Music meets Poetry!

Students in music class at Georgetown are doing more than just music!  Poetry is playing an important role in learning music. 

Second graders have been reviewing quarter notes, quarter rests and eighth notes.  Students learned a poem about frogs that matched the rhythm of the words with their new notes to create musical rhythms.  Students took turns holding posters and playing instruments to the rhythms and words on the poster.  We turned this into a mini performance complete with hand drums, maracas, wood blocks, tambourines and of course our wooden frog scrapers that created frog croaks for our introductions and codas!

Fifth graders are also using poetry in music as they prepare to go see the Grand Rapids Symphony.  One of the pieces that the Grand Rapids Symphony is performing is based on a collection of poems by Jack Prelutsky called "Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant."  The poems are about different animals paired with everyday objects which create unique new creations.  The composer set 9 of these poems to music which will be performed by the symphony.  From umbrellaphants (umbrella + elephant) to alarmadillos (armadillo and alarm clock), students are also choosing one of the poems to create artwork to match the poetry and music.  Some of these pieces of art will be displayed during the symphony performance!  Our students have been busy reading poems and creating their art in class while listening to the music.

What a fun way to combine the many arts!