Piano Skills, Part 1

Over the next three blog entries, I will be sharing videos of the students playing piano. Some of the students will be utilizing the electric keyboard while others may share their progress on the iPad application, Piano Maestro. Several of the students have had piano lessons outside of school while others are showing progress just from beginning their studies in music class this year.

This week, we view three Pre-K students who have mastered the first two measures of Mary Had a Little Lamb. You will see that the students are using color-coded notation that corresponds to colored stickers on the piano. They began by using the color-coded xylophone and then transferred their knowledge to the electric keyboard. As they master each set of two measures, additional measures will be added to their music. This is the first step in teaching piano, note-reading, and rhythm.

We also have the Kindergarten & Grade 1 class sharing their progress. Several students volunteered to share songs they learned from the music book, pieces from the iPad, and one student even composed a song himself.

Next week, look for the video from Grades 1 and 2!

In addition to xylophone, piano and iPad, students in grades PreK-2 have been working hard to get ready for their concert on April 29.

Students in Pre-K, Kindergarten, Grade 1 & Grade 2 should meet outside the art room by 6:00 p.m. Parents may then proceed to the auction. Dress is a solid-colored shirt (any color) and pants/shorts/jeans.

Middle School students are still working hard on their GarageBand commercial projects as they create radio spots advertising their favorite books. This week, they finished recording their jingles.

In library, we are continuing to focus on honesty and friendship. In Pre-K, we read Butterfingers by Dennis Reader to talk about trust, and Swimmy by Leo Lionni to address strength in numbers and trust in one another. We are also reading one Elephant and Piggie book each week. This series, by Mo Willems, is one of the most beautiful and hilarious friendship stories in existence. Last week, we read Elephant and Piggie: Let's Go For a Drive! and this week, Elephant and Piggie: Happy Pig Day!. In Grades 3-4, we took a break from Destiny Quest and read a fairy tale adaptation about honesty and narcissism called The Principal's New Clothes by Stephanie Calmenson. You might recognize it as a retelling of the famous fairy tale, The Emperor's New Clothes.

Students would enjoy rereading many of these books and most are available on the Book Read-Aloud YouTube Playlist.

Please save-the-date for our end-of-year Variety Show: THE PRIS FACTOR, which will involve all students and take place on Wednesday, June 10 at 6:30 p.m. We are hoping for 100% attendance as the students are planning and executing this concert themselves.

Stay tuned for more from our PRIS Students and don't forget to check out the library and music YouTube page (and subscribe)!

PRIS Music & Library YouTube Page

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