Hello all!
Let me once again start by saying how lovely music is going thus far. The students are enthusiastic and excited about all that we're doing. This week we started learning about Bach. We are having a lot of fun learning about the history of one of the most famous composers to have ever lived. Although some students were surprised to learn that I was not alive at the same time as Bach (gasp!), they greatly enjoyed hearing what the language that Bach spoke sounded like, and coming up with hypotheses about why Bach is still so famous.
Every morning we work on our warm-ups and Song of the Month (no more sirens, I promise!). This month, the Song of the Month is The Star Spangled Banner. With each class, the sound improves, and the number of requests to sing it again increases.
Our warm-ups consist of singing do-mi-sol-do, or, for the Kindergarteners, do-mi-sol. We are focusing especially on the relationship between mi and sol, and trying to identify it in the songs that we sing and listen to every day. One student in first grade made an astounding connection between our do-mi-sol-do warm up and a Bach Prelude that we listened to. I am, as ever, so impressed with the attention to detail and thoughtful observations that our students make on a daily basis. Several times already in just the few weeks that we've been together, students have made connections that even I had not made at that time.
I look forward to another great week and the wonderful year ahead of us!
As ever, feel free to email me with any questions or comments that you may have.
Madison Galbraith
K-1 Music Lead
1st Grade Assistant
MGalbraith@ArchwayArete.org
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
First Week!
Hello again students and parents!
Our first week is complete! (In fact, we are half way through our second week!) It really is true that time flies when you're having fun. Our first week together was so wonderful. The students have such bright enthusiasm, it makes me happy every morning just to wake up and think about it.
Last week we started learning our Song of the Month. For those who don't know, every month, there will be a special song learned by the entire school. Generally the song will be of a patriotic nature. This month, the Song of the Month (SOM) is "The Star Spangled Banner." The students love it! They ask me every morning when I come in if we can start with our National Anthem. In addition to singing "The Star Spangled Banner," we are also learning about its history and importance to our nation. The students paid rapt attention this morning when I read them a brief history of the battle at Fort McHenry. I've asked students to please practice at home so that we don't have to spend so much time reviewing the words and melody in class, although, that being said, they are picking it up remarkably quickly. So, if you hear your children repeatedly singing about the rockets' red glare and our flag still waving, give them a hand; they're doing exactly what I asked of them, and I'm sure it sounds beautiful!
Both Kindergarteners and First Graders are working on rhythms. They really enjoy (and are quite excellent at) repeating back a rhythm that I've tapped out for them. Feel free to try this at home with them. I'm trying progressively more difficult rhythms with them and they are stepping up to the challenge brilliantly. They surprise me every day with their attention to detail and ability to remember even the most complicated rhythms.
First graders have started learning one of my personal favorite songs, "Dona Nobis Pacem." We talked for a little bit about Latin and what it means for a language to be a dead language before moving on to singing. I can't even explain the joy I felt when I heard their beautiful little voices singing such a lovely song. I hope that, with practice, we will be able to perform it at our end-of-semester concert.
Speaking of which, I don't yet have a specific date for the concert, but I believe it will be towards the end of November. I'm very excited for the concert! Based on how well they are doing in music so far, I'm sure the concert will be a smashing success!
On one last note, for the upcoming classes, *ONLY FIRST GRADE* will need "My First Music Theory Book" by Lisa Ng. You can purchase it at Barnes and Noble or on Amazon. Either way it should be under $10. I sent out an email to this effect earlier in the month which included a link to Barnes and Noble's website.
Once again I would like to thank you for allowing me the wonderful opportunity to teach your children. Seeing their happy faces and hearing their beautiful voices makes me smile every time I think about it.
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, quibbles, queries, etc., feel free to email me at MGalbraith@ArchwayArete.org.
Sincerely,
Madison Galbraith
1st Grade Assistant
K-1 Music Lead
Our first week is complete! (In fact, we are half way through our second week!) It really is true that time flies when you're having fun. Our first week together was so wonderful. The students have such bright enthusiasm, it makes me happy every morning just to wake up and think about it.
Last week we started learning our Song of the Month. For those who don't know, every month, there will be a special song learned by the entire school. Generally the song will be of a patriotic nature. This month, the Song of the Month (SOM) is "The Star Spangled Banner." The students love it! They ask me every morning when I come in if we can start with our National Anthem. In addition to singing "The Star Spangled Banner," we are also learning about its history and importance to our nation. The students paid rapt attention this morning when I read them a brief history of the battle at Fort McHenry. I've asked students to please practice at home so that we don't have to spend so much time reviewing the words and melody in class, although, that being said, they are picking it up remarkably quickly. So, if you hear your children repeatedly singing about the rockets' red glare and our flag still waving, give them a hand; they're doing exactly what I asked of them, and I'm sure it sounds beautiful!
Both Kindergarteners and First Graders are working on rhythms. They really enjoy (and are quite excellent at) repeating back a rhythm that I've tapped out for them. Feel free to try this at home with them. I'm trying progressively more difficult rhythms with them and they are stepping up to the challenge brilliantly. They surprise me every day with their attention to detail and ability to remember even the most complicated rhythms.
First graders have started learning one of my personal favorite songs, "Dona Nobis Pacem." We talked for a little bit about Latin and what it means for a language to be a dead language before moving on to singing. I can't even explain the joy I felt when I heard their beautiful little voices singing such a lovely song. I hope that, with practice, we will be able to perform it at our end-of-semester concert.
Speaking of which, I don't yet have a specific date for the concert, but I believe it will be towards the end of November. I'm very excited for the concert! Based on how well they are doing in music so far, I'm sure the concert will be a smashing success!
On one last note, for the upcoming classes, *ONLY FIRST GRADE* will need "My First Music Theory Book" by Lisa Ng. You can purchase it at Barnes and Noble or on Amazon. Either way it should be under $10. I sent out an email to this effect earlier in the month which included a link to Barnes and Noble's website.
Once again I would like to thank you for allowing me the wonderful opportunity to teach your children. Seeing their happy faces and hearing their beautiful voices makes me smile every time I think about it.
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, quibbles, queries, etc., feel free to email me at MGalbraith@ArchwayArete.org.
Sincerely,
Madison Galbraith
1st Grade Assistant
K-1 Music Lead
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Introduction and About Me
Hello K-1 parents and students!
First of all, let me start by saying how incredibly excited I am to have the opportunity to teach K-1 Music at Archway Arete. I can't remember a time in my life when I didn't love music, and being able to teach music to young, bright, smiling faces every day is such a fantastic way to share what has always been so important to me.
Now, a little bit about me:
I'm a graduate of St. John's College, Annapolis, but I actually grew up in Arizona. I went to high school at Paradise Valley High School in the North Valley and then finished up my senior year at Perry High School, right here in Chandler. I was born in Canada, and, yes, I do say 'a-boot' (clearly no one taught me Spalding in elementary school!) As far as music training goes, I've been playing the piano since I was four, and took lessons for many years until I left for college. I also participated in Arizona Study Program, a yearly graded theory and performance test. I love to sing, which was fostered by my involvement in the St. John's Chorus and small choir groups while I was in college. I also taught Freshman Music Theory my senior year and worked as a Music Assistant for the Chorus Director. I'm very passionate about classical music and the theory behind it.
Outside of academics, I'm an avid reader. I'm particularly interested in quantum mechanics and theoretical physics, but I also love philosophy, classic literature, drama, etc. I also love to cook and bake. I'm really interested in healthy eating, and I love the adventure of trying new recipes and foreign ingredients, especially when they result in something delicious! Most of all, though, I love my family and my cat. I'm the third of four sisters, and I have a beautiful little nephew, as well as amazing, loving parents whom I love so much. We love pets in our family! Right now, we have four dogs and two cats, although, I must admit, my favorite is my own cat, Poppy. I look forward to coming home and cuddling with her every day!
To wrap things up, all I ask is that students come to class with open minds and eager ears, ready to learn and hopefully begin a lifelong journey of loving music and all that it can be. We're going to have a great year together!
First of all, let me start by saying how incredibly excited I am to have the opportunity to teach K-1 Music at Archway Arete. I can't remember a time in my life when I didn't love music, and being able to teach music to young, bright, smiling faces every day is such a fantastic way to share what has always been so important to me.
Now, a little bit about me:
I'm a graduate of St. John's College, Annapolis, but I actually grew up in Arizona. I went to high school at Paradise Valley High School in the North Valley and then finished up my senior year at Perry High School, right here in Chandler. I was born in Canada, and, yes, I do say 'a-boot' (clearly no one taught me Spalding in elementary school!) As far as music training goes, I've been playing the piano since I was four, and took lessons for many years until I left for college. I also participated in Arizona Study Program, a yearly graded theory and performance test. I love to sing, which was fostered by my involvement in the St. John's Chorus and small choir groups while I was in college. I also taught Freshman Music Theory my senior year and worked as a Music Assistant for the Chorus Director. I'm very passionate about classical music and the theory behind it.
Outside of academics, I'm an avid reader. I'm particularly interested in quantum mechanics and theoretical physics, but I also love philosophy, classic literature, drama, etc. I also love to cook and bake. I'm really interested in healthy eating, and I love the adventure of trying new recipes and foreign ingredients, especially when they result in something delicious! Most of all, though, I love my family and my cat. I'm the third of four sisters, and I have a beautiful little nephew, as well as amazing, loving parents whom I love so much. We love pets in our family! Right now, we have four dogs and two cats, although, I must admit, my favorite is my own cat, Poppy. I look forward to coming home and cuddling with her every day!
To wrap things up, all I ask is that students come to class with open minds and eager ears, ready to learn and hopefully begin a lifelong journey of loving music and all that it can be. We're going to have a great year together!
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| My cat, Poppy, mischievous as ever. |
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| A Galbraith family photo. I'm fourth from the left. |
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