Week of 6/8/2020
- Artist spotlight: Stevie Wonder, “Messenger of Peace”
- Here is a listening playlist of Stevie Wonder’s top hits of all time. He is a lifelong musician, starting his career at age 12 and still recording and performing today. In 2009, the United Nations called him a “messenger of peace” for his uplifting and powerful songs.
- Jazz
- 4th Grade Instruments
- 4th Grade Weekly Assignments
- For some fun playing together, come to the office hours
- Wednesday 12-1: Band instruments
- Thursday 12-1: String instruments
- Want to share what music you’ve been making at home? I would love to hear it!
- Submit a video using Flipgrid to share your music with Ms. Lotz: https://flipgrid.com/18173071
Week of 6/1/2020
- Artist spotlight: Elvis Presley, the King of Rock-and-Roll
- Here is a listening playlist of Elvis Presley’s top hits of all time. He was one of the founders of rock-and-roll, served in the army during World War II, and starred in over 30 movies!
- Jazz
- 4th Grade Instruments
- 4th Grade Weekly Assignments
- For some fun playing together, come to the office hours
- Wednesday 12-1: Band instruments
- Thursday 12-1: String instruments
Week of 5/25/2020
- Artist spotlight: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul
- Here is a listening playlist for one of America’s most beloved singers, Aretha Franklin. Fun fact, she is also one of Mr. Tynes’ favorite singers, and he’s seen her perform live!
- Aretha Franklin Listening Exploration
- Jazz
- 4th Grade Instruments
- Weekly assignments: 4th Grade Weekly Assignments
- For some fun playing together, come to the office hours
- Wednesday 12-1: Band instruments
- Thursday 12-1: String instruments
- Band and Orchestra: Giant All Newton Band and Orchestra Performance!
- All of the 4th and 5th graders from every school in Newton are putting together a performance to be shared with our community!
- To be a part of this very cool project, learn your part and make a recording.
- Your parents/ guardians must fill this out first: Video Release Form
- Directions, Music, and Play Along Tracks
- Record and submit on Flipgrid
- Due Friday, May 29
Week of 5/18/2020
- The Beatles: Keep exploring songs by The Beatles. Which one is your favorite?
- Jazz
- 4th Grade Instruments
- Weekly assignments: 4th Grade Weekly Assignments
- Weekly Band and Orchestra Jam Zoom Parties!
- Wednesday 12-1: Band instruments
- Thursday 12-1: String instruments
- Band and Orchestra: Giant All Newton Band and Orchestra Virtual Performance!
- All of the 4th and 5th graders from every school in Newton are putting together a performance to be shared with our community!
- To be a part of this very cool project, learn your part and make a recording.
- Your parents/ guardians must fill this out first: Video Release Form
- Directions, Music, and Play Along Tracks
- Record and submit on Flipgrid
- Due Friday, May 29
Week of 5/11/2020
- The Beatles: Remember when we sang Blackbird? The Beatles are a popular band that sang this song and many, many others! This week, explore some of their most popular songs.
- Jazz
- 4th Grade Instruments
- Make sure to check your email for weekly song assignments!
- From now on, you can find all your weekly assignments on 4th Grade Weekly Assignments
- For some fun playing together, come to the office hours
- Wednesday 12-1: Band instruments
- Thursday 12-1: String instruments
- String Tuning Video
- Check out this video to help your tune your instrument
- Featuring a special 4th grade guest!
Week of 5/4/2020
- For some instruments that look a lot like some of yours, but are much more unusual, check out this video. Make sure you make it to the end for my favorite!
- Jazz
- C Jam Blues Listening Map Activity
- This week, see if you can play along with Step 3 either with your band/orchestra instrument, a homemade instrument, or body percussion!
- Practice improvising
- West End Blues Listening Map Activity
- C Jam Blues Listening Map Activity
- 4th Grade Instruments
- Make sure to check your email for weekly song assignments!
- For some fun playing together, come to the office hours
- Wednesday 12-1: Band instruments
- Thursday 12-1: String instruments
- From now on, you can find all your weekly assignments on 4th Grade Weekly Assignments
- String Tuning Video
- Check out this video to help your tune your instrument
- Featuring a special 4th grade guest!
Week of 4/27/2020
- Jazz
- C Jam Blues: Listening Map Activity
- The last week’s activities: keep practicing improvisation and listening
- Practice improvising
- West End Blues Listening Map
- Song of the Week: Go Tell Aunt Rhody
- NEW: Watch and listen to Ms. Lotz play Go Tell Aunt Rhody on new instruments: violin, saxophone, baritone horn, and drum pad
- Send a recording to Ms. Lotz! (see below for directions)
- Sheet music: Go Tell Aunt Rhody
- String Tuning Video
- Check out this video to help your tune your instrument
- Featuring a special 4th grade guest!
Week of 4/20/2020
- Jazz
- Learn some more about jazz on BrainPop
- Practice improvising (making it up as you go along) with Ms. Lotz
- Revisit this listening activity from last week: West End Blues
- Song of the Week: Go Tell Aunt Rhody
- Watch and listen to Ms. Lotz play Go Tell Aunt Rhody on different instruments. (updated from last week)
- Send a recording to Ms. Lotz!
- Sheet music: Go Tell Aunt Rhody
- String Tuning Video
- Check out this video to help your tune your instrument
- Featuring a special 4th grade guest!
- How to share a video to Ms. Lotz via Google Meet
- I’d love to hear any music you’re making at home!
- Direction video
Week of 4/13/2020
- Listening Activity: West End Blues
- This song was recorded by Louis Armstrong and the Hot Five. In the recording you will hear trumpet (Louis Armstrong), piano (Earl Hines), clarinet (Jimmy Strong), trombone (Fred Robinson), and some cymbals from the drum set (Zutty Singleton). See if you can hear when they’re improvising or when they are playing the melody (head).
- Listening Map: This map will help you follow along with the song, helping you understand how it’s organized, and who is playing when
- 4th Grade instruments: Song of the Week!
- Go Tell Aunt Rhody
- Watch and listen to Ms. Lotz play this song on a couple of different instruments so you know what it sounds like!
- Send a recording to Ms. Lotz when you get it!
Week of 4/6/2020
- Watch this video by Ms. Lotz and improvise (make it up as you go along) to Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho
- You can improvise with body percussion, a home-made instrument, or your band or orchestra instrument!
- Staff Wars
- This is a fun and helpful game to help you practice reading your notes
- Version 1.8: In this version, you label each note that comes your way.
- Version 2.2.2 (Live): In this version, you can play each note that comes your way on an instrument!
- Note reading worksheet: For a non-tech option, here is a worksheet to help you practice reading notes. There are worksheets for treble clef, bass clef, and viola clef.