Classrooms and Specials

Ms. Katie’s Music, Art, Band, and Choir Prek-6th Grade: The Bobcat Room

• MUSIC:

  We have an "instrument of the week" and a "musician of the month" that allow us to focus our studies as we learn music history, style, theory, and performance. We learn about various musicians within the context of history, culture, and broader society. We study their music through listening, reading, writing, composing, moving/dancing, and performing. Students learn to sing using solfege syllables and to read and write music on the staff. We learn to note names and rhythms, and we learn about lots of instruments. Students learn to play the hand/desk bells, boomwhackers, hand percussion, Orff xylophones, recorders, and ukuleles in music class over the years they spend with us. In the Winter, we hold an "Informance," which allows students to show off what they are learning in the classroom to their families, without the fear of having to give a "perfect performance." In the spring, we present an all-school musical play. Past shows include "The Lion King," "The Jungle Book," "Alice in Wonderland," "Peter Pan," and "Aladdin." The 2024 show will be "101 Dalmatians."

  ART:

  We have an "artist of the month" that allows us to study the elements of art and principles of design within the context of a specific artist, period, and style. Students read, write, and learn about the various artists and their artwork, before creating their own artwork in response to what they have learned. We use a variety of materials, media, and techniques to create our artwork, and the focus is always on process over product, and showing what we have learned and discovered.

  BAND:

  Students in 4th-6th grade are welcome to participate in the beginning and intermediate band at LMCS. We teach all band instruments and join with students from other schools to perform when opportunities arise. In band, students continue to hone their abilities to read and write music, as well as learn the techniques for performing on their chosen instrument. Students receive individual, small group, and whole group instruction as they learn what it means to be a performer, and how to be part of an ensemble.

  CHOIR:

  Students in 2nd-6th grade are welcome to join the choir at LMCS. We work on developing our voices and learning about good vocal health and habits. We sing a variety of music, including folk songs, classical music, pop tunes, and Broadway and movie music. Students are introduced to part singing, as well as unison performance, and older students join choir students from across the district for a variety of performance opportunities.