MUSIC

The 2nd graders have been doing a tremendous job on their ensemble piece "Cookie Jar."  The kids have learned a few catchy riffs, they are learning about phrasing, sequencing, improvising and soloing.  I have found this particular group of 2nd graders to be especially musical and it has been so much fun exploring jazz and the above mentioned concepts with them.

With January being the birth month of Martin Luther King Jr. and February being African-American history month, the 2nd graders have been diving into some rich and thought-provoking musical material.  We started out the year by reading a book called "Henry's Freedom Box" which is the true story of Henry "Box" Brown who mailed himself to freedom with the aid of the Underground Railroad.  We have been learning about the secret "code" songs that slaves used to communicate with each other.  They would sing songs to pass along important information, secure a "ride" on the "Underground Railroad" or help navigate their way to freedom by following the stars (as famously documented by the song 'Follow the Drinking Gourd").  Students are also learning "Free at Last," the old spiritual that Martin Luther King Jr. quoted at the very end of his "I Have a Dream" speech (which we plan on listening to next week).  We also read a book called "Moses" that explores the life and important work of Harriet Tubman.  We have read "This is the Dream" which explores what life and segregation was like when Martin Luther King Jr. was just a boy. 

I am having a wonderful time exploring this potent subject with the children, using music as a vehicle of understanding.  We have been doing some singing games as well, such as "Down in the Valley" and "Pour me a Bucket of Water."

February is also a wonderful month to explore songs about love and self-love.  We have sung "This Little Light of Mine," "There's a Little Wheel Turning in my Heart" and "All I Really Need" by Raffi.