I have discovered over my 7 years teaching that, with younger students (grades 4 and under), music composition can be a challenge. This is especially true when attempting to use traditional notation. My students are quite proficient at reading music notation and playing a treble-clef instrument (recorder, xylophone, etc.); it is a whole different storyContinue reading “Making Composition Successful with Younger Students”
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Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir 2.0
I watched this while eating lunch today. I am so moved by the beauty of this piece; even more so, by Eric Whitacre’s vision and creativity. Using technology to allow 2,000 voices to sing together through YouTube is a revolutionary idea – allowing technology to enhance music-making at its best! Enjoy! This work is licensedContinue reading “Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir 2.0”
April is Jazz Appreciation Month!
Each April, my students and I explore a Jazz appreciation unit. We listen to different jazz recordings, study the history of jazz, play jazz chord progressions, and even improvise some solos. I always enjoy the unit and my students seem to as well! Today I will share some online jazz resources. Stay tuned forContinue reading “April is Jazz Appreciation Month!”
Friday Fave – Homemade Rhythm Chart
In the manner of many other bloggers, I will be posting a favorite of mine on Fridays. It could be tech, music, or education related or even something “out-of-left-field” related. Today I would like to share the rhythm chart I use almost daily in my classroom. Homemade Rhythm Chart This lovely, homemade rhythm chart hasContinue reading “Friday Fave – Homemade Rhythm Chart”
Composition Inspiration: Black Eyed Peas Project – Part 1
Pangea? Passion? Tribe? Poseidon? Amnesia? Can you define these terms? My fourth graders did last week. Immediately following that we listened to/watched the following video…. What a powerful message! My students were amazed that we listened to Black Eyed Peas in music class. And I was amazed at their response to this song. We hadContinue reading “Composition Inspiration: Black Eyed Peas Project – Part 1”
St. Patrick’s Day Boomwhackers Activity
If you subscribe to MusicK8, then I know you are as big a fan as I am. What a great resource for all things music, kindergarten through 8th grade. My school has subscribed for years; we have volumes 6-18, with a few years skipped here and there. We no longer subscribe, as the cuts inContinue reading “St. Patrick’s Day Boomwhackers Activity”
The Best CD for March Listening
This is my go-to CD for the month of March. Liz Carroll, composer and fiddle performer, creates stirring, lovely melodies. She’s American-born, but of Irish parents. Her music always touches my soul – I discovered her years ago on NPR and since then, my students and I have enjoyed her Lake Effect CD every March.Continue reading “The Best CD for March Listening”
Shamrockin’ Songs
So I ran out of copies of our St. Patrick’s Day worksheet I posted about last week; I ran to the copy room only to find the copier broken. Moments of desperation often prove to be chances for innovation. I grabbed some green construction paper and the shamrock die-cut. Taking them back to my 2ndContinue reading “Shamrockin’ Songs”
The Best Classroom Accessory EVER!
Well, maybe not THE best, but its close! Remember these? Mr. Sketch markers. I was obsessed with these as a kid and now as a music teacher, I have rediscovered how great these markers are. I used to be a Sharpie junkie, but I have made the switch (still love my Sharpies for doodling andContinue reading “The Best Classroom Accessory EVER!”
Too Sweet Not to Share
This is a letter I received from a third grader yesterday. Sweet gestures like this make my job worth it…. 🙂 Student Letter (click on it to see it bigger and more clearly) This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License.
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