A Peek Inside the Classroom: Music Class at Eastover Elementary

Nineteen pairs of feet walk down three steps as a class of first graders enter into the music room at Eastover Elementary School. As soon as they hit the floor, kids bound, jump, and dance toward the risers, taking their color-designated assigned spots. Music teacher Mrs. Philp casually walks to the front of the risers, and begins to sing. “Hello, how are you, my friend, my friend…” and the kids join in the familiar welcome song. 

Today Mrs. Philp has a guessing game for the students. “I’m thinking of an animal that is tall. Not VERY, VERY tall, just kind of tall. This animal can jump.” One by one, the students’ hands shoot up when they think they know the answer. “And this animal has a POUCH!” Mrs. Philp knows they are about to burst at the seams as she says, “On three, tell me what it is. One, two, three!” “A KANGAROO!” they all scream with excitement.

Class continues as Mrs. Philp talks about kangaroos and what the kids think it might sound like when put to music. “Choppy, because it’s bumpy, like hop, hop,” answers one student. Holden Kipley says, “Kangaroos hop a lot, but then they stop. So I think it goes fast, slow, fast, slow.” This is a perfect lead-in for Mrs. Philp to discuss the lesson for the day about staccato and legato notes. She describes how staccato notes are short and choppy (like a kangaroo hop) and legato notes are long and smooth (like someone looking through the tall grass). The students also practice the sign language for “jump” as they include and learn from their Deaf and Hard of Hearing classmates. 

Students then listen to a song entitled “Kangaroo.” In groups, Mrs. Philp invites them to the rug where she instructs them to either hop like a kangaroo, or look through the tall grass, depending on what they hear during the song. It is hard to contain the giggles during such a fun activity, and the students hop and look several times to the staccato and legato notes throughout the song. 

As the music ends, Mrs. Philp invites the kids to return to their colored spots on the risers, and they sing the goodbye song. “Take a deep breath,” says their music teacher, “and remember to SOAR.” They line up and head back to class. Eastover students love their music class with Mrs. Philp!