IST Elementary Music

Please check the page on my blog here about the ISCOT Choral Festival for information on this awesome event.  Hope to see you there, right here, at IST next Tuesday!

Hello all and welcome to an exciting Year of the Dragon!  Lots of fun stuff coming up this year in music class:  More drumming and marimbas, recorders in grade four continue, dancing and music games in the younger grades and of course, lots of singing singing singing.  I feel honored to work with such fine children and look forward to making music with each and every child.

Here you will find the video of Ms. Jennifer doing sign language to “Let There Be Peace On Earth.” This is an excellent way to practice before the big show. You will also find a simple version of the song with sign language for grades one and below.

Here’s the simple version.

Greetings,

My name is Adam Thompson and I am the Elementary Music Teacher.  I worked for this school from 2000 to 2002 and I returned last year at this time.   It is really nice to come back for a second year at such a fine International School and to life in Tianjin.  I bring with me over twenty years of teaching experience in three different international schools and in several schools in the USA.

World Music is central in my classroom and we explore, play, sing and dance to many different styles of Music from all over the globe.  Notation and composition are taught in grades 1-5, more thoroughly in the upper grades, and improvisation is done in all grades.  Music is a participation subject so all students are encouraged to be involved in all classroom activities.  Singing is the core of the program and other activities such as drumming, dancing, keyboards and recorders are used as well.  I look forward to a fun year at IST and welcome any feedback or comments from parents and students.

Cheers, Mr. Thompson