Grade 2 Music

Compose a piece of music for percussion instruments using a graphic score and non-traditional notation.

Let’s see how that could work…….

First pick a sound:

Thud!

Now pick a symbol for that sound, here’s an idea for one…

>

So now, > makes a thud sound whenever you see it written down!

Pick a symbol for each of these sounds:

Thud
Crash
Beep
Rattle
Jingle-jangle

Then combine them to make and write down a piece of music. Here’s an example:

Thud . >
Crash X
Beep . P
Rattle . Z
Jingle-jangle . #

Let’s write music with these symbols by placing them together:

>>Z> XXP##XXP##>ZZZ

Now try to play it!

Show me what you have done when we return to school and let’s play it together!

Musicians and composers in the 20th century came to believe that a new way of writing, playing and listening to music was needed.
They began to explore new and innovative ways of creating music some of which sounds very strange to us.

Cage: 4’33”

Threnody

Listen to this music at home. What makes it sound strange to us?

Musical ideas need to be written down to be passed from one musician and generation to another.
How can we write musical ideas down for others to play?

Welcome back to KIS or if this is your first year then welcome to your new school!
In grade two this year we will learn to play together as a percussion ensemble using the ankaloos, and tuned and untuned percussion. We will create a piece of music using the pentatonic scale then practice it before performing it for others to enjoy.

Our first unit, however, is a school-wide unit, Inspiring Individuals:

The pursuit of quality learning through “self-development engages people in meaningful action” for themselves and others

Central Idea: Self-development engages people in meaningful action

Lines of inquiry
*Striving for understanding
*Develop passion in ourselves and others
*Creating an inclusive and caring community
*Taking ethical action

Causation, Perspective, Responsibility, (Reflection)

Have a great year of music-making and, once again, welcome back!
Mr Chris

The end-of-the-year show was fantastic and you made us all very proud. Well done!
That brings us to the end of another year of music making. I hope you have a wonderful holiday and return, refreshed, ready for another great year.
See you then!
Mr Chris

For our summer concert each class will sing a separate song to celebrate the learning we have doe this year. Mr. Karl’s class will sing Big Yellow Taxi and Mr. Gordon’s class will sing Salt Water. You’ll find these on your class blogs. We will also sing two songs together, the KIS Song and The Rainbow Connection. Here they are:

The KIS Song

The Rainbow Connection

We’ve split this song into sections so you only have to sing part of it. the lyrics, and the sections you have to sing, are below:

Grade 2 A
Why are there so many songs about rainbows
And what’s on the other side
Grade 1A
Rainbows are visions
But only illusions
And rainbows have nothing to hide
Grade 2B
So we’ve been told
And some choose to believe it
I know they’re wrong, wait and see
Everyone
Some day we’ll find it
The rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers, and me
Grade 1B
Who said that every wish
Would be heard and answered
When wished on the morning star
Grade 1C
Somebody thought of that
And someone believed it
And look what it’s done so far
KGA
What’s so amazing
That keeps us stargazing
And what do we think we might see

Everyone
Someday we’ll find it
The rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers, and me
All of us under its spell, we know that it’s probably magic
KGC
Have you been half asleep?
And have you heard voices?
KGB
I’ve heard them calling my name
KGC
Is this the sweet sound
That called the young sailors?
KGB
The voice might be one in the same
G2
I’ve heard it too many times to ignore it
It’s something that I’m supposed to be
Everyone
Someday we’ll find it
The rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me
La da da di da da dum da duh da da dum di da ohh

Listening attentively is hard. We’ve got so used to listening to music whilst doing something else that it’s become a skill we need to practice.
This unit we’re focusing on music from the 20th century, a time when musicians began to believe that all the music that could be written using the traditional Western twelve note scale had already been written and so looked around for new ways to make music.
Let’s listen to some 20th century music and ask ourselves the question; is it really music?

Threnody for the victims of Hiroshima

John Cage: Aria for any voice

John Cage: 4’33”

We’ve got the knowledge
Inquiring Individuals
We’re filled with the spirit of earning
The spirit of loving
The spirit of joy, and we’re blessed
We’re KIS

They say that knowledge is power
And I’m a powerful girl
With my feet firmly planted
And my head in a whirl

The world is changing every day
But I’ll learn new thongs on the way
I’ll go the distance, to make a difference
Till I can finally say

We’ve got the knowledge
Inquiring Individuals
We’re filled with the spirit of earning
The spirit of loving
The spirit of joy, and we’re blessed
We’re KIS

I’m full of inspiration
By the things around me
From music and dancing
To the birds in the trees

The world is changing every day
But I’ll learn new thongs on the way
I’ll go the distance, to make a difference
Till I can finally say

We’ve got the knowledge
Inquiring Individuals
We’re filled with the spirit of earning
The spirit of loving
The spirit of joy, and we’re blessed
We’re KIS

I’m filled with the spirit
That life was made for me
Surrounded by friendship
I know that I can be

The world is changing every day
But I’ll learn new thongs on the way
I’ll go the distance, to make a difference
Till I can finally say

We’ve got the knowledge
Inquiring Individuals
We’re filled with the spirit of earning
The spirit of loving
The spirit of joy, and we’re blessed
We’re KIS

This year will see a change in the way we celebrate the coming of the holidays with not one but two concerts talking place on the last day of school.
The biggest change is that we will perform our item in the concert not as a whole class but as separate class groups. We will also combine to present our percussion ensemble.

Here’s an interesting way to practice. Follow the link to a virtual xylophone you can play at home.
The pentatonic scale (five note scale) we are using contains the notes C-D-F-G-A. Can you find them on the virtual instrument?

http://www.buttonbass.com/Xylophone.html