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!)

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.