Welcome to the Music Classroom
in
Wellington, Kansas Public Schools
USD 353
Important News!
Fifth Grade Program/Promotion
At
Kennedy Elementary
May 20, 2008 7:00 PM
Go to "Strings Kansas" Link Below
Mrs. Ballard's Elementary Music Classroom
Music Teach
er for Lincoln and Kennedy Elementary Schools
The Vocal Music programs at Lincoln and Kennedy Elementary focuses on giving students a wide variety of musical experiences. Concepts are taught by playing games, singing songs, playing instruments, reading melodies, improvising, listening, moving and analyzing music. It's a fun and exciting class that I hope your children will enjoy.
lballard@usd353.com
If at any time you would like to visit with me, please feel free to contact me at the above email address or by calling Kennedy School 620-326-4350 between 8:45-9:15am which is during my planning time and I would be happy to set up a conference time.
Music Quotes
"Music is the arithmetic of sounds.-Claude Debussy"
"Music is in the air; you simply take as much of it as your want.- Edward Elgar"
"Melody is the absolute language in which the musician speaks to every heart.-Richard Wagner"
The following key words below are links that will take you to that section of this web page.
Please click on one of those links for you to see the important information in that link.
Please use the "Back" button or "Esc" button to return to the list of music links.
Strings Kansas
I would like to extend an invitation for you and your family to attend your child's music program throughout the school year.
Program Schedule
Third and Fourth Grade
Kennedy -Monday, Dec. 17,2007 7:00 pm, Middle School Auditorium
Lincoln -Thursday, Dec. 13. 2007 7:00 pm, Middle School Auditorium
First and Second Grade
Kennedy -Tuesday, April 8, 2008 7:00 pm, Middle School Auditorium
Lincoln-Thursday, April 10, 2008 7:00 pm, Middle School Auditorium
Fifth Grade
Kennedy-Tuesday, May 20, 2008 7:00 pm, Kennedy
Lincoln-Monday, May 19, 2008 7:00 pm, Lincoln
Lincoln Music Schedule
First Grade
12:45-1:15
Second Grade
1:15-1:45
Third Grade
1:45-2:15
Fourth Grade
2:15-2:45
Fifth Grade
2:45-3:15
Kennedy Music Schedule
First Grade
9:15-9:45
Second Grade
10:00-10:30
Third Grade
10:30-11:00
Fourth Grade
11:00-11:30
Fifth Grade
8:15-8:45
Piano Lab
Welcome to the Piano Lab
The piano lab is an exploratory time for the students to spend learning the piano one semester out of the school year.
The Third, Fourth and Fifth grade student’s are busy learning new hand positions. It has been a whole year since we had the lab at Lincoln and Kennedy and the students are reviewing and adding new information.
We usually spend one classroom period a week in the lab with a new lesson being presented and time for the students to practice what was presented.
Check back soon and I will have some pictures for you to view. Maybe you will see your child playing at the lab.
Music Web Sites
Composer and Orchestra Activities and Music Games and Composing
The New York Philharmonic for Kids http://www.nyphilkids.org/main.phtml
Classics for Kids www.classicsforkids.com/
Dallas Symphony Orchestra for Kidswww.dsokids.com
San Francisco Symphony for Kids www.sfskids.com
Music Singalongs and Downloads
Garden of Song http://www.gardenofsong.com/index.html
Music K8 for Kids http://www.musick8kids.com
Recorder Karate
Playing the recorder is a fun way for students to learn new music skills. The recorder is a pre-band instrument for the students. The Fourth and Fifth grade students have been working on their recorders since the beginning of school. The Third grade students will be starting their recorder unit in the middle of February. A note will be coming home soon for the students to begin bringing their money for their recorders. The cost of the recorder is $5.00.
As the students learn new notes, fingerings and rhythms through songs, they earn a new "belt." The belt is a reward for the students attaining note, finger and rhythm recognition. The "belt" is a bead that the students add to their "Halo" or neck strap of their recorder. The students start with the white belt and end with the black belt.The students are really excited when they earn a new belt. Not only do the students earn a belt but they will receive a certificate when they are rewarded their belt.
The Third-grader students will work toward their orange belt this year, and proceed thru the rest of the belts over the next two years. Fourth and Fifth grade students started at the first of the year reviewing what they learn last year and are continuing to learn new finger positions, notes and rhythms. Recorder activities are included throughout the school year as part of their day to day music class.
Students may access Recorder Karate activities online at: www.musick8.com/rkdojo/rkdojo.tpl. (I will give them the password in class.)
Strings Kansas
Meet Kennedy and Lincoln Elementary
"STRING BUDDIES"
from Wichita State University Orchestra
Andrew and Chris
"Yesterday, Chris and I visited Kennedy and Lincoln Elementary in Wellington, KS and we had a BLAST! We demonstrated the four string instruments by playing a solo on each of them, a duet by playing the Proto Violin and Bass Duo, and a quartet by bringing up two students to play cello and viola. For this quartet we taught them to play an open string arco and pizzicato to accompany Chris and I as we played songs like: Canon in D, Jingle Bells, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, and a hoedown that Chris and I wrote. EVERY student in both classes wanted to come up and play and the ones that did were so excited afterwards! We also played part of a recording of Dvorak’s “Symphony No.9? and the students LOVE IT! How exciting! At the end of each class we gave them a CD with a solo of each instrument, a duet, a quartet, and the 1st Movement of Dvorak’s “Symphony No. 9? on it and they were so grateful and appreciative that we came to their class."
a few quotes from the day:
(to Chris)- My dad has a violin, but he only tries to play it, unlike you.
(to Andrew)- My name is Kyle, it was a pleasure to meet you today and I am so happy you came to our class!
Chris and I left SO excited about teaching!
Kennedy Presentation
Lincoln Presentation
