Hello Parents,

Ms. Vachon is still ill this week.  Mr. Townsend will be filling in for her and continuing on with the same lesson plans.

We are including your homework and information for the week below, earlier than normal.  We ask that you add extra days of work between Tuesday and Thursday in addition to your usual routine of Friday through Monday this week in order to help maintain momentum.  I will be on site tomorrow, and likely Thursday, as well, to offer assistance, and to update you if necessary.

What we are doing this week

We introduced a new song today! The Clown (French Folk Song) and we also began learning the G minor melodic scale two octaves.  IMPORTANT:  Your children need this music, which can be downloaded and printed here.

What did we listen to or watch, that you can watch at home?

We listened to many different recordings (3 different versions) of the French Folk Song to show how a melody can be used and performed in many different contexts.

What work is to be done this weekend

A lot of intonation work needs to be done for the G minor melodic scale. Please also review The Clown A section rhythm.

What are we doing next week?

We will be continuing to work on the Clown and introducing the B section of the piece. We will be introducing the G minor harmonic scale and the G minor arpeggio.

How much time should your student be practicing each day?

Two 15 minute sessions one focusing on the scale and the other to focus on The Clown.

How can you help your child?

Please ensure your child has their own copy of The Clown which can be downloaded and printed from the ABC Website. To help with rhythm work you can provide your child with either a metronome or a metronome application that may be downloaded on a smart device.

Additionally, be sure to ask about music.  What do they like?  What do you like?  Have you shared your favourites with them?  Watched videos together?  Sharing your musical interests is fundamental to encouraging theirs.  The only thing we usually recommend using discretion with is Gangster Rap, understandably.

Your child’s practice environment – is it good?

It is important that you give your child the environment they need to practice.  Do they have a space that is quiet, and time that is uninterrupted?  Are they away from screens and siblings?  Setting up a dedicated space – even a corner – for music helps bring structure and focus to your child, and is a subtle, but vital way to increase the pace at which they refine their skills.

Are you using the Homework Helper?

Click here to download the homework helper.  This sheet is designed to teach accountability, honesty, and self-evaluation without being overly specific to the class-based work.  You may think that this is just another “standard” worksheet used in classrooms, but we have developed this based on our experience.  There are very few, if any subjects that turn the focus back on the student to get them to ask themselves about how they are doing.

By using this worksheet, and doing it with them (particularly in Grades 1-3), you can lay some excellent foundations for self-evaluation in work.  This skill will be essential in professional life, and one of the many that can help your children get ahead in the future.  Your involvement and guidance helps your children to learn and get good guidance on self-evaluation and focus on the quality of work done.

These worksheets are required every weekend now, and should be given to Ms. Vachon on Tuesdays.

 

B.Kerekes
Director