It was great to see so many familiar faces returning to MusIQ class today! We would also like to welcome our new students, Victoria, Hailey and Aaron. It was also wonderful to see Sebastian back in our class again. What an enthusiastic bunch of kids! Thanks so much for registering, and for recognizing the important role that music education plays in your child’s development.
It is a real pleasure for me to introduce your children to piano. I taught music for over 15 years in the Durham District School Board, both in the elementary and secondary panel and have a music degree from the University of Toronto where I also completed myBachelor of Education. I have been a teacher with MusIQ Club for 2 years now and am excited about the opportunity that it provides for kids to not only learn how to play piano, but also; how to listen to music, understand music notation and theory and learn about music history. If you have any questions about the software we use or the finer points of our approach to teaching piano, please feel free to contact me.
This year, everyone has their own folder which was given out in class today for new students of MusIQ club. For those returning students, you need to place the worksheets and songs that you recieved today into your folders from the last session. The folder contains homework worksheets and the songs that we will be learning this semester. Each class, I will date the homework page(s) to be completed for the next class. Please send the folder to class each Wednesday with your son or daughter. Feel free to decorate the front of your folder! Thank you and I look forward to seeing everyone next Wednesday.
Beginner Level 1
These are the students in Grade 1 to Grade 4 who are new to MusIQ club. We will be using a software program called Children’s Music Journey Volume 2. The CMJ approach to learning to read is to always work from the known toward the unknown. We will be starting with Lesson 26 which starts with concepts like “High and Low” and “Middle C”. It may seem pretty easy at first, however lesson 26-30 move at a pretty fast pace and by lesson 31, they will be reading on the Grand Staff! Since 1B covers many of the same concepts, Allison will be moving up and joining us in Level 1!
Today in Class
Today, (with our teacher Mr. Dvorak) we did Lesson 26, where we learned where the high notes and low notes are, how to read notes that are getting higher and higher or lower and lower, the Musical Alphabet (ABCDEFG), how to use the groups of 2 black keys to help us find all the Cs, and finger numbers (1-5, with 1 being the thumbs of both hands, and moving out to the pinkies which are 5s). Then we tried out the “Stepping Stones” game in the games room. Everyone did really well with this!
This Week @ Home
- If you have CMJ 2 at home, review lesson 26 and then head to the games room.
- Complete your worksheet on “High and Low Notes” and bring your booklet next class. Allison has the “Musical Alphabet” to do.
- If you like, you can try the song called “Love Somebody” in the back of your booklet. If you place the thumb of your right hand on Middle”C”, and give each finger a white key, you can follow the finger numbers. Remember that your thumb is number 1.
Level 2B
Today in Class
Today, James and Sebastian completed Lesson 40 with Mrs. Beach. They reviewed 4/4 Time Signatures and bar lines, and learned all about repeat signs. Afterwards, they played some games in the games room. I did some note review with Sebastian and was amazed at how much he remembered. James did a great job improvising and I loved his song. Well Done!
This Week @ Home
- If you have CMJ2, review lesson 40 and head to the practice room with Miss. Melody!
- Complete your worksheets on “4/4 Time – Drawing Barlines and Repeat Signs”.
- Practice the song “Alouette” in the back of your booklet.
Level 3A
Today in Class
Today in class, Taylor completed lesson 65 with Mr. Dvorak. It was very exciting to move up a level! She reviewed her running 8th notes and then spent some time in the Games room. Good work on your lesson!
This Week @ Home
- If you have CMJ3, review lesson 65 and then head to the practice room with Miss. Melody!
- Complete your review worksheet.
- Review “Alouette”.
Level 3B
Today in Class
Today in class, we continued where we finished off last Semester… working on playing with hand together at the same time! Mr. Woodpecker had some rhythms that we played with alternating hands as well. Tricky stuff, but you are doing really well with this concept. After completing Lesson 75 with Mrs. Chaminade, some of you headed to the games room. Well done!
This Week @ Home
- If you have CMJ3 at home, review lesson 75 and head to the practice room.
- Complete the review sheet for next class.
- Practice the Right hand part for “Ode to Joy”.
Filed under: Algonquin Ridge Elementary School
