June 2023

Kindergarten
During the 3rd Trimester, Kindergarten focused on preparing for the Spring Music Showcase. To prepare, they learned the song “My Little Rooster,” a song that helps them practice memorization skills while also working on copying  sounds of animals. In this music classroom, there is a big emphasis on listening, for it is only by listening that we can create a genuine response to the world around us. Along the way, students experimented with various percussion instruments to accompany the rhythm of the song, however in the end, we decided to perform the song solely with our voices at the Music Showcase.


1st Grade
During the 3rd Trimester, First Grade focused on preparing for the Spring Music Showcase. To prepare, they learned the song “El Coqui,” a song written in both Spanish and English. The coqui is a type of small tree frog found in Puerto Rico. Singing together can be enough of a challenge, and singing in another language added even greater difficulty, but they rose to the challenge with great enthusiasm. To get them excited for the song, students played frog-shaped guiros, a notched instrument that is played by rubbing a stick along the notches. These guiros are unique in that they sound like a croaking frog! We had a lot of fun playing the guiros and other percussion instruments while learning the song, but ultimately found these instruments to be too distracting, so when it came time for the showcase, we sang it without accompaniment.


2nd Grade
During the 3rd Trimester, Second Grade focused on preparing for the Spring Music Showcase. To prepare, they practiced “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” a song they already knew, but they were challenged to learn the seldom-heard verses and also create instrument accompaniments to complement the song. These instruments included the triangle, the xylophone, and the flutophone. Learning these instruments was a meaningful challenge for students, and many commented that it was their favorite part of class. 


3rd Grade
During the 3rd Trimester, Third Grade focused on preparing for the Spring Music Showcase. To prepare, they learned the song “Funga Alafia,” a song written using words from three different West African languages:

• “Fanga” comes from the Gio language and means “talking drum,” but it is also the name of a welcome dance that can be interpreted as “hello.”
• “Àlàáfíà” is a greeting from the Hausa language, meaning "heath."
• “Áṣẹ” is a prayer from the Yorùbá language, meaning "let it be so."

The students learned the words of the song first, and then practiced playing the rhythm on various percussion instruments. For the showcase, students were given the opportunity to decide which percussion instrument they wanted to play, giving them both freedom of choice and an opportunity to practice sharing resources.


4th Grade
During the 3rd Trimester, Fourth Grade focused on preparing for the Spring Music Showcase. To prepare, they learned the song “My Kinda People” by a young singer/songwriter named A.J. Raggs. This song was selected to help remind students about the importance of sharing kindness with others, while also practicing the skills of music memorization and singing together as an ensemble. We started by singing along to the music video, and then began adding our own percussion instruments to keep the beat and playing along to the chords on the ukulele. The students showed great enthusiasm for this song, with many students saying that they listened to and practiced singing the song at home. Their hard work paid off by giving an impressive performance at the showcase!


5th Grade
During the 3rd Trimester, Fifth Grade focused on preparing for the Spring Music Showcase. To prepare, they learned the song “This Land is Your Land” by Woody Guthrie. Aside from learning how to sing the lyrics together and play them melody and rhythm on various instruments, students also learned about the history of the song and listened to various versions that have been made over the years. We spent a good amount of time practicing the song as a chorus accompanied by various instruments—working to play the instruments just loud enough to be heard, but not too loud as to overpower the lyrics. I was particularly impressed by how seriously students engaged in the process, while also embedding joy into their performance.


6th Grade
During the 3rd Trimester, Sixth Grade focused on preparing for the Spring Music Showcase. To prepare, they learned the song “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King. This song was selected as a reminder of the importance and value of friendship, while also giving them an opportunity to explore their emerging musicality on various percussive and melodic instruments. While I made myself available as a guide with suggestions, I left the students plenty of room to choose for themselves what instruments they wanted to use or not use, giving them ownership and leadership in the experience. 

During the Music Showcase, I awarded deserving students with The Conductor’s Award, which recognizes students of exemplary conduct, outstanding character, and valued contribution to the music program. Recipients of this award demonstrate the values of teamwork, leadership, and excellence.

The students who received this award are Holly Sampson and Addison Thomas from R.H. Conwell Elementary School, and Cailin Gougeon and Carson Bisbee from New Hingham Regional Elementary School. 


Final Note
It has been a joy and an honor working with these students over the past year and I look forward with anticipation and excitement to working with them all again next year!

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