9/2/15***SEE MY NEW WEBSITE AT https://artsintersection.wordpress.com/2015/09/02/teaching-high-and-low-faeries-and-giants/***
This morning, kindergarten learned a little bit about high, middle, and low sounds. We played some SMART Board games, and we watched this great Sesame Street video featuring high, middle, and low voices.
Stay tuned! Next week, we'll be putting our knowledge of high and low into practice on the instruments, as well as reading a new book and composing our own high and low melodies!
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Friday, January 18, 2013
5th Grade Drumming Finale!
The 5th graders have finished up their world drumming unit. In this unit, we were working on:
- Using correct hand technique (alternating hands).
- Playing steady and consistent rhythms.
- Maintaining independence from other musical parts.
- Interacting with a group (watching and being aware of others).
- Maintaining focus and concentration within the ensemble.
- Playing with good posture.
- Listening to others while playing our own parts.
Friday, January 11, 2013
Half Note Fun
2nd grade has been learning a new rhythm- half notes (worth 2 beats). We learned a new song called "Donkey, Donkey" (some of us are very excited to be singing about donkeys, which we apparently love). We learned to read this new rhythm, and then we composed eighth/quarter/half note rhythm patterns in an unconventional way- with Play Doh! Each student received a "beat bar" with 4 beats, and had to create a 4-beat pattern using quarter notes (notated by 1 "blob" of Play Doh on the beat), eighth notes (2 blobs sharing the same beat), and half notes (1 giant blob that spreads through 2 beats). I think we enjoyed our hands-on experience and this new way of composing!
We've now starting learning some instrumental accompaniment for the song, so we'll be practicing playing our new half note rhythms, so stay tuned for videos of in-class performances!
We've now starting learning some instrumental accompaniment for the song, so we'll be practicing playing our new half note rhythms, so stay tuned for videos of in-class performances!
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Dancing Oobleck!
Mrs. Spratt and I were talking about oobleck before school today (it sounds strange, but it's true): she told me that her class was making oobleck this morning, and I told her about this awesome video that I had seen called "Dancing Oobleck." So I stopped in for a bit during their science time to watch the class in action. It was SO COOL (and a little messy). After the kids finished making their oobleck, we sat down to watch the Dancing Oobleck video! I told the class I would post the video here so they could find it later. Below are the links to the video itself as well as to the website where this project was originally posted. What a fun way to learn! Thanks for letting me stop in, 3S!!!
Dancing Oobleck project
Dancing Oobleck video
And, why not, here's a book about oobleck by Dr. Seuss (you can find it in our school library)
Dancing Oobleck project
Dancing Oobleck video
And, why not, here's a book about oobleck by Dr. Seuss (you can find it in our school library)
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
2nd Grade Centers
***See post on cottonball compositions at my new website: https://artsintersection.wordpress.com/2015/12/10/free-tpt-resource-cottonball-compositions/***
In 2nd grade centers, we've been focused on reviewing quarter note, quarter rest, and eighth note rhythms, as well as reinforcing our knowledge and use of the pitches mi, so, and la.
In the red (reading) center, we've been working on matching up melodic shapes with familiar tunes we hear on the SMART Board in an activity called "Caroler Puzzles." Basically, we're looking at a melodic shape, listening to two familiar holiday tunes, and deciding which one matches based on the direction of the melody.
In the green (writing) center, we are identifying la on the staff, and then we are composing mi-so-la melodies in a fun way- by playing Rock, Paper, Scissors! Students are partnering up to play, and if rock wins, both students write mi on the staff, if paper wins, both students write so on the staff, and if scissors wins, both students write la on the staff. Then we play until we've composed an 8-beat melody.
In the listening center, we are listening to "Russian Dance" from The Nutcracker and filling out our Gingerbread Listening Glyphs based on what we heard.
In the purple (game) center, students are playing Zap It! Students pass a cup of popsicle sticks around the circle, and each student pulls out a stick. On the stick is written a rhythm, which the student has to read. If they read it correctly, they keep the stick. If they read it incorrectly, they put the stick back in teh cup. If the student pulls the "Zap It" stick, he or she must put all of their sticks back in the cup. The person with the most sticks at the end of the game wins!
In the yellow (instrument) center, students are using cottonballs to compose mi-so-la melodies on a two-line staff and playing them on glockenspiels.
Also, a HUGE thank you to the parent volunteers who have come in to help facilitate centers- your help has been invaluable!!!
In 2nd grade centers, we've been focused on reviewing quarter note, quarter rest, and eighth note rhythms, as well as reinforcing our knowledge and use of the pitches mi, so, and la.
In the red (reading) center, we've been working on matching up melodic shapes with familiar tunes we hear on the SMART Board in an activity called "Caroler Puzzles." Basically, we're looking at a melodic shape, listening to two familiar holiday tunes, and deciding which one matches based on the direction of the melody.
In the green (writing) center, we are identifying la on the staff, and then we are composing mi-so-la melodies in a fun way- by playing Rock, Paper, Scissors! Students are partnering up to play, and if rock wins, both students write mi on the staff, if paper wins, both students write so on the staff, and if scissors wins, both students write la on the staff. Then we play until we've composed an 8-beat melody.
In the listening center, we are listening to "Russian Dance" from The Nutcracker and filling out our Gingerbread Listening Glyphs based on what we heard.
In the purple (game) center, students are playing Zap It! Students pass a cup of popsicle sticks around the circle, and each student pulls out a stick. On the stick is written a rhythm, which the student has to read. If they read it correctly, they keep the stick. If they read it incorrectly, they put the stick back in teh cup. If the student pulls the "Zap It" stick, he or she must put all of their sticks back in the cup. The person with the most sticks at the end of the game wins!
In the yellow (instrument) center, students are using cottonballs to compose mi-so-la melodies on a two-line staff and playing them on glockenspiels.
Also, a HUGE thank you to the parent volunteers who have come in to help facilitate centers- your help has been invaluable!!!
3rd Grade Centers
3rd grade centers are almost wrapped up! Here's what we've been up to...
We've been working at the SMART Board on rhythmic note identification and even some rhythmic math (adding note values).
In the green (writing) center, we've been working on a rhythmic composition including quarter notes, eighth notes, half notes, quarter rests, and half rests. Soon, we'll be performing our compositions!
In the listening center, we've been listening to "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" from The Nutcracker and completing listening logs based on what we hear.
In the purple (games) center, we've been playing Smack It! (pictures coming soon!) When we play Smack It, we review the note names for lines and spaces of the treble clef. Then, with one person calling out note names, we compete to see who can smack their bean bag down on the correct line or space. This gets intense!
And finally, we are playing our beloved recorders in the yellow (instrument) center. We're reviewing the main rules of playing the recorder (left hand on top, cover the holes completely, whisper warm air, and think "too"). Then, we are playing the note B in many different exercises, and even improvising some rhythms on the note B.
We've been working at the SMART Board on rhythmic note identification and even some rhythmic math (adding note values).
In the green (writing) center, we've been working on a rhythmic composition including quarter notes, eighth notes, half notes, quarter rests, and half rests. Soon, we'll be performing our compositions!
In the purple (games) center, we've been playing Smack It! (pictures coming soon!) When we play Smack It, we review the note names for lines and spaces of the treble clef. Then, with one person calling out note names, we compete to see who can smack their bean bag down on the correct line or space. This gets intense!
And finally, we are playing our beloved recorders in the yellow (instrument) center. We're reviewing the main rules of playing the recorder (left hand on top, cover the holes completely, whisper warm air, and think "too"). Then, we are playing the note B in many different exercises, and even improvising some rhythms on the note B.
Thanks for stopping by!
Monday, December 10, 2012
Centers in full swing!
Students in 1st through 4th grade music classes are rotating through musical centers during the month of December. Each center is designed to allow students to explore musical concepts through different means, whether it be by writing, reading, playing, or listening.
We'll start with 4th grade.
The first activity is a music & math activity called "Snowflake Shootout" on the SMART Board, in which students work to identify rhythmic notation and their values.
Next, students travel to the "Jug Band" performance station, where they perform rhythms they have previously written on the xylophone. Their rhythm compositions include quarter notes, eighth notes, sixteenth notes, and eighth-sixteenth combinations.
In the listening center, students are using iPods to listen to "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" from The Nutcracker. After listening to the song and following key elements of the music on a listening map, students complete a listening log about what they heard.
Have you ever played "Don't Break the Ice?" We have! We're playing a musical version of the game, in which rhythms are written on the ice cubes. Before knocking out a cube, students have to read the rhythm in the row. After knocking it out, students replace that rhythm with a rest.
And finally, recorders are back. Students are reviewing the notes B, A, and G on the recorders in several written exercises. Soon, we'll be improvising our own B-A-G melodies.
We'll start with 4th grade.
The first activity is a music & math activity called "Snowflake Shootout" on the SMART Board, in which students work to identify rhythmic notation and their values.
Next, students travel to the "Jug Band" performance station, where they perform rhythms they have previously written on the xylophone. Their rhythm compositions include quarter notes, eighth notes, sixteenth notes, and eighth-sixteenth combinations.
In the listening center, students are using iPods to listen to "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" from The Nutcracker. After listening to the song and following key elements of the music on a listening map, students complete a listening log about what they heard.
Have you ever played "Don't Break the Ice?" We have! We're playing a musical version of the game, in which rhythms are written on the ice cubes. Before knocking out a cube, students have to read the rhythm in the row. After knocking it out, students replace that rhythm with a rest.
And finally, recorders are back. Students are reviewing the notes B, A, and G on the recorders in several written exercises. Soon, we'll be improvising our own B-A-G melodies.
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