December 2025

Access recordings of class performances:

• Chester Elementary School
• New Hingham Elementary School
• R.H. Conwell Elementary School

Kindergarten & PreSchool
Our learning goal for this trimester was for students to sing songs from memory with a steady beat while demonstrating knowledge and skills of tempo and dynamics through sound and movement, while being safe, kind, and responsible. Instruments included the drum, tambourine, egg shaker, güiro, rhythm sticks, and glockenspiel.

For example, when we learned the song “Old King Glory,” students explored singing and playing simple rhythmic instruments with various dynamics and tempos to interpret the music, while also engaging in physical movements to complement the rhythm.

Students learned a variety of songs, including “Hop Old Squirrel,” “Here Sits a Monkey,” and “Pass the Pumpkin,” “This Little Light of Min (pre-k) and “Peace Like a River” (k).

1st & 2nd Grade
Our learning goal for this trimester was for students to identify the four basic families of instruments and describe how each family creates sound.

For Woodwind and Brass, students listened to samples of these instruments and practiced identifying them by sound and classifying each instrument by their family. Woodwind instruments included the recorder, flute, clarinet, saxophone, and bassoon. Brass instruments included the bugle, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, and tuba. 

For String and Percussion instruments, students had the opportunity to play these instruments for a hands-on learning experience. String instruments included the violin, cello, ukulele, guitar, and harp. Percussion instruments included the snare drum, bass drum, güiro, and glockenspiel.

In addition, students learned a variety of songs, including “I Will Be Your Friend” (1st grade) and “It’s in Everyone of Us” (2nd grade). 

3rd & 4th Grade
Our learning goal for this trimester was for students to identify and describe music genres popular in the Western World, including classical, folk, blues, jazz, country, rock, and hip-hop. Students listened to a variety of music samples and practiced their communication skills by describing what they heard, helping them to build a vocabulary for describing the various characteristics of sound.

In addition, students learned a variety of songs, including “This Land is Your land” (3rd grade) and “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” (4th grade) at the Harvest Celebration in November.

5th & 6th Grade
Our learning goal for this trimester was for students to identify and describe basic elements of songwriting (verse, chorus, bridge, etc.). Students listened to a variety of music samples and practiced their listening and communication skills by identifying the various elements and patterns they discovered.

Students also practiced playing chords on instruments, including the ukulele, guitar, keyboard, and glockenspiel. Students were given access sheet music and simple chord charts, and challenged to learn how to play chords on these instruments while singing.

In addition, students learned a variety of songs, including “Leaves Are Falling” (5th grade) and “We Shall Overcome” (6th grade).