First Grade Plays "Big Black Cats"

Miss Freygang's class played woodblocks and glockenspiels while singing the song, "Big Black Cats." The song not only provides the opportunity for singing and playing instruments, but also teaches First Grade students to read quarter notes and eighth notes.

Music Makers Performances

The Bluffsview Music Makers have two performances coming up in the next month. The first is for the Bluffsview Veterans Day Assembly in the morning of Wednesday, November 11th. The program will begin at 8:30 AM in the gymnasium.

The second performance is very exciting. The Music Makers have been invited to perform as part of the Opening Celebration of the brand new McConnell Arts Center in downtown Worthington. The new McConnell Arts Center is on the corner of 161 and Evening street and we will be performing in the 213 seat theatre! The Music Makers will perform on Saturday, November 14th at 9:30 AM. Music Makers are asked to report no later than 9:15 AM to be ready for the show. Please invite your family and friends to this performance so we can fill up that brand new theatre!

Attire for both performances will be the new Bluffsview Music Makers t-shirt, black pants or black skirt, and nice shoes (please no gym shoes if possible).

For more information about the McConnell Arts Center, you can visit their website (still under construction) at http://www.mcconnellarts.org/

Inspired by "Autumn"

First, Second, and Third Grade students spent some time listening to two movements from The Four Seasons by Italian composer, Antonio Vivaldi. Specifically, students listened to the two movements entitled, "Autumn." Vivaldi's work is an example of program music, or music which is written tell a story or convey a specific image or idea. Before listening, students were told that the music was supposed to make them think about Fall. Then students spent an extended period of time listening to the two movements. Ideas about the "images" or "movies" that played in their minds while listening were discussed. Then students were asked to create a drawing to show what the music made them think of . Below you can see some of the artwork the students created.


Antonio Vivaldi lived during the Baroque period (1600-1750) and taught music in an orphanage/school for girls. His students would have played these pieces in the small orchestra which he directed at the school in Italy. If you are interested in hearing these selections from The Four Seasons, there is a small CD player outside the music room with the display of the student artwork. Take a moment to not only enjoy the art, but the music that inspired it's creation as well.

Sixth Grade September Performance Piece

Sixth Grade students spent several class periods in September learning a Renaissance performance piece for recorders, xylophones, and hand drums. The piece was written by French composer and cleric Thoinot Arbeau in 1588. Students played in 5-part harmony for this song: two soprano recorder parts, alto recorder, xylophone, and hand drum. After performing, students listened to these recordings and evaluated themselves and the class as a whole on musical elements like tempo, dynamics, tone color, and harmonic balance. Enjoy these performances!