Music is one of the things that children love to do. They sing and dance to songs that really capture their hearts. For the first two units, our students get to hone the basic musical elements: Rhythm and Melody. This is where they feel the music more and understand how these elements help them to follow the beat and to sing in tune. So, how can music be more than just about singing and dancing?

Grades 1 and 2 Units talked about Who We Are, How We Organize Ourselves, and Where We Are in Place and Time. Through music, the students discovered what these units are about. They were able to choose the kind of songs they like; they were able to feel and express their thoughts on folk dances that they like, and importantly, they learned how Filipino folk songs tell about who we are as Filipinos.

As the students capture the feel of music, they then get to see how music can be made and performed together. They get to experience how music is organized and created, and how they can prepare for performances. As a class, the students were able to distinguish different roles in a music group. As they discovered this, they got to share their thoughts and had a safe space to express their feedback and to observe how a musical community can perform better as one.

With guidance and prompting, the students got to use the musical element Form to express their hearts through songwriting, as a class and individually. Who would have thought that the tune of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” could be used to share prayers, to tell stories, and to share understanding?