Check out our new compositions and reflections!
6th & 5/6 Reflections on “Rhapsody In Blue”
4th & 3/4 Eight Great States Compositions
6th & 5/6 Writing the Blues
4th & 3/4 Elgin Symphony Orchestra Field Trip Reflections
1/2 Aiken Drum
6th and 5/6 Multigrade BLUES Compositions are now available HERE!
Click HERE to see and hear our latest compositions!
On FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, our 5th graders will travel to Rolling Meadows to attend a unique performance of Humperdink’s “Hansel and Gretel” opera by Opera in Focus.
On FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, our 2nd graders will have the opportunity to experience a live production of Tchaikovsky’s beloved ballet, “The Nutcracker,” at the Prairie Center for the Arts in Schaumburg.
Please join us on WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29th when Armstrong School’s 4th grade and 3/4 multigrade classrooms present “FAMILY FEUD: A Musical Debate.”
You can find specific information regarding what was assessed during the 1st trimester by visiting any grade level page (right hand column under “Pages”).
Student journaling for the 1st trimester has also been posted HERE.
Students in grades 3-6 recently finished a composition using Finale Notepad. You can view some great examples here:
3rd Grade Tone Color Tunes 4th Grade & 3/4 Multigrade Meter Melodies
5th Grade Syncopated Songs 6th Grade & 5/6 Multigrade Rhythm Duets
2nd Grade Color Rhythms
This year all 1st through 6th grade students will have the opportunity to spend their lunchtime composing! Each composition experience will be completed during one meeting and is designed to encourage creative thinking, problem solving, and imaginative play. Some activities will use a children’s book as their inspiration while others will use contemporary and classic artworks. Traditional and nontraditional musical instruments will often be included and each week students will be encouraged to explore and experiment with sound.
The schedule is:
September/October–6th December/January–4th March–3rd April–2nd and May–1st. 5th graders who have chosen to participate in the year long Friday Link Up program will have composition opportunities incorporated into their experience as well.
A sign up sheet will be posted in each grade level’s classroom prior to their month’s opportunities being offered. Students can choose to sign up for one or multiple activities.
We’re off to another wonderfully musical school year here at Armstrong School. This week all students will have the opportunity for some “Mallet Madness!” Return to this page soon to learn more about the composers and masterworks we’ll be studying as well as brand new website links for each grade level which will support the concepts we’ll be learning about in our twice weekly general music classes. Until then, visit “Quotes” to see what some famous composers have said. You’ll find that link at the bottom right corner of this page.
“My Lord, I should be sorry if I only entertained them; I wished to make them better.”
George Frideric Handel 1685-1759
Learn more about Handel at Composer’s Corner.