Mrs. Platt's Class: "Viva Valentine"

The kids learned this the same day we took this video.  Far from performance quality, but they were enjoying it so much that I just had to share!  The song, "Viva Valentine", by Teresa Jennings is in the text, SPOTLIGHT ON MUSIC,  grade 1.

Mrs. Strafford's Class: "The Snowman"

Playing step bells to demonstrate upward and downward melody.  The song, "The Snowman", is from the Kindergarten Share the Music textbook.

Ms. Jackson's Class: "The Snowman"

Playing step bells to demonstrate upward and downward melody.  The song, "The Snowman", is from the Kindergarten Share the Music textbook.

Mrs. Brandenburg's Class: "The Snowman"

Playing step bells to demonstrate upward and downward melody.  The song, "The Snowman", is from the Kindergarten Share the Music textbook.

Ms. Smallwood's Class: "The Snowman"

Playing step bells to demonstrate upward and downward melody.  The song, "The Snowman", is from the Kindergarten Share the Music textbook.

Mrs. Head's Class: The Snowman

Playing step bells to demonstrate upward and downward melody.  The song, "The Snowman", is from the Kindergarten Share the Music textbook.

3rd Grade Learns About Percussion

The third graders have been learning about the 4 families of the orchestra.  The latest topic was The Percussion Family.  Here is Mrs. Dowers' class performing the the "Crash, Boom, Bang" and adding a percussion accompaniment.  (This song can be found in John Jacobson's Music Express)

2nd Grade Adds Instruments to Poem

The second graders have been learning about beat, rhythm, and pitch.  Here is Mrs. O'Banion's class adding rhythm instruments on various beats to "The Frog in the Bog".  We will be turning it into a song by adding pitch and playing a accompaniment on the barred instruments.  Watch for the finished product soon! (This activity is from the book Interactive Folk Songs, by Cristi Cary Miller)

Merry Christmas from Mrs. Fonville's Class

Mrs. Fonville's class reviewed reading a 2-staff system while learning this Jingle Bell partner song.

6th Grade: Jingle Bell Rhythm Play-Along

What do you do with one lesson between a performance and Christmas break?  Play instruments, of course!  This was fun, and also a good review of reading rhythms.  The rhythms were created by Denise Gagne.

Burns: Winter Fantasy

Mrs. Burns' homeroom worked on reading a two-staff system while learning this partner song.

Jingle Bell Rhythmic Play-Along

The students enjoyed this rhythm workout with by Denise Gagne.   This is Mrs. Petrovitch's homeroom.

Head: "Clap Your Hands"

The kindergarten music classes learned about AB form with this song.  Watch as they move on the A part and stand still with hands together on the B part.  This is from Primary Dances and Singing Games, by Denise Gagne.

Jackson: "Elephants Have Wrinkles"

The kindergarten classes enjoyed learning this fun movement song.  They're having so much fun that they don't even realize that they are working on walking to the beat!  This is from a collection by Denise Gagne called Movement Songs Children Love. 

Balsbaugh: "We Are Fifth Grade"

The fifth grade classes reviewed the scale, and rhythms with this catchy little tune.  Listen for the syncopated rhythm (short-long-short)  in the scale pattern.  Despite the serious looks on their faces, the students really enjoyed this.  (They were a bit camera shy)

Mrs. Knight's Class: Angry Bird Rhythms

The second graders have been working with rhythms using quarter notes (doo), eighth notes (doo-day) and quarter rests (silence).  Here is Mrs. Knight's class tapping out some rhythms to the "Angry Birds Theme".

Mbira Jam: 2:00 6th Grade

The first videos of the 2013-2014 school year are of our 6th graders.  They are performing a piece called "Mbira Jam" from the collection, Hot Marimba,  by Walt Hampton  I am very proud of the way they all worked together to make this piece happen!  

Mbira Jam 1:00 6th Grade

Here is the 1:00 6th Grade music class playing "Mbira Jam" from the collection, Hot Marimba by Walt Hampton. I think we need more Bass Xylophones!

Third Graders, Future Conductors?

The third graders finished up their study of the orchestra with a look at conducting.  Here is Mrs. Yoker's Class conducting along with Brahms' "Hungarian Dance No. 6".  This piece of music has a little bit of everything. Watch as the students change tempo, cue the percussion, change style and dynamics.  What fun!

Mrs. Fonville's Class Makes Oboe Reeds-Sort Of!

The third grade music classes have been learning about the instrument families of the orchestra.  As part of learning about the woodwinds, the students made an "oboe reed" from a plastic drinking straw. Cutting the end of a straw into a point allows the tip to vibrate against itself in the same way a double reed works for an oboe, English horn, and bassoon. Watch this short video to hear the results!  Watch out Duck Dynasty!