. skip

• sol, mi, la, on staff do, re

• treble clef

• do and re on staff

• pentatonic scale

• relationship of pitch to vibration

• relationship of pitch to length of vibrating column

• definition of melody

• high do

• octave

• low la

• low sol

• high do, low la, and low sol on staff

• extended pentatonic

• tonal centre

• fa

Scope and Sequence

• soundscape

• intro

• binary forms

• repeat signs ||: :||

• round and canon

• rondo form

• coda

• D.S., fine, 1st, and 2nd endings 1. , 2.

• theme

• theme and variation

• motif

• imitation

• sequence

• fugue

• theme development

• sonata form

• movements of a sonata

• symphony

• free form

Tempo • fast and slow in music and other sources

• becoming faster and becoming slower

• degrees of fast and slow

• tempo related to beat

• tempo related to expression in music

• lento, andante, and allegro

• changes in tempo within a selection related to mood

• ritardando and accelerando

• tempo measurable in beats per minute (metronome)

• a tempo

        Recorder Newsletter 2010-2011        

Dear Parents,

Recorder will be taught to the Grade 4, 5 and 6 students this year during one of their regular scheduled weekly music classes starting the end of September.  It is not necessary for your child to buy a recorder. A recorder will be provided during class time which only your child will use. There also will be a number engraved on the recorder for identification purposes as well as on their individual music cases. A big thank you to our Brookhouse Home and School for supplying the recorders!

Recorder is a great instrument to help with music theory, discovery of time signatures, bar lines, measures, note names and length of notes, as well as having the experience of playing in an instrumental ensemble.  At times, such as concert time or before a test, the school recorder might be sent home in their schoolbags for extra practicing. During these extra practice times at home, the recorder should be brought back daily in their schoolbags so that it will also be available for music class.  If your child’s recorder is lost or broken, it is expected that it will be replaced at a cost of $4.00. Looking forward to teaching your child recorder.

Mrs. B. Mathieu

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