Category Archives: Grade 4

Fatima Almosawi – Recorder Soloist!!

Fatima Almosawi – Recorder Soloist!!

5th Grade student Fatima Almosawi had the distinguished honor of playing onstage with the Dearborn Symphony Orchestra as a recorder soloist! The music she played was the Ode To Joy from the 9th Symphony of composer Ludwig Van Beethoven.

The concert took place at 9:45am on Feb. 9, 2017 in the Michael Guido Theater of the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center. The concert hall was filled with 4th grade students from all over Dearborn for this wonderful pedogogical concert. Great job to Fatima Mr. Jim Walters, conductor Kypros Marku and the Dearborn Symphony Orchestra!

Ms. Harden and Ms. Conway



Mr. Walters having fun with the crowd.



4th Graders to attend Dearborn Symphony Orchestra Concert!

4th Graders to attend Dearborn Symphony Orchestra Concert!

Fourth grade students all across the disctirct will once again have the amazing opportunity to attend a concert put on by the Dearborn Symphony Orchestra! This year the concert will take place on February 9, 2017 at the Ford Performing ARts Center, Michael Guido Theater. Students will be learning a little bit about each piece that they will hear before attending the concert. If you want them to get a head start in their learning, here are a few things that you can look up online:

Brass Instrument Family
String Instrument Family
Woodwind Instrument Family
Percussion Instrument Family
Orchestra
Symphony
Conductor
Composer
Symphony Concert Etiquette

https://dearbornsymphony.org/wp/

WBPE First Composition of 2017!

WBPE First Composition of 2017!

Our WBPE members came together for the first rehearsal of 2017 inspired and ready to work! They sat down and immediately got to work creating two new pieces of music that are sure to be crowd pleasers!

Also, our drummers will be taking their composition, writing an original story to compliment the music, illustrate it, create a powerpoint, and present it at one of our concerts later this year. Miller drummers are doing great things!

Happy New Year! Objectives and Assessment

Happy New Year! Objectives and Assessment

Happy New Year to all of our wonderful Miller families!

We are starting the year off with some fun and exciting activities! Our music students are working on the objectives related to PITCH and are being assessed on the following:

* Sing using the correct pitch (notes)
* Sing using call and response
* Sing independently and on pitch
* Read lyrics while singing

We have some wonderful singers here at Miller!

November Objectives and Vocabulary Words

November Objectives and Vocabulary Words

Overview for November

Kindergarten
Match Pitch
Assess Pitch
One and Two Sounds to a Beat
Pre-Reading of Music Notation
Introduction of Quarter and Eighth Notes
Purposeful Movement
Introduction of Foriegn Language (Spanish)
Perform Sound Effects on cue in a Story
Rhythmic Assessment
Listening
TI TI Ta (Eighth and quart notes) and one finger claps
Identify Softer and Louder (Dynamics)
Spider beats (Steady beat)
Beat and rhythm groups simultaneously
Song for days of the week
Ring around the Rosy song and game
Introduction to Meter 2/4 and 6/8
March vs. Swing
Poetry
Read and Perform Beats of Silence
Instrument Exploration Hands-on Experience (Woods/Metals/Shakers & Scrapers)

Grade 1
Concept: BEAT
Identify and perform Long and Short
Listening focus and game
One and Two sounds to a beat
Foreign Language (Song in French, song in Swahili)
Call and Response
Purposeful Movement (Sutdent demonstration)
Marching to a steady beat
Sway to the beat
Instrument Exploration Hands-on Experience (Woods/Metals/Shakers & Scrapers)
Perform Sound Effects on cue in a Story
Write your own story and try it out in class with instrument performers

Grade 2
Reading Quarter/Eighth notes and Quarter Rests
Identify ABA Sections in Classical Music
Perform on instruments using iconic representation of Quarter Notes/Rests
Listening focus and game
Listening to classical music pieces
Sing in Rhythm and one Pitch
Subdivisions
Perform diverse styles
Foriegn Language (Song and Game in Spanish – Bate Bate)
Perform Sound Effects on cue in a Story
Write your own story and read in with student instrument performers
Instrument Families of the Orchestra
Listen to story told in Portugese Language
Dynamics
p = Piano (soft)
mf = Mezzo Forte (meduim loud)
f – Forte (loud)

Grade 3
Tournament practice – In class practice and races constructing measures of music
Cooperative pairings
Understanding Fractions in Music
Independent work
Sort and Check Routine
Assess Pitch
Live Feed: Detroit Symphony Orchestra “Musical Superheroes”

Grade 4
Reading/Performing Musical Notation (Lines and Spaces)
Recorder Method: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTHpKEqcm_UZvQRreeNduiXyO39b85Qin
Introduction to the recorder (fingerings, finger placement and coverage, hand placement, breath control, tone production, parts of the recorder)
Homework practice online
Students should practice as many as they can and advance as quickly as they can.
Perform exercises with and without a beat track

Vocabulary:
Brass
Percussion
Strings
Woodwinds
Conductor
Composer
Orchestra
Symphone
ABA Form
Melody
Dynamics
Long and Short
Loud and Soft
Sway
Skip
Dash
p = Piano (soft)
mf = Mezzo Forte (meduim loud)
f – Forte (loud)

Recorder Method

Recorder Method

recorder-with-beltsRecorder Method (CLICK HERE)

Please use this Recorder Method to practice at home. Stop and start the video as needed. Go back and practice as needed. You are welcome to practice as many of these exercises as you would like. The more the better! Make sure that you can play an exercise without mistakes before going on to the next one.

1. Cover the correct holes completely
2. Blow with warm, gentle air.
3. Left hand always on the top.
4. Shaded in holes mean to cover them with your finger
5. Holes not shaded in are left open
5. Use a very light tongue (ta) on the beginning of each note

Getting a screeching sound? Check to make sure your holes are completely covered and that you are blowing gentle, warm air. The recorder is not meant to be a loud sounding instrument. Do you best to get the best sound you can. Your mom and dad will appreciate it! 🙂

What we are up to!

What we are up to!

THIS MONTH IN MUSIC SEPT/OCT

Kindergarten

Learning new songs

Creating new verses to a song

Learning choregraphy and movement to our songs

Learning a few words in Spanish

Marching to steady beat and changing tempo

Following rhythmic direction

Lower and Higher Pitch

Singing on Pitch

Solfege Do, Re, Mi with hand signs

Following musical instructions

1st Grade

Choral Posture

Steady Beat

Rhythmic Poetry Memorization

Choreography and movement to our songs

Strong beats and subdivision

New songs

Singing on Pitch

Hand clapping games with partners

2nd Grade

Chant with instructions and movement

Circle game with chant

Music Listening

Months in Spanish Introduction

Reading lines of music and lyrics

Speaking vs. singing notation

New songs

Reading lengthy lyrics in rhythm

Singing on Pitch

3rd Grade

New songs

Tongue twisters at varying tempos

Reading Do, Re, Mi

Reading Ta and Ti Ti (quarter, eighths and quarter rests)

Reading lyrics at a fast tempo with a soft dynamic

Creating measures of music using the 4/4 time signature

Musicianship

Tempo changes

Read to self / Read aloud

Listening:  March Past of the Kitchen Utensils

Recognizing ABA Form

4th Grade

Drumming hand patterns and playing position

Individual Drumming and Ryhythmic Assessments

Introduce Recorder Information

Lines and spaces in Treble and Bass Clef

Recorder fingerings

Music notation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WELCOME TO MILLER MUSIC 2016-2017!

WELCOME TO MILLER MUSIC 2016-2017!

Hello parents and students!!

I would like to welcome you to a brand new school year full of wonderful music! We have many things planned for our students this year, including performances, reading music notation, rhythm, pitch, musicianship, movement, dance, singing, creating, playing recorder (gr. 4), playing band or stringed instruments (gr. 5), music and science (gr. 3), and our annual third grade music tournament.  We are looking forward a great year in music with your children!

I had a wonderful time seeing so many parents during our Open House and look forward to seeing you all at our concerts.  All information will be posted to this blog so be sure to check back often.  You will find many wonderful nuggets on the blog so feel free to explore the “categories” drop down menu items..  If you would like the most up to date information as it is posted just click on the “Subscribe” button and enter your email address.

This year we have three vocal music teachers and one instrumental music teacher at Miller:

 Ms. Harden (Full TIme-everyday) teaching K-4

hardens@dearbornschools.org

 

Ms. Conway (Tuesday a.m.) teaching grade 4/5

conwaym@dearbornschools.org

 

Ms. Conrad (Friday a.m.) teaching 5/2

conradt@dearbornschools.org

 

Mr. Gozzard teaching instrumental music (Band and Strings) grade 5.

gozzarg@dearbornschools.org

 

4th Grade

4th graders will be learning to play the recorder this year!  We will be playing YAMAHA brand recorders.  There are different instrument options:

1. Purchase your own recorder at a local music store.  Recorders cost approximately $10.  Wonderland Music, Anderson Music and Marshall Music all carry YAMAHA recorders.  You can also find them online.  Look up: YAMAHA Soprano Recorder.

2.  Use a YAMAHA school recorder.  School recorders will be assigned to any student in need of a recorder.  School recorders are used from year to year by students and are not new.  School recorders must be turned in immediately following the concert.  In the case of loss or damaged a $10 fee will be assessed.

3.  Borrow a recorder from a sibling or family member making sure it is the YAMAHA brand.

Dollar Store recorders will not work for music class as they are toys.  These recorders are not musical instruments and cannot be played in tune.

 

5th Grade

All interested 5th grade students will have the opportunity to play a band or stringed instrument this year!  Instruments typically offered are:  Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Violin and Viola.  There is a small fee for use of school instruments.  See Mr. Gozzard for payment plan details.  Mr. Gozzard is currently at Miller on Wednesday afternoon.

If you have any questions please contact any of us via email.

To all Miller students, have a great year and happpy singing, playing and learning!!

5th Grade Presents: “The Music Man Jr.” June 1, 2pm

5th Grade Presents: “The Music Man Jr.” June 1, 2pm

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All parents are invited to see this classic and timeless musical beought to life rigjt here ar Miller Elementary School!

All 5th grade students should complete the required assignments online in the Google Classroom.  These assignments are graded.

Become familiar with the musical, memorize your parts and practice your acting in the mirror.

Take note of the costumes that are worn in the videos and do your best match them.  Leave plenty of time for parents to help you choose your costume.

Costumes for stage singers and actors:

Girls- pretty, frilly dresses.

Boys- Suits with a bow tie

Marching Band Actors:

Red Tshirt and Black Pants

Practice your parts over the 4 day break with friends and family members.