December 2023

This month in the music room we’ve been learning how to express ourselves through music and movement.

Preschool through 2nd grade learned to sing “Old King Glory” along with a dance to accompany the music. Listen to a sample of students singing and playing this song here. In addition, we’ve been turning the songs we know into a medley, where we take two or more songs and mix them together. It’s made for a fun way to start music class while reinforcing their established skills.

3rd grade through 6th grade revisited the Boomwhacker Compositions they wrote in October and learned how to play them on keyboards, xylophones, and glockenspiels. In addition, they have also begun to learn how to sing “Happy Trails.”

When we come back from break, we will continue to expand upon our growing musical knowledge and skills by learning about the history of musical instruments and how music is made.

​When we come back from break, we will continue to expand upon our growing musical knowledge and skills by learning about the history of musical instruments and how music is made. This will be explored in detail with an event by James Kitchen on January 24: 

James Kitchen will be at New Hingham Elementary School on Wednesday January 24, 2024 to present a brief history of musician instruments. Students will learn about simple drums and flutes, including a 60,000-year-old Neanderthal flute! Along the way, they will also discover instruments made by Native Americans, learn about Benjamin Franklin’s glass harmonica, and learn how African Americans introduced the banjo. James will have instruments on hand to demonstrate, including a cigar box banjo, a variety of percussion instruments, and even a Theremin! He will also demonstrate how students can make their own one-string tin can banjo!