Vocal Music at West View Elementary

Students in grades K-6 receive music instruction once per week for 40 minutes with Mr. Cloonan in Music Room 110 and Mrs. Rossetti (Mondays) in Room 213.  During the class there are many opportunities for singing, playing instruments, moving to music, and reading music.  Many of the approaches used to teach vocal music in the classroom focus on EXPERIENCING music, not just listening to it. 

Through the study of folk songs and dances, your child will learn to become:

1. TUNEFUL – by singing songs and listening critically to music, children learn that music has melodic and harmonic elements.

2. BEATFUL – by playing instruments and dancing to music, children learn that music has a pulse that can change depending on the style.

3. ARTFUL – by moving and listening to music, children discover that different pieces can create emotional and expressive responses.

Children in grades K-3 spend a great deal of time learning to use their singing voices, to distinguish high and low, slow and fast, beat groups of 2, 3, and 4, and to move appropriately to music.  Emphasis is placed on focusing the listening ear to identify similarities and differences in music.  Much of the way primary students learn in the vocal music classroom is through singing games and folk songs.  3^rd graders begin reading musical notation, and applying their new ability by learning to play the recorder.  Our primary students also participate in our annual Holiday Song Celebration, held in late December.

New for 2006-07:  Kindergarten Pilot
The Fine Arts staff has been meeting as a department throughout the professional development days this school year with Dr. Sarah Tambucci of the Arts Education Collaborative, based in Pittsburgh, to develop an action plan that is rooted in a standards-based curriculum that will fully implement music and art to kindergarten equally throughout the district.  Our hope is to be providing this valuable and important instruction to all kindergarten students within the next academic year.

UPDATE:
Beginning with the 2007-08 school year, all full-day kindergarten classes were included in the music and art schedule for a 30-minute block once per week.  To read more about the pilot, follow the link to the NHSD website's "academics" link by clicking here.

Students in grades 4-6 continue their study of musical notation with the recorder, learning more complicated songs, performing for each other and sometimes for families at events like the December Holiday Song Celebration.  Our 4^th grade students have the opportunity to perform a musical in the spring.  Intermediate students also study more about musical style by studying music from various time periods and parts of the world, by singing in more than one part, by dancing folk and contra dances, and through the use of barred Orff instruments (xylophones and metallaphones), choir chimes, hand drums, small percussion instruments, and the ever-popular Boomwhackers - go ahead and ask your child about them!

As part of our district’s music curriculum, students in grades 2, 4, and 6 are given the opportunity to “meet the orchestra” during a field trip to Heinz Hall in downtown Pittsburgh.  The Pittsburgh Symphony sponsors a series of SchoolTime Concerts, which focus on introducing the various instruments and instrument families, some of the players, and a wide range of musical styles that are appealing to all.  This is a great cultural experience for our students, one which they will remember for years to come, and that may ignite a love for music they previously may not have realized they had.  There is no substitute for live performance - we encourage you to provide as many opportunities as possible to expose your child to musical and artistic performances.

2007-2008 Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Field Trip Dates

Sixth Grade - "The Great Americans"
Friday, November 14, 2008

     Join the PSO and Resident Conductor Lawrence Loh for a journey through American music - from the influence of folk song, to the magic of Hollywood, and everything in between!

 

Fourth Grade - "East Meets West"
Friday, December 12, 2008

     Explore the cultures and landscapes of Asia with Resident Conductor Daniel Meyer and the PSO.  Experience how composers have incorporated the exotic sounds, sights, and stories of the Far East into their own music.

 

Second Grade - "Meet the Orchestra"
Tuesday, March 31, 2009

 

     The PSO and Resident Conductor Daniel Meyer will illustrate how the string, woodwind, brass, and percussion sections each play a special role in the colorful orchestra family.  And don't forget about the conductor!

For more information about the SchoolTime programs scheduled for each grade level this year, visit the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's website by clicking here.

2007-08:  Due to the introduction of our new music textbooks and revised curriculum, and scheduling conflicts, we took a break this year.  Look for our next holiday sing in the 2008-09 school year!

Now in its 7th year, the West View "Evening of the Arts" program is a night to celebrate the artistic accomplishments of the students of our school.  Artwork from each student in Mrs. Strzempek's art classes is displayed in the cafeteria, which gets converted into a "gallery;" members of our instrumental music program perform on the stage; our 4th grade students share a scene or two from their upcoming musical performance; and in some years, small groups have played xylophones, recorders, and even led their families in a folk dance. 

The 2008 Evening of the Arts will be presented in conjunction with our Open House at West View this year.  Look for more information after the Winter Holiday break from Mrs. Strzempek, Mrs. Rossetti, and Mr. Cloonan about how this will happen.  The date for Open House this year is Thursday, February 21, 2008.

If you have any questions or concerns about our program or curriculum, feel free to contact either one of us, Mr. Shaun Cloonan or Mrs. Susan Rossetti, at 412-318-1000, ext. 5225, or by e-mailing at cloonans@nhsd.net or rossettis@nhsd.net.

Photos

 

Click on the thumbnails below to see larger photos of Miss Crummie's 2006-07 second grade class learning to folk dance the Virginia Reel with Mr. Cloonan.

 

Last Updated: 09/12/2008