6th Grade

Hi 6th Grade Families!

I tried to keep our lessons as close to what we would be working on in class together as I could, but you'll notice a few fun "extras" here and there since we're now working in this alternate format.

If you'd like or need any help with any of this, please email me at kjohnson@sau49.org and I'd be happy to help via email or video chat!

Music Class Day 1:

The last time we were together, we wrapped up learning about the instruments in the Brass Family of the orchestra.  (If you don't remember them, review them here!)  Today, we're going to start the String Family.  Please watch the following 2 videos:

Now, solidify what you learned by reviewing pages 1-9 of this booklet.  Send me an email with your answer to the "How many strings.......?" question on page 7 of the booklet (you will likely need to research the answer)?

Note-Reading
Online learning is a great time to brush up on and review our note-reading skills.  Play the Staff Wars game at least once through to the end (game over) - it's super fun!  This game requires you to enable Flash Player, and may not work on a mobile device - use a computer or Chromebook.  Select the treble clef at the start screen.  (If you play trombone and/or piano, you could select bass clef and see how you fare!)  What was your final score?  

Ukulele

Being out of school for an extended time is no way to teach or learn to play ukulele when you don't have an instrument...  <sad sigh>

With that said, though, I think Ms. Bernadette's videos on ukulele are very well-done, and while we're apart, there's a lot we can learn even without a ukulele in hand just by watching her videos.  This week, we're going to start with a beginning video that I think NDS saw some of a while back.  Please watch the entire video today, and send me an email telling me 2 things you learned (and will remember!) from her video.

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Music Class Day 2:

Let's start with something fun and different today!  Stand up and participate with this body percussion video - super-fun!

Speaking of percussion...  Today, we're going to start the Percussion Family.  This family is by far the largest of all.  Any and ALL sound is vibration.  All instruments in the percussion family are HIT, SHAKEN, OR RUBBED TO MAKE A SOUND.  When you hit/shake/rub them, some part of them vibrates to create sound.  Please watch the following video:

Since the percussion family is so big, we often think of the family as broken down 2 very distinct ways:  first, based on what part of them is vibrating to create the sound, and second, based on what type of sound and/or pitch they make.  See below.

MEMBRANOPHONES VS. IDIOPHONES

1. Membranophones - instruments with a hide of skin/plastic stretched over the top (ex. any time of drum with a drum head) - this "membrane" is what vibrates when you hit the instrument.
2. Idiophones - instruments where the entire body of the instrument does the vibrating when struck (ex. triangle, bar of a xylophone, cymbal, etc.).

TUNED VS. UNTUNED

1. Tuned - instruments that are able to play distinct melodic pitches - musical letters like A to G, like the notes on a piano
2. Untuned - instruments whose sounds are NOT quite compatible or measurable with the vibration frequencies of the musical pitches.

Let's look at the percussion family in more detail.  Please watch these videos:

Now, complete this worksheet about the percussion instruments.  You will need to go to "File," then "Make a Copy" to get one you can type into.  Please share it with me (kjohnson) when you're finished.  Great work!

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Music Class Day 3:

Today, we're going to start the Woodwind Family.  The woodwinds are the second largest family of instruments.  Please watch the following videos:

BONUS (not required):  If you can't get enough of carrot-clarinets, check out this video here!

Now, solidify what you learned by reviewing pages 10-17 of this booklet.  Pay close attention to the "Played by..." questions; No reed/Reed/Double-Reed questions; and the Range questions.

Ukulele

We're going to spend another week with Ms. Bernadette's ukulele videos.   For REVIEW, please re-watch our video from 2 weeks ago, either starting from the beginning again, or from the 2:26 mark.

Now, please watch this new video below about chords.  Please watch the entire video, and send me an email telling me 2 things you learned (and will remember!) from THIS video.