Music

Mrs. Braner – General Music K-5 and Choral Director
Mrs. Valenin – Orchestra Director
Mr. Duym – Band Director

Greetings!

Music is an exciting class for many students.  The enjoyment music brings to the classroom often masks the fact that students are learning, but they really learn a lot!  In music, students participate in a wide variety of activities including singing, playing instruments, dancing, playing singing games, and listening.  They also spend time learning about composers, world cultures, history, and music theory.  While each grade level spends time doing all of these things, below you will find topics and activities each grade will be focusing on this year.  

You can find more information on Mrs. Braner’s blog at http://mrsbraner.blogspot.com.

Kindergarten

While most of the year is spent exploring the classroom instruments and their own voices, Kindergarten students will focus on folk music.  Most of their instruments will be percussion based.  Some concepts we will learn are the steady beat, long/short, fast/slow, loud/soft, up/down, and high/low.

First Grade

As first graders, there will be a large focus on singing and dancing.  Students who learn to feel the music are better able to sing and play.  Through dancing and movement activities, students will start to internalize rhythm which is preparation for playing the instruments.  This year we will use more of our larger instruments including xylophones, metalophones, and glockenspiels.   The students will learn space/line notes, the staff, the treble clef, piano/forte, and various percussion instruments.

We will also have a performance on March 24^th at 6:30 pm.

Second Grade     

Once students reach second grade, they have an easier time grasping the pronunciation for foreign languages making it a prime time to sing in a variety of languages.   In addition to foreign languages, these students will also have an entire unit based on the Jungle!  In second grade, we will start dividing the class to create harmony while singing and playing instruments.  Students will learn steps, skips, leaps, repeats, and time signatures.

Third Grade

Third grade students have an exciting year.  These students will participate in a curriculum based performance on October 16^th at 6:00pm.   In addition to this, third graders spend a unit playing the recorder.  Other areas we will cover include patriotic music, string instruments, and composing.  Students will learn about barlines, measures, ritardandos, crescendos, decrescendos, 1^st and 2^nd endings, and absolute pitch names.

We will also have a performance on February 25^th at 6:30 pm.

Fourth Grade

As a class, we will learn guitar.  Students will learn to play chords as well as plucking techniques.  In addition to Guitar, students will spend a unit focusing on drums.  We will learn many partner songs, more dynamics, and will expand our staff knowledge.  We will also study a number of composers and music theatre.

Outside of class, fourth grade students are able to join Chorus.  Chorus is offered as an extra activity with practicing one day a week.  This year there are TWO different choirs.  On Monday mornings from 8:00-8:50 we will have morning singers and on Wedneday afternoons from 3:30-4:20 we have afternoon voices.  For more information, please see me for a handout.

Fifth Grade

As a class, we will continue with guitar learning a few more advanced techniques.   Students will expand their knowledge of composers, learn about the music history periods, and study opera, jazz, and swing dancing. 

In addition to choir, fifth grade students are able to join Band and Orchestra.  Practices for both of these will be before school with occasional practices during school.

Chorus

Chorus is open to all 4^th and 5^th grade students.  Morning Singers meets on Monday mornings from 8:00-8:50 in the music room.  Afternoon Voices meets on Wednesday afternoons from 3:20-4:30.  In addition to more singing techniques, students continue to learn about history, world cultures, and theory.

This Year’s Performance Dates
December 17^th -- Winter Chorus Concert at Brooks -- 6:30pm
April 26^th -- Spring Chorus Concert at Brooks -- 6:30pm
May 15^th -- Fine Arts Festival -- TBD
TBD -- Singing for the Kane Country Cougars -- TBD

Band

Band is open to all 5^th grade students.  Practices are held on Friday mornings from 7:50-8:50am as well as during school on Fridays.  Students learn the basics on the instrument of their choice. 

Important Dates
December 2^nd -- Band Concert at Waubonsie -- 6:30pm
February 24^th -- Band Dress Rehearsal at Granger -- 4:30-6:00pm
March 16^rd -- Band Concert at Fischer -- 7:45pm
May 15^th -- Fine Arts Festival -- TBD

Orchestra

Orchestra is open to all 5^th grade students.  Practices are held on Tuesday mornings from 7:50-8:50am as well as during school on Wednesday.  Students learn the basics on the instrument of their choice. 

Important Dates
December 2^nd -- Orchestra Concert at Waubonsie  -- 7:45pm
February 24^th -- Orchestra Dress Rehearsal at Granger -- 4:30-6:00pm
March 16^rd -- Orchestra Concert at Fischer -- 6:30pm
May 15^th -- Fine Arts Festival  -- TBD

 

Maggie Braner General Music Teacher Choral Director Maggie_Braner@ipsd.org 630-375-3232

Adam Duym Band Teacher Adam_Duym@ipsd.org 630-375-3510

Loretta Valentin Orchestra Teacher Loretta_Valentin@ipsd.org 630-375-3510