How Does Music Play A Part at KRCS?

Welcome to KRCS, Mrs. Burns. Mrs. Burns brings her musical knowledge, talent, and fun learning style to our KRCS students. She started class by reviewing the seven-note scale. First, she asked the students to clap the seven notes, then added in, "say the music notes as we clap." She continued to build this pattern with rests and different tempos and beats. The students stayed with her throughout the warmup. Mrs. Burns introduced the word pentatonic. She wrote the word on the board and broke it down penta/tonic. The students immediately knew penta means five. Mrs. Burns explained that tonic in music means the first notes.

Next, she brought out the glockenspiel. She showed the students the seven notes on the instrument. She removed two of the wooden bars creating the pentatonic scale. As she removed each of the bars, she showed the students how to store them, so they are protected. Next, she played the pentatonic scale for the class. Their reaction was of genuine delight, a feeling of calm filled the room. Some students described it as "that's so smooth, so pretty." A perfect example of how music can reach us and give us an emotional reaction. Now it is time for the students to display what she just introduced. Each student went to their instruments and waited. All at once, they removed the two notes gently and precisely. The students knew what to do next. They moved into position, mallets were up, and they waited for their conductor — the room then filled with soothing music.

The first graders were performing the pentatonic scale in unison, on key, and in perfect rhythm. Mrs. Burns displayed a pedagogy method of teaching, with a cross-curricular lesson.