Happy Holidays!

This week the third and fourth graders watched a video of the ballet, "The Nutcracker." Younger students played xylophones to a December song, or discovered favorite songs in our music book series. Everyone seems excited for the coming vacation. I wish it to be safe and happy for you! See you next year!

Mallets, Mallets, Mallets!

December 14, 2011
This week we have been playing the xylophones. We have a good set of “Orff style” instruments. (See if your child can tell you about the soprano, alto, bass xylophones, contra bass bars and glockenspiels.) These are made so that the tone bars can all be removed. The ‘wrong’ notes for a given song can be set aside and only ‘good’ sounds are produced. After some ‘mallet madness’ where we rotated frequently to give each student a chance to play each instrument, we are using xylophone patterns to accompany songs. Students have also been examining the form or structure of the songs, as different instruments are used in different sections.
Our stretching music has been from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker. So far we have heard: The Chinese Dance and the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. There has been discussion of the story and ballet in general. Older children will see a video of a New York performance before we break for vacation. Younger children will play some singing and moving games so we can continue to practice 'steady beat.'

We've had a Busy Beginning

Oops! I’ve noticed that again it’s been a long time since I have made an entry here. I resolve to make more frequent entries so that you can be aware of the activities that we are doing in music class.
We started the year with lots of movement activities, games and folk dances. All of these are intended to help us practice keeping a steady beat. We are also able to discuss cultures pertaining to the folk dances. Younger students played: Shooliloo, Going Down to Town, Bow Wow Wow, Shoo Fly, Bear Hunt and acted out Five Little Ducks. Older students participated in: Rig a Jig Jig, Paw Paw Patch, Amassee and How Do You Do?
In addition, all students have had a chance to discuss the string family of instruments and try playing a violin. Everyone also had a chance to play the autoharp. Younger students played with a partner, one holding the buttons and the other strumming. Older students played alone and used multiple chords.
Our fourth graders were invited to lead a segment of this year’s World’s Largest Concert. They taped their portion on November 29. The concert, which is a project of the National Association for Music Education (formerly MENC,) will be distributed in March. Check here later for details about seeing it in your own home.

Things have still been busy at Vowles School and I haven’t had a chance to catch things up here. We finished December with a look at the ballet, “Nutcracker.” Students had a chance to move to some of the music, using brightly colored scarves to enhance the visual effect. Older students had an opportunity to watch a video of portions of the ballet. January brought us an opportunity to view a number of instruments. We saw the clarinet, trumpet and trombone. Students also played our classroom xylophones and other small percussion instruments. Kindergarteners also got another chance to use the autoharps. Third and fourth graders had a chance to use the computers to experiment with Music Ace. They were able to listen to classical music, learn about notation and make up their own songs. Younger students also had a chance to do some ‘acting’ to the Three Little Pigs Blues. We also met our student teacher, Ms. Gazella, who will be with us until the beginning of May. Ms. Gazella has been sharing her singing talent. She is helping everyone to develop great singing habits. This will be really helpful as we begin to prepare for our spring performances. Mark your calendar now! Parents’ Program will be on May 26 at 2:30 PM. Grandparents’/VIP Day will be on the afternoon of May 27. February brought us a chance to learn some new songs and to try some movement activities with the ribbon sticks. In March we did a number of musical activities and songs related to books and stories for reading month. Younger students learned about Peter and the Wolf. Third and fourth graders also started to play the recorders. Oh, they also started learning the song, Fifty Nifty United States, which includes the names of all of the states. I’m sorry if your child is driving you crazy with this song. :) March was so busy with conferences, the talent show, the carnival (complete with an instrument room) and The World’s Largest Concert, (which is a sing-a-long project of MENC. We watched the program in the gym and sang eight songs along with about 6 million other students who were singing in their own schools around the world. Perhaps you saw it on the school channel.) Fourth grade students missed their field trip to see the orchestra and opera at CMU due to inclement weather, but we are going to be able to have a few of the performers as guests at Vowles next week. And of course we had spring break. Now after a little rest, we are starting to prepare for our spring performances, as well as continuing our study of notation, instruments and singing. Happy spring! (Maybe it will stop snowing soon!)