What is this recorder supposed to sound like???

 The 4th grade classes are getting back into the swing of things with our recorders after a little break to focus on some other units. As we learn more pitches, some of us were having trouble with our technique and were experiencing some "squeaks." One class, frustrated by this setback, asked to see some examples of good recorder playing. I was so pleased that these young musicians want to see what is out there, what there is to aspire to. So, here are just a few examples that I found with a very quick search, but there are SO many examples and resources out there, kiddos! Explore and find something that you want to learn to play! (I think a "student's choice" assignment might be in our future!)

5 Baroque Pieces for Soprano Recorder

Can You Feel the Love Tonight? (from The Lion King)

Let It Go (from Frozen) - this video has fingering charts so you can learn to play it

The Sound of AHH

Our 2nd graders did a really interesting listening activity last week, inspired by Susan Riley at EducationCloset.com and her "Hear-Think-Wonder" strategy. We listened to this Kurt Schneider (from the group the Pentatonix) rendition of the song "Little Talks" (orginally by Of Monsters and Men). We listened first, thought about what we might be hearing (Was there one performer or more than one? What instruments were they using?), asked questions (I wonder why the high string and the low string instrument alternated the melody), and then finally watched the video to compare what we thought we had heard to what was actually happening. I promised the kids I would post the video here so they can find it easily. Enjoy!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osQuqFlLIcs

The Nutcracker

11/26/15*** See information on this post on my new website at https://artsintersection.wordpress.com/2015/11/26/trepak-russian-dance-listening-activity/

Many of our Franklin students have been studying different pieces from Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker." Here's a quick update on some of these activities:

Kindergarten
Kindergarten is listening for patterns in the "March" from the Nutcracker. We're identifying an ABA pattern in what we hear and we're moving to show that we recognize this pattern. (Click here for a video clip of "March" from the Balanchine "Nutcracker.")

1st Grade
1st Grade is also listening for ABA patterns in "Russian Dance (Trepak)", and is using shapes to create their own ABA listening "maps." Here, you can see how some of us designed our ABA patterns:

Next, we choreographed our ABA piece of music, with the boys making up dance movements for the A section and girls making up movements for the B section.

3rd Grade
3rd grade learned a little about the composer, Tchaikovsky, who was Russian, and students were interested in learning a little about the Cyrillic alphabet with the help of a translation website (below).

Cyrillic Translator (type your text in the box and click "convert")

We studied the "Dance of the Reed Pipes" with the help of a listening map, and then we compared and contrasted two famous performances of this piece, one choreographed by Balanchine, and the other by Baryshnikov (click on the choreographer's name to see each video clip).

All About Leroy Anderson!

2nd and 3rd grade has been taking part in a composer study on American composer Leroy Anderson. Visit the links below to see some of his music performed and to read more about this composer!

Videos and Performances

The Typewriter video

Sleigh Ride video

Syncopated Clock video

Plink Plank Plunk video


Biographical Information

Leroy Anderson Biography (DSO Kids)

Leroy Anderson's Official Website

 Once Upon a Sleigh Ride: The Music and Life of Leroy Anderson (PBS website)

Center Time for 4th Grade

4th graders are spending some time in learning centers. This purpose of these centers is to give students an opportunity to review concepts we've learned in music and apply them in a number of ways- through reading, writing, listening, and playing.

In this round of centers, our 4th graders have been working on pentatonic pitches (do, re, mi, so, la, and low la), and eighth-sixteenth note rhythm combinations.

In our red center, students are playing SMART Board games to practice visually and aurally identify melodic patterns.

In the green center, students are identifying and writing melodic patterns including low la, do, re, and mi.

In the blue center, students are being introduced to the iPods and the listening center process with an iPod "scavenger hunt."

In the purple center, students are playing a musical version of the game "Don't Break the Ice." The only difference between the real game and our musical version is that the ice cubes have quarter, eighth, and sixteenth note rhythms written on them, and students have to read the rhythm before they tap out an ice cube.

In the yellow center, students are improvising a pentatonic melody set to a rhythm that they have written. You may see their "Fruit Rhythm" papers coming home soon!

And finally, in our new orange iPad center, students are playing a rhythm game called "Rhythm Cat" (this is a free app available on the iTunes store!). Students have to "play" a rhythm along with an accompaniment track.

 

*For Music Teachers: Check out Aileen Miracle's TPT store for some great resources for centers. I used some materials from her Songs and Activities to Teach Low La set in these centers.

Veteran's Day Sing-Along

On November 11th, we celebrate Veteran's Day. At Franklin School, our 5th grade Ambassadors organize an assembly to honor this holiday and thank local veterans. As part of this assembly, our students will participate in a school-wide sing-along of several patriotic songs. Several students expressed an interest in being able to practice these songs at home, so I am linking the Powerpoint presentation we will be singing along with at the assembly below. We will be singing:

         -The Star-Spangled Banner
         -Yankee Doodle   
         -There are Many Flags
         -This Land is Your Land
         -You're a Grand Old Flag

Use this slideshow to practice to lyrics to these patriotic songs.

Sing-Along Powerpoint

The website for the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has some great background information on these songs! Check it out here.

4th Grade wishes you a Thrilling Halloween!

4th grade has been learning about ways to structure a song, called "form." We mapped the form of a familiar Halloween song using index cards, and then, since we just can't sit still when we hear this song, we mapped the form using choreography as well! Enjoy our in-class performance of Michael Jackson's "Thriller." Click on the links below to view.

4J- AM

4J- PM

*Music teachers, this activity can be found at mrskingrocks.blogspot.com- a GREAT resource for music teachers!