Wow! We have been so busy that I haven't kept you current. Oops, sorry! We played autoharps in October. Each student had a chance to try a violin as well. We all looked inside the piano. Younger students played on the keys. Older students used giant 'piano picks' to strum the strings. We heard these sounds in "The Banshee" by Henry Cowell. Our stretching music was Haydn's Surprise Symphony. We all liked the surprise part. In November we began playing our Orff Xylophones. These are designed for children with removable bars. We can take away the wrong notes. Younger students have already had a chance to improvise on the bass xylophone. We will do more of this throughout the year. We also created our own rhythm pieces by starting with a nursery rhyme and adding rhythm instruments. Third and fourth graders had a sharing day when they were able to share their musical talents or bring a musical object from home. There was lots of fine singing, dancing and piano playing. A couple of students brought guitars or other instruments. There is a lot of talent at Vowles School! Students all had a chance to play our Gathering Drum and try some Native American skill games. They also had a chance to see and hear flutes from around the world. Our stretching music for the end of November was "Symphony #40" by Mozart. (It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a Mozart!) In December we will be hearing music from "The Nutcracker" by Tchaikovsky. Students will be trying some movement activities to this music as well. We'll also be learning some new songs and games in these busy weeks before the holiday break. Peace to you!

We have had a great, yet busy, start of the school year. It was nice to meet so many of our Vowles parents at the picnic, open house and curriculum night.
In music class we began the year with some singing games and echo songs as well as musical activities to get to know each other’s names. Older students have also done some drumming, while the younger students have played rhythm instruments. All of the students had a chance to see a pipe from a pipe organ following some discussion about J. S. Bach. We begin each music time with some stretching to prepare our minds and bodies for our activities. During this time we also listen to a variety of music. So far this year we have listened to music by Bach. We will be listening to music from Haydn very soon. This week we started playing the autoharp. October will have a stringed instrument focus. Students will have a chance to try the violin, hammered dulcimer and look inside a piano.
I hope to meet some more parents at the silent auction and the walk-a-thon!

Thank you Vowles Families!

The performances Thursday and Friday went very smoothly! Parents, I hope you've shared a big hug with your children for the great job that they did with their singing and playing. Their hard work over the last few weeks (and earlier in the year with Mrs. Hofmeister) was really evident. Thank you to all who attended either day. It would be sad to give a concert and have no audience. That's not a problem at Vowles!

This week the students will be able to watch the DVD of Friday's performance. (You can purchase the same DVD by acquiring a form from me or contacting Heitman video services directly. The cost of each DVD is $10.00)

Older students will also be able to view their Music Ace compositions. Younger students will finish the year by singing their favorite songs and playing musical games (mostly play party games from earlier in American history.) Feel free to join us for the Louisell Family Concert at Vowles on June 9 at 2:50. This is our gift to the Vowles Family.

Performances soon!

Oops! We've been busy preparing for our performances and I've forgotten to post! We finished assessments (playing on music instruments) last week for the last report cards. Now we are putting the finishing touches on our performance materials. Please join us on Thursday, May 27 at 2:35 for the Parent Program or Friday, May 28 for Grandparents'/VIP Day. The musical performance for that day will be at 2:45. Students will be performing some of their favorite songs from this year. Mrs. Hofmeister will be playing the piano for us. The students are excited to be able to see her again.
Year end details include the 3rds and 4ths sharing their compositions which were done using the computer program, "Music Ace," some play party games for the younger students and an assembly on June 9 at 2:50 by the Louisell Family Band. Feel free to stop by for that. Bluegrass music will be featured.

Wow! We have been busy! During February all grades reviewed rhythmic notation (note values.) We wrote rhythms with popsicle sticks and played "Rhythm Bingo." We added rhythm patterns to songs. Third and fourth graders started to play the recorders. March brought us "Reading Month" as well as "Music in our Schools Month." We read stories that had special musical effects and accompaning songs. We have been learning songs for the "World's Largest Concert" which we will sing along in our assembly tomorrow. The concert comes to us on DVD and is a project of MENC: The Association for Music Education. An estimated 6 million students will sing along in their own schools. Third and fourth grade students have also been working in centers using the computer program "Music Ace" and playing music notation review board games. First and Second graders have been learning about the story and music for "Peter and the Wolf." We read the book, acted out the story to the music and will compare and contrast that traditional version with the Disney video version.

Welcome to Vowles Music

Hello,
This blog is intended to share the musical activities of Vowles School Students. We are currently finishing a unit on the musical instruments of the orchestra. In the past several weeks, all students have had an opportunity to play the violin and snare drum. Students have been able to see flutes from around the world and lift a sousaphone as well as see a trumpet and a clarinet.