The Hatch Music Program
For more than 10 years, all Hatch students have had weekly music classes – 30 minutes for K-3; 45 minutes for 4-5. The entire music program is paid for through the fundraising efforts of the PTO. (Parent-Teacher Organization). Thanks to the PTO’s commitment to music education, Hatch has an extensive collection of instruments ranging from glockenspiels, contra bass bars, and all sizes of metallophones and wooden xylophones to African drums, gongs, chimes, cymbals, Boomwhackers and hand percussion instruments from around the world.

Our music program provides a holistic approach to musical training incorporating the rhythm and movement of Orff and Dalcroze, the solfege singing of Kodaly and the child centered learning approach of Montessori. It's about developing skills in the whole child cognitive, physical, social, emotional, language and musical. We hope that music will become a natural part of the students’ daily life. Any parents who are musicians and interested in demonstrating their instrument are urged to contact the music department. Parents always welcome to observe music classes.

Music Notes – Recorders & Show

All 3rd, 4th and 5th graders, as well as 2nd graders in combined 2/3 classes, are playing recorder. Encourage your student to play at least four times a week at home. Take a look at their music, ask them questions and be sure to congratulate them when they improve, earn a new Recorder Karate belt — or play you a tune.

For more information about the benefits of music education, go to www.menc.org/resources/view/why-music-education-2007

Halloween Music Homework

All students, please download and print Halloween Songs and Grizelda. There are audio files for Halloween Song and Seeing Things at Night (we sing the first verse two times). Most other songs are sung to familiar tunes. Older grades are welcome to practice the songs that the younger grades are singing and may join in when they sing.

Listen to:

Seeing Things at Night (click on blue words)

Halloween Song (click on start button below)

Kindergartners: Please practice Ring Around the Pumpkin, A Little Baby Ghost, Bats Are Sleeping, Halloween Song (first verse only), Have You Ever Seen a Pumpkin, and the Incan Rincan part of Grizelda

First graders: Please practice Ring Around the Pumpkin, A Little Baby Ghost, Pumpkin Pumpkin, Bats Are Sleeping, Halloween Song (first verse only), Have You Ever Seen a Pumpkin, and the Incan Rincan part of Grizelda

Second graders: Please practice Pumpkin Pumpkin, Halloween Song (first verse only), Grizelda and Seeing Things at Night (remember your movements!)

Third graders: Please practice Halloween Song (first verse only), Grizelda, Seeing Things at Night (words and percussion parts)

Music Grades K–3. You'll be singing songs in English, Spanish and other languages and learning about rhythm, movement, music notation and more. Plus you'll play our beautiful wooden xylophones, African drums and all of our hand percussion instruments. You won't play everything every week — we only have 30 minutes together — but over the course of the school year, you'll get your hands on everything.

We have a wonderful musical year ahead of us. Some of you met me last year when I started teaching at Hatch; others know me through Kindermusik or piano at Harmony Road in Moss Beach. I look forward to meeting all you new Hatchies as we begin music. So get ready to have fun and make lots of music.

Ms. Kitty (a.k.a. Kitty Rea)

Music Grades 4th-5th. I am excited to be joining the enthusiastic parents, teachers and students at Hatch. Music for 4th and 5th grade will focus on songs and rhythms from around the world. We will explore music from Africa, Latin America, Japan, the American gospel and jazz and folk traditions. Students will have a chance to explore creating their own music and will learn through games, experimentation, improvisation, and ensemble playing.

My name is Marty Hoffman, I’ve been teaching Orff for the last 6 years at El Granada and at the Music School in San Mateo. I love to share my joy making music with students and building their skills to create exciting music together.

Musically yours, Marty Hoffman