Second graders have been busy learning the pentatonic scale, both aural and written, and have been learning to sight-sing different patterns. A pentatonic scale is a scale with only 5 tones. The word “pentatonic” comes from the Greek “pente” meaning 5 and the Latin “tonicus” meaning tone. Pentatonic scales are very useful in learning music theory as well as composing music. Most Western folk music is composed using a pentatonic scale.
Today, students were given cards on which were printed various patterns of solfege in the pentatonic scale: do, re, me, sol, la. Each student chose favorite patterns and arranged them in a way that sounded pleasing to them the only “rule” being that the song had to end on do. After some practice, composers became performers as they played their songs for the class.