Algonquin Ridge – Week 2

I apologise for not teaching the class last week as I was ill.  Miss. Jennifer did an amazing job and I know that everyone had a great time!  As I did not teach the class, I was unable to post what was covered that day.  If I could remind everyone to please bring their booklets to each class, even if their homework is not finished, that would be great!  I cannot assign homework and songs to practice if I do not have the booklets as they were put together by Miss. Jennifer.  She did a wonderful job putting them together!

We had a great class today!  On the floor, we learned about our teachers, Mr. Beethoven, Mr. Mozart, Mrs. Beach, Mr. Handel and Mr. Scarlatti!  We also covered concepts to be learned in our lessons, played a Finger Number game to “Crazy Frog” and practiced some rhythms!  Excellent work everyone!  And a big welcome to our new student, Allison.  We also missed Taylor today and look forward to seeing her next week! 

Level 1A

Beginner Level 1A

What a great class, we had lots of fun!  Today, we learned to replace the birds and whales in our notation with circle notes, and just a line for Middle C notes – no more sky and ocean.  I have noticed a big improvement this week with how well you can repeat a rhythm of short and long sounds!  You  did a great job on your lessons and in the games room.   Today, in Lesson 4, Mr. Beethoven taught us that some music is written to paint pictures for our ears and imaginations, and he played us his Moonlight Sonata, which sounds like moonlight dancing on the lake.  We also did Lesson 5 where we reviewed everything that we have learned so far with Mr. Beethoven.  Please remember to bring your folders to class!

This Week @ Home

• In CMJ volume 1 (if you have it) review Lesson 5 and have fun in the practice room. In the Games Room there are 3 games for you to play.
• Make up your own rhythmic patterns and clap or tap them. Try funny ones (My nose is a rose!), personal ones (My sister’s name is _____), yummy ones (I love to eat ________) and silly ones (Snakes are jig-gly, wig-gggly).
• Start practicing “Love Somebody” if you have it.  Place your right hand thumb on middle “C” and follow the finger numbers!  If you don’t have a keyboard, you can practice the finger numbers on a book. 
• If you have any worksheets on “Circle Notes” and “High and Low” notes, please complete and bring to our next class!

Level 2A

Today, we talked about Mr. Mozart before completing Lesson 33 where we learned all about the Treble G clef and how to play our C, D and E notes in the Treble Cef.  After the Lesson, you went to the Games room and played the new game“Guitar Girl”.  Don’t forget to practice at home!  Good work on your Lesson James!

This Week @ Home

• Review your finger numbers (thumbs are #1).
• Practice “Hot Cross Buns/Upside Down Buns” and try some of the other songs in your booklet!
• Try clapping these rhythms with an adult at home. Remember to clap on the “&”s:  1 2 3&4 , 1&2 3&4, 1 2 3 4, 1 2 3 4&, 1&2&3&4, 1&2&3 4, etc. You can make up your own, too!
• If you have CMJ2 at home, review Lesson 33 with Miss Melody each day and then head to the Games Room.
• Complete your worksheets on “Treble Clef C,D & E” for next class.

Level 2B

Everyone did a great job on Lesson 40 today with Mrs. Beach!  We reviewed bar lines, double bar lines, and 4/4 Time Signature before learning all about repeat signs.  Afterwards, some of you  tried a new game, “Postal Delivery” before we practiced some rhythms on the floor.  Good work!

This Week @ Home

• In CMJ volume 2, review lesson 40 and then spend some time in the games room.
• Complete your worksheet on “Treble Clef C, D, E, F, and G”.
• Practice “Ode to Joy” at home and try some of your other songs.

Level 3A

Today in Class

Today in class, we learned all about our new teacher, Mr. Scarlatti.   After reviewing all about sharps, we did Lesson 68 with Mr. Scarlatti where we were introduced to Half note rests!   Then, you spent some time in the games room before practicing some rhythms on the floor.  Great job today!

This Week @ Home

• Complete the worksheets on “Review” and “More Sharps”.  
• If you have CMJ3 at home, review your lesson and then head to the practice room to work on those tricky woodpecker songs!
• Practice “Look Sharp” (first line) and try some dynamics!  Remember the f stands for “Forte” which means to play loudly, and p stands for “Piano” which means to play quietly.
• Work on the Right Hand part of our other new song, “Angry Birds”!  We went over these songs in class.