This month has flown by in our music classes! We have explored various songs, dances, and instruments which remind us of winter time. The 3rd grade class composed their own ostinatos to a song about snow falling and then accompanied themselves singing the song! The primary students have had a wonderful time moving like snowflakes and melting like snowmen. Upper Elementary students have been creating hand games, learning new songs on the recorder, and hearing live musicians play bluegrass music.

The Southern Nevada Bluegrass Music Society came and gave us a short concert of bluegrass music, as upper elementary students have been studying North American history. The musicians from the group explained about the instruments which they play, where the instruments come from, and how and why they are used in bluegrass music. 

Then the musicians played a short “lick” to demonstrate the instrument’s qualities. The members of the SNBMS had a “petting zoo” for our students where they were able to handle and play each instrument, followed by questions. This was a highlight for our music program this year as we learned that bluegrass music was created here in America!

This was a rich addition to their study of our country. Lastly, the Bluegrass Society of Southern Nevada contributed a new acoustic guitar to FMS! Upper elementary students are able to “check out” the guitar from me for a week at a time.

I hope this experience has inspired some of our students to consider learning how to play some of these amazing instruments. I would like to thank Michael Jones from the SNBMS for setting up this experience for our students!

Singing “Happy Birthday” together.