March was a whirlwind including St. Patrick’s Day, the annual PTO Family 5K, the Beauty and the Beast production, followed by spring break. April is in full swing including amazing experiences.

The primary classes learned about dinosaurs, reptiles, and amphibians. We sang songs about paleontologists and pretended to dig up dinosaur bones as we sang. We also learned songs about frogs, turtles, and snakes. The children are becoming very good at keeping a steady pulse with rhythm sticks, and moving their bodies in different ways to the pulse.

The Lower Elementary classes have each learned a folk dance in their lessons, and played games about leprechauns and potatoes!

All classes are continuing to gain greater understanding of musical concepts such as phrase, form, ostinato, introduction/coda, solfege hand signs, rhythms, and even question/answer using body percussion. The third grade students are being introduced to playing the soprano recorder. They had fun trying to keep a feather on a chair by not blowing too hard, as an exercise to control their breath! (an important skill to have when playing recorder).

The Upper Elementary and Middle School classes successfully presented the musical Beauty and the Beast. We have some very talented and dedicated musicians in these grade levels! All who participated came away feeling we had accomplished a very  professional level of performance. We had many positive comments from those who attended.

Upper Elementary is now preparing for Shakespeare Unshackled to be performed the end of May. In addition, a select group of students have formed a small performance group to play recorder duets before each production. Plan to come and see these plays!