Visitation Music
Diana Edwin, Visitation School Music Teacher
Learning How to Make Music
Kindergarten- First Grade
In the first two years in Visitation School music, we learn the basics of music such as: keeping a steady beat, distinguishing opposites, using our best singing voices, properly playing classroom instruments, reading and notating short rhythms in 'stick notation', performing melodies and rhythms on classroom instruments, and learning how to follow the cues of a conductor while performing in an ensemble. We build and expand our repertoire by becoming familiar with music of a variety of different genres and styles. Possibly the most exciting part of the year is our Visitation School Christmas Program, where kids have the valuable experience of performing on stage for family and friends!
First Grade Practice Video: Over the Ocean and to the Shore. (Thanksgiving play)
Second Grade
In second grade the classroom teachers and I collaborate for a large unit on the instruments of the orchestra. In their classroom students will learn about the science of sound and how instruments are made, while in music class they will learn about the different timbres of instruments, careers in the orchestra, and encounter some truly great musical works. Students in the second grade take a field trip to the symphony as well to see these instruments in action!
In addition to learning about the instruments of the orchestra, students get into more complex concepts and develop a much more in-depth understanding of the elements of music.
First Communion Practice video: Feed Us, Lord
Third Grade
My goal is that students will possess the knowledge and musical confidence to begin playing the recorder in their fourth grade year. In third grade, we practice a lot of note reading and music composition on simple melodic classroom instruments such as the xylophone to prepare for this. By the time students are in third grade they have already been introduced to all of the solfege syllables of the major diatonic scale and can decipher rhythms and melodies. Upon entering the third grade, students will begin translating solfege and stick notation to notes on the staff.
Christmas Program
All students in Kindergarten through Fourth grade participate in the Visitation School Christmas program. All national and state standards stipulate that students have experience in musical performance, and the Christmas program is an excellent opportunity for us to showcase our students and what they have been learning.