Mrs. Branzuela's Site Schedule

Monday: Loomis Grammar
Tuesday: Franklin Elementary
Wednesday: Ophir STEAM/Penryn Elementary
Thursday: Placer Elementary
Friday: H. Clarke Powers
Hello LUSD!

I'm Katie Branzuela, I began my time at LUSD in 2013, but have been teaching music since 2010. I've spent more time on Franklin and LBCS sites, but am extremely excited to be a part of Penryn, Ophir STEAM, Placer, Loomis Grammar and H. Clarke Powers schools this year!

While I've had experience teaching a little bit of everything relating to music, my passion  lies with early music education. This year, I'll be focusing on teaching the small ones - Transitional Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and First grade. In addition to that, I will continue to direct the Loomis District Chorus, a group open to 4th - 8th grade LUSD students. 

Parents are always welcome in my classroom - we'd love to have you come play with us! Contact me if you'd like to visit or have any other questions: kbranzuela@loomisk8.org. 
This month is music:


TK/K: Students are jumping into a new round of first steps in music this week! We'll practice our tunefullness with Bill Grogen's Goat and Johnny had one friend. We'll practice our beatfulness by playing instruments to Frog in the Meadow. We'll move to show artfulness in many different instrumental only pieces. We'll practice our from using Grandma's Glasses - a spoken poem with actions. Ask your child to show you at the end of the month! 

We'll continue working on our singing voices using pitch exploration and arioso - child led song making. We end our class with a songtale! Jennie Jenkins, Father Grumble, and Tailor and the Mouse are some of our stories this month!


First Graders are reviewing rhythms this week and will dive into a unit based around Sol and Mi. Sol and Mi are our secret code words that help our voice know which way to go! - Higher or Lower! We use pictures and diagrams of our songs to help us "read" music!

We will also be moving and singing a lot! Bobalinka, our first partner dance is happening in the next couple of weeks. We will also be practicing our Spanish with Mi Cuerpo hace musica (my body makes music!). 
1st Grade
First Semester Skills
  • I can recognize/move to/play/ read symbols for steady beat
  • I recognize the difference between the rhythm and the steady beat.
  • I can switch back and forth between rhythm and beat.
  • I recognize and compose with Ta and Ti-ti and rests.
  • I can recognize and sing Sol and Mi
  • I can recognize form within a piece of music. (AB, ABA, Echo)
​Transitional Kindergarten & Kindergarten
  • Tuneful – to have tunes in their heads and learn to coordinate their voices to sing those tunes.
  • Beatful – to feel the pulse of music and how that pulse is grouped in either 2s or 3s.
  • Artful – to be moved by music in the many ways music can elicit a feelingful response. 
​Mrs. Branzuela uses First Steps in Music Curriculum for Preschool and Beyond in her TK and Kindergarten classes. You can read more about it by clicking here.