Hello ABIS families,
What a wonderful and energetic first week it has been in the music room! It’s Mr. Mino here, and the sound of music-making has already filled our halls with so much creativity and enthusiasm. It’s truly a joy to see our young musicians back at it, ready for a new year of learning and growth.
This week, we kicked things off with a tour of the orchestra’s magnificent Brass family. Our KG and Grade 1 students were fascinated by the unique timbres and powerful sounds of instruments like the trumpet and tuba. We even tried making our own “buzzing” sounds with our lips, just like the real musicians!
Meanwhile, our Grade 1 and 2 classes were getting their bodies moving with an exploration of rhythms and movement. We tapped, clapped, and stomped our way through different patterns, discovering how music can inspire us to move in so many different ways. It was a great way to build our listening skills and a strong sense of beat.
The sound of tuned percussion was ringing through the Grade 3 and 4 classrooms as they began their journey with the xylophones and other instruments. They worked on performing rhythmic pieces and had a blast learning to improvise on the pentatonic scale—or as some of our students call them, the “black notes of the piano!” This is an exciting step into creative composition, and the melodies they’ve made are already so expressive.
Further down the hall, our Grade 5 and 6 musicians were continuing their exploration of orchestral instruments. It’s inspiring to see so many students continuing to pursue their musical passions, and we send a huge congratulations to those who have recently purchased their own instruments, such as violins and pianos! It’s a wonderful commitment to their musical journey.
And of course, all of our classes have been busy learning some fantastic new songs to add to our repertoire. It’s the perfect way to build community and warm up our voices for the exciting year ahead.
We’re off to a fantastic start, and I can’t wait to see what beautiful music we create together in the coming weeks.
Stay tuned for more updates!
Best, Mr. Mino