January 12, 2009

We have all survived the first week back and are rolling into the second week with great success!!  I know I was exhausted last Friday--I was out of "school shape"!!

Music Appreciation (4th and 6th periods)

We are spending this week learning about hip hop in the 1970s and 1980s.  Monday we talked about the birth of hip hop in the early 1970s and the "founding fathers" of hip hop: DJ Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash, and Afrika Bambaataa.  We listened to the first hip hop single to be a Top 40 hit, Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight."  We learned about and discussed the difference between mixing and scratching, and found out who invented those techniques.

The students' notebook covers were due today, although I will take them late tomorrow for 5 points off!

Orchestra (5th and 7th period)

These orchestra kids continue to amaze me every day with how quickly they are learning their first Grade 2 piece of music.  They are playing beautifully and working very hard every day.  We are discussing a new musical term this week, staccato.  Staccato means to play the notes short and detached.  We are also looking forward to our field trip to see Alvin Ailey in February--students will be bringing home permission slips this week.

Ms. Varn