Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Just Give Me the Beat!

At last, at LONG last!  The computer has finally cooperated!!!  5th Grade students and I began work on this project in September and I have wrestled with my computer and various programs for months to create the final project.  Here it is!  Enjoy!

Just Give Me the Beat 2013

Happy Singers in the Music Room

While preparing for Veteran's Day, I took this picture while the class was singing "You're A Grand Old Flag".  It makes me so thankful to do the work I do everyday!


Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Oh, Say Can You See?

Level 3 students had a great time learning more about our National Anthem.  Students spent two lessons learning about the Star Spangled Banner using file folder games created by music materials guru, Tracy King (www.musicbulletinboards.net).  One of their favorites was Sticky Note Singing, in which one partner covered up part of the song with a sticky note or two.  The other partner then had to sing the song correctly.

Kindergarten exploring Fast and Slow

Fast and Slow are the two musical opposites we've focused on this month.  Students had a fantastic time moving scarves to show the difference between fast and slow while listening to A Walking Song found in our series (Spotlight on Music, MMH).


Thursday, November 7, 2013

Veteran's Day Celebration on Monday

Students have been preparing for Lincoln's Veteran's Day celebration for the last several weeks.  In the Music room, we are working on the following songs:

Level 1: You're a Grand Old Flag
Level 2:  This Land Is Your Land
Level 3:  Star Spangled Banner
               4th Grade: America, The Beautiful
               5th Grade: Sing America Sing!

The Kindergarten and 1st Grade students have come to love singing with this Youtube video which is set up in a karaoke style with the words at the bottom of the screen.  You can find the video we've used in clas by clicking here:   You're A Grand Old Flag

Level 2 has been working hard to sing all the parts of This Land is Your Land.  We have not been using a video, but have been practicing with the music from our music textbooks.  Want to practice for Monday?  Click here and remember, we are only singing verse 1:   This Land Is Your Land

4th Grade is singing America, the Beautiful.  Click here to review the song:  America, the Beautiful

Level 3 is singing and learning about The Star Spangled Banner.  Check out this amazing performance of our national anthem from Super Bowl XLIV:  Star Spangled Banner


Monday, October 21, 2013

Recorder Success!

5th Grade has been hard at work learning new notes on the recorder. 



 
We have been working on third space C and fourth line D.  These two notes are tricky because of how they are played.  Students are working really hard to learn and play these new notes.
 


What's next?  MORE NEW NOTES!!!  Keep up the great work, 5th Grade!  :)

3rd Grade Orchestra Field Trip a HUGE hit!

Students and teachers had a great time attending the Symphonic Band concert at Wheaton College last week! 


Ask your students about our musical trip around the world.  You won't believe what we saw!  We saw penguins in Antarctica and a didgeridoo in Australia.


We even took part in a battle between the clans in Ireland!

 

We saw all of that without leaving Illinois.  As you can see, we had a great time listening and watching the musicians play their instruments.