Fourth grade continues to progress on recorder, adding unpitched instruments to accompany their playing. Rhythmic poems and body percussion help create different parts to accompany their playing. In the Orff classes, ensemble playing continues to be emphasized with every student having a chance to learn all the different parts prior to putting the piece together.
Fifth grade is rocking out on ukuleles, learning new strums and continuing their reading of tablature. Tablature, a form of musical notation indicating instrument fingering rather than musical pitches, is commonly used for fretted stringed instruments such as the guitar and ukulele. Using “TAB”, the students learn melodies as well as chords.
Sixth graders learned about the origins of Jazz and how it plays an important role in the development of American music. They learned that Jazz is considered the only original American genre. Using that knowledge, they are exploring improvisation with the recorder. The Orff lessons focus on learning each part of a piece, mastering it and then putting all the different parts together as an ensemble. Group cooperation at its finest!