Students Classroom Pages Music - Mrs. Polcari Fine Arts November News
Fine Arts November News
Fine Arts Dept.
Music Christmas programs are being practiced during part of each class every week, in readiness for our presentations in December. Grades K through 3 will present “Listen to the Angels” on Tuesday, December 14, at 10:00 a.m. Grades 4, 5 and 6 will present the Christmas Story on Thursday, December 16, at 10:00 a.m. Participants in our Fine Arts Program, Thursday, December 16, will include both Choruses, The Christopher Ringers, Handchime Choir, as well as both beginner and advanced bands. The Drama Club and Art Department will also participate. Starting time for the program will be announced shortly.
Fine Arts Module
Our next module will be a Holiday Baking Workshop, held on two consecutive Fridays, December 3rd and 10th. It will be offered to 5th and 6th grade students and will feature making special Christmas sweets. Thank you to Mrs. MacLellan and Mrs. Forgione for their willingness to share their expertise!
Music Class Notes
The 6th grade students traditionally present the Christmas story each year. Practice on the script will be begin this week. Thank you to each student for their participation in our Fall musical presentation “Joust, A Mighty Medieval Musical.” Parents may view the video on the school website.
In addition to learning the recorder, the 5th grade classes are working on rhythmic patterns through speech and movement. The 4th grades are doing activities that explore pulse using percussion instruments. The 4th grades will also begin recorder next month.
The 3rd grade is learning to sing traditional American repertoire, such as America and When Johnny Comes Marching Home. The musical concepts taught involve experiences of speaking, singing, moving and playing.
In 1st and 2nd grade, we’re learning to sing melodies and explore rhythm with movement. Through singing, playing and listening we are understanding the rhythm and form of music.
In Kindergarten we are developing an understanding of soft and loud, fast and slow, and question and answer in music. We continue to practice keeping a steady beat for our Christmas songs we are learning.
The Pre-K program is exploring pitch, simple songs and rhymes and includes a movement activity each week. We have begun to learn to play rhythm instruments.
All music classes support the National Standards for Arts Education*. Classes continue with age appropriate concepts about rhythm, melody, and performance, as well as children’s games and dances.
*National Standards for Arts Education
1. Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
2. Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
3. Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments.
4. Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines.
5. Reading and notating music.
6. Listening to, analyzing, and describing music.
7. Evaluating music and music performances.
8. Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts.
9. Understanding music in relation to history and culture.
Fine Arts Dept.
All classes and music groups will begin to work on their Christmas programs this month. Participants in our Fine Arts Program will include both Choruses, The Christopher Handbell Ringers, the Handchime Choir, as well as both beginner and advanced bands. The Drama Club and Art Department will also participate.
The First Fall Module
This fall, our first module was co-sponsored by Coldstone Creamery. Our “Ice Cream Class” included a class on the history and art of making ice cream and was followed by a tour of the company facility. Each student had the opportunity to make their own “ice cream creation.” Because of limited enrollment, another class will be offered later in the year.
New Project
The music and computer teachers have begun to work together on plans to create morning news videos during the year, using our new Eno boards. The project will be for 5th and 6th grade students, who will be the reporters.
Music Classes
The 6th grade students are preparing a Fall musical presentation for their buddy classes entitled “Joust, A Mighty Medieval Musical.” A twist on the King Arthur legend, it features knights and damsels who create a world where all weapons are replaced by musical instruments.
The 5th grade class has begun a review of the recorder. All classes, beginning in 3rd grade, incorporate the recorder into the music curriculum.
The 4th grade class now has its own Chorus, meeting during one recess time each week. It is an enthusiastic group!
All music classes support the National Standards for Arts Education*. Classes continue with age appropriate concepts about rhythm, melody, and performance, as well as children’s games and dances. Beginning in Pre-K, children also have the opportunity to perform with all our rhythm instruments as well as our set of handchimes.
*National Standards for Arts Education
1. Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
2. Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
3. Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments.
4. Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines.
5. Reading and notating music.
6. Listening to, analyzing, and describing music.
7. Evaluating music and music performances.
8. Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts.
9. Understanding music in relation to history and culture.
Last year was exciting as we implemented a handbell and handchime program at St. Chris. Our students (as well as our staff choir!) made wonderful progress and we all look forward to more ringing fun this year.
As we move into our second year, we are happy to announce that our program will now be available to the St. Christopher community, with participation offered to parents who would like to join. This promises to be a really fun opportunity for learning about handbell ringing! Rehearsal days and times are being scheduled and will be announced shortly. If you are interested or have any questions about the program, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .