Students have been working a lot on reading notes on the staff and recognizing repeats, steps and leaps. They are constantly reviewing beat and rhythm and have succeeded in creating rhythm patterns with dance moves and rhythm instruments and reading written rhythm patterns. Some classes have learned how ostinatos can create texture in music by speaking and singing ostinatos in groups. We continue our work with strong and weak beats and are becoming a bit more familiar with the singing pitches, especially “do”, “mi” and “so”. Fifth Graders are finishing up their study of West Side Story, and Eighth Graders will celebrate Black history month by looking at the transformation of music from its African roots to blues to modern hip-hop.