Following our principles of nurturing and guiding the natural eagerness of each child to explore, grow and relate to others, the music program at Central Park School for children begins in Kindergarten with singing, rhythmic movement, accompaniment on percussion instruments and an important focus on musical storytelling and children's literature. Music time is fun with musical games and movement along with musical instrument identity.
As young children enter 1st and 2nd grade, the music program stimulates their listening and responding skills with chants and simple songs and an exploration with playing tuned instruments such as the bells and kalimba. The second graders will begin to read music while they play their kalimbas.
The 3rd – 5th graders build on the simple musical skills with reading notes and vocabulary such as melody, rhythm, form, harmony, and tone color. To enhance the skills of reading and writing music, recorder is taught in third grade. Fourth graders get the rich musical and cultural experience with the Djembe and Native American Flute while fifth grade enjoys the ukulele. The children also sing songs accompanied by these instruments. By the time the children graduate from CPSFC they will have played instruments in the Woodwind, Percussion, and String family. This will prepare them for an exciting world of middle school band and allow them to make a choice of which instrument to play.
Music Appreciation: Every grade appreciates different genres of music - from folk to blues and jazz and world music. Our program maintains a deep belief in connecting the why and how of music to children - Who wrote that song? What was happening in the world at the time was written? Many of our songs focus on peacemaking and understanding to go along with our peaceful schools program.
The bulk of my lesson plans come from MusicPlay curriculum by Denis Gange. Here is the scope of this curriculum: http://www.christmasconcert.com/Samples/Samples/MusicPlay/ScopeSequence.pdf
All the grade level classes strive to integrate their curriculum with our music class whenever feasible. Songs that fit a class project will be taught in music as well by their classroom teacher. For example, if a class is doing a project of moon phases we will learn a song that month to compliment the project.
As young children enter 1st and 2nd grade, the music program stimulates their listening and responding skills with chants and simple songs and an exploration with playing tuned instruments such as the bells and kalimba. The second graders will begin to read music while they play their kalimbas.
The 3rd – 5th graders build on the simple musical skills with reading notes and vocabulary such as melody, rhythm, form, harmony, and tone color. To enhance the skills of reading and writing music, recorder is taught in third grade. Fourth graders get the rich musical and cultural experience with the Djembe and Native American Flute while fifth grade enjoys the ukulele. The children also sing songs accompanied by these instruments. By the time the children graduate from CPSFC they will have played instruments in the Woodwind, Percussion, and String family. This will prepare them for an exciting world of middle school band and allow them to make a choice of which instrument to play.
Music Appreciation: Every grade appreciates different genres of music - from folk to blues and jazz and world music. Our program maintains a deep belief in connecting the why and how of music to children - Who wrote that song? What was happening in the world at the time was written? Many of our songs focus on peacemaking and understanding to go along with our peaceful schools program.
The bulk of my lesson plans come from MusicPlay curriculum by Denis Gange. Here is the scope of this curriculum: http://www.christmasconcert.com/Samples/Samples/MusicPlay/ScopeSequence.pdf
All the grade level classes strive to integrate their curriculum with our music class whenever feasible. Songs that fit a class project will be taught in music as well by their classroom teacher. For example, if a class is doing a project of moon phases we will learn a song that month to compliment the project.
5th grade shadow puppets
Juice! Juice! Juice! 5/11/2010
For two weeks the 5th graders got to hang out with award winning beat maker/producer/musician Steven Levitin AKA Apple Juice Kid. The children were fully engaged as he took them through the process of creating a beat on his computer with the program Reason. Each child got to add their own "instrument" to the beat.
Here are some examples of what the children added:
Beat Mixers Production:
Michaela- Keyboard sound
Courtney- Drum add
Marco- Cymbals
Hamilton- Bass and snare
Thunder Production:
Lylah- Bass
Baily- Drums
Tyler- Drum add
William- Drum add
Marshall - Keyboard
Eli- Drum add
Amad - Cymbals
Check out the beats below:
Track one is by the Beat Mixers Production (the moniker they bestowed upon themselves)
Track two is by Thunder Production (the other groups moniker) ENJOY!
Here are some examples of what the children added:
Beat Mixers Production:
Michaela- Keyboard sound
Courtney- Drum add
Marco- Cymbals
Hamilton- Bass and snare
Thunder Production:
Lylah- Bass
Baily- Drums
Tyler- Drum add
William- Drum add
Marshall - Keyboard
Eli- Drum add
Amad - Cymbals
Check out the beats below:
Track one is by the Beat Mixers Production (the moniker they bestowed upon themselves)
Track two is by Thunder Production (the other groups moniker) ENJOY!
"A good drummer listens as much as he plays." ~ Indian Proverb 5/4/2010
We began 4th grade djembe drumming this week and got off to a great start! Here's a video of us drumming outside. We are being led by master drummer Pline Mounzeo, Congolese Drummer .
Twelve Ways Drumming Benefits Students
©Gregory Hochman, Artdrum.com
1. Drumming can help students grow academically; it can improve students' ability to concentrate and compliment their studies in math, science, language arts, history, physical fitness and the arts.
2. According to scientific research, playing music, and hence drumming and playing percussion, increases the development of various regions of the brain, including the corpus callosum, motor and auditory cortexes.
3. Playing drums and rhythms can be an optimal experience and encourages participants of all ages to achieve flow.
4. Drumming is a healing art and therefore it can give participants of any age a better sense of well being.
5. Hand drumming (and regular participation in any form of percussion playing) increases the physical stamina of students.
6. Drumming increases body awareness & kinesthetic development; drumming helps students develop graceful coordination and self-control.
7. Playing rhythms improves listening skills and increases children and teens' ability to focus for extended periods of time.
8. In general, the increasing of rhythmic skills - and the learning of any musical instrument - increases students' confidence.
9. Playing rhythmic music helps students to take notice of the rhythms and beauty in nature and their surroundings.
10. Drumming in group formats, such as drum circles, bands and orchestras cultivates an appreciation for teamwork and cooperation.
11. Drum circles are great ethnic and cultural bridges; they harmoniously bring diverse people, instruments and musical styles together.
12. If parents play or take interest in the musical and learning process of their children, then drumming can be a means to forge meaningful bonds between parents and children.
Twelve Ways Drumming Benefits Students
©Gregory Hochman, Artdrum.com
1. Drumming can help students grow academically; it can improve students' ability to concentrate and compliment their studies in math, science, language arts, history, physical fitness and the arts.
2. According to scientific research, playing music, and hence drumming and playing percussion, increases the development of various regions of the brain, including the corpus callosum, motor and auditory cortexes.
3. Playing drums and rhythms can be an optimal experience and encourages participants of all ages to achieve flow.
4. Drumming is a healing art and therefore it can give participants of any age a better sense of well being.
5. Hand drumming (and regular participation in any form of percussion playing) increases the physical stamina of students.
6. Drumming increases body awareness & kinesthetic development; drumming helps students develop graceful coordination and self-control.
7. Playing rhythms improves listening skills and increases children and teens' ability to focus for extended periods of time.
8. In general, the increasing of rhythmic skills - and the learning of any musical instrument - increases students' confidence.
9. Playing rhythmic music helps students to take notice of the rhythms and beauty in nature and their surroundings.
10. Drumming in group formats, such as drum circles, bands and orchestras cultivates an appreciation for teamwork and cooperation.
11. Drum circles are great ethnic and cultural bridges; they harmoniously bring diverse people, instruments and musical styles together.
12. If parents play or take interest in the musical and learning process of their children, then drumming can be a means to forge meaningful bonds between parents and children.
Central Park School Music Class in the community 4/21/2010
Shakori Hills is one of the most amazing music events that happens in the triangle twice a year. I've had the pleasure of partaking in the festival as a musician for the past three years and was excited to arrange to have our school participate in their Hopes and Dreams program. They sent us Greg Humphreys from Hobex. It was a treat as two of our third grade classes got to listen to him play and talk about his music. I was thumbing through the Spring 2010 Shakori Hills schedule/brochuhre and was pleasantly surprised to see a picture that I took of our kids partaking in this wonderful program. We are also featured on the Shakori website. To quote John: "Just another shining example of our school."
Peace and Love for You and Me! 3/1/2010
We at CPSFC believe that part of being a Peaceful School is singing songs of peace, love and togetherness. Aaron's class started this year off well with Lean on Me -Bill Withers, Cheryle's class added the very peacful Cherokee Morning Song, and now in celebration of African American History month and Dr. King's birthday this song was perfect:
Freedom, Freedom let it ring
"Let it ring", said Dr King
Let us live in harmony
Peace and love for you and me
Freedom freedom let it ring
"Let it ring", said Dr King
I was excited when Evika (first grade teacher) came to ask me if her class could sing the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom song in music and play some bells along with it. It was such a great song/idea and addition to African American History month that I decided to teach it to some of my other classes. Pam’s fourth grade really caught on to the bell music part so we thought that pairing them with their first grade book buddies would make the song extra special… talk about living in harmony! Please check out the video below of both classes doing this song at FAM !
Freedom, Freedom let it ring
"Let it ring", said Dr King
Let us live in harmony
Peace and love for you and me
Freedom freedom let it ring
"Let it ring", said Dr King
I was excited when Evika (first grade teacher) came to ask me if her class could sing the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom song in music and play some bells along with it. It was such a great song/idea and addition to African American History month that I decided to teach it to some of my other classes. Pam’s fourth grade really caught on to the bell music part so we thought that pairing them with their first grade book buddies would make the song extra special… talk about living in harmony! Please check out the video below of both classes doing this song at FAM !
Lean on Me- Bill Withers
Country Roads-James Taylor by Sebastian Kipp on Recorder
