Hello 3rd grade parents!
We are having an amazing time in music this year!  I wanted to give you and your student a "heads-up" with what we will be doing in the next 2 weeks.  We have gone over the main musical families: strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion as well as different world instruments.  We took notes as we went because next week your student is going to write an essay on which instrument they would like to learn to play and why.  (This is great preparation for when they get to choose an instrument in 5th grade).  Once they have completed the essay in class they get their very  own musical instrument to bring home – it’s a surprise what it will be!!

The following week we will also be incorporating engineering (STEM) into our lesson by designing and building their own musical instrument.  This will be due the week of March 6th after we have gone through the design process in class.  Could you as parents help your student by saving tissue boxes, paper towel rolls etc. that your student could make a musical instrument out of AT HOME and bring to school to share.  If this project seems overwhelming and you are worried about your student's grade -- don't worry!   We will do an alternate activity at school if doing this project at home is too much! Here are  some internet links with ideas:

Strings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHB-tT6Vi88

Brass: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzvuE7Y48-U

Woodwinds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne8Jq_UwPSo

Percussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHFqi5tXYLI

With that being said, please keep your student's musical instruments at home until after March 6th -- I know some students are very excited and have made their instrument already but I don't have space to store 80 more instruments!

Always, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to e-mail me!
Mrs. Ahlborn