Grade 1: Community-each member of a music group has responsibilities!

Grade 1 Music-

Grade 1 students explored patterns of colors in relation to rhythmic sound.  The pulse or beat in music pieces such as “Who is the Captain now?” with its circle game of towing and passing a rope as a group and “Bow wow wow” with a circle dance and changing partners on the beat, were song based activities which centered on group work and responsibility to a  musical community.  Patterns in movement through dance were practiced and allowed students to internalize the music’s beat while mind mapping the choreography collectively. Collaboration in these activities transferred ensemble skills. Students played a different instrument for each song section. The song form, with the words, and proper musical notation was introduced in the rhythmic puzzle of “Bow wow wow”. Students worked in small groups on classroom instruments and then performed the song. Students were able to use their written work to connect to the musical sections.