Engine, Engine Number 9

In Kindergarten last week we learned a new song called "Engine, Engine Number 9."  We learned about moving our bodies to the steady beat while pretending to be a train.  We also added some instruments.  We used our "Big Daddy" C Contra Bass Bar and an Alto Xylophone.  All the kids got a chance to play the instruments and practice the correct techniques.  It was quite an adventure!  Here are some pictures of instrument players and singers.  

Solo Singing in 2nd Grade

I tricked the kids this week.  Please don't give away my secret!  We learned a new song I call "Viking, Viking."  It's a greeting song, in which someone asks a person a question.  The person answers back in song--all on his or her own!  I know solo singing can be scary for some of us, so my trick was to use my supply of animal puppets.  Each student picked an animal and used his or her own singing voice to "be" the animal's voice.  They got to pretend and I got to assess singing abilities.  We also were able to add in some mallet parts.  It was such a sweet lesson to teach and observe.  It was fun to see the kids use their imaginations and to sing without fear.

Here are some photos  and a video from one class this week.  

4th Grade Recorders

The 4th graders received their recorders this week.  We learned to play our very first note in class together!  We learned that good recorder playing requires two things: 1)Steamy Air and 2) Holey Fingers.  Ask a 4th grader about birthday candle air versus fogging up a window air.  

There is a free website that I showed to the kids in class they can use at home to practice recorder.  It makes practice into a game!  All you need is a computer with internet connection, a microphone, and a recorder.  It's called "Recorder Master" and is available at Joytunes.com You can click the "play for free" button here and play on the website.  You can play as a guest without making an account, but your progress is not saved.  There is also an app version of the game for the iPad, however, it does cost $1.99. 

Here are some pictures of 4th graders putting their recorders together for the very first time.  It was sort of like Christmas morning in the music room :)

What Are You Going to Do with All that Space??

I get asked this question frequently when people walk into my room for the first time.  My response is usually we are going to move!!  A big part of the Orff-Schulwerk Method is movement.  Movement can be anything from square dances to abstract interpretations of a piece of music to using our body to "feel" musical concepts.  In all grades this week we are doing a bit of steady beat review.  Steady beat is a foundational concept for music and movement.  It's the pulse of the music; sort of like a heartbeat.  

In 4th grade, we played a name game in which students kept the steady beat with tennis balls. They had to bounce the ball to the half note beat the whole entire time we played the game. Using the ball helped us to feel the beat and respond to it with our bodies in a new way.  And, for the most part, the tennis balls didn't get loose in the room!  

Don't you just love all that concentration??

Sing to the LORD a new song!

The exuberance of Psalm 96:1 is captured by the brand new 5th Grade Chorus.  Mrs. Ashley Childers (the Middle School and High School Chorus Teacher) and I team teach this group.  One of their responsibilities is to lead chapel.  The 5th graders in chorus will be speaking, reading, praying, and leading worship in just a few short weeks.  It was so awesome to see these kids singing praises to the Lord today, I just had to video a little of it.  Here they are, singing the end of a popular FPD chapel favorite, "Never Give Up!"  I am so excited to see how the Lord uses this team this year.  Prayer for the 5th Grade Chorus is always welcome! :)

Thank You!!

Mrs. Brittain's 3rd grade class helped me put together a special "thank you" video postcard for all the wonderful friends of FPD that helped make our new music room possible!  Thanks to all of you who support music and the arts at our school!  

Welcome to a New Year in the Viking Music Room

It is so wonderful to come back to school and see all the children after a fantastic summer!  I also had the opportunity to complete the final level of my Orff Schulwerk training.  I am now a certified Orff Schulwerk teacher.  I'm excited to share what I learned with the kids!

Three summers, two weeks each summer, and lots of learning!

We are starting off the year with names games and steady beat activities.  However, the biggest news is the music room itself.  We have official "moved in" to our brand new space in the Fine Arts Building addition.  The room will also be used as a rehearsal room for other performing arts, as it is the same size as the stage.  At 2,200 square feet organizing the room was no small feat!  Here are some before and after pictures of our new space.  You are all invited to come sing, dance, play, and create with us in the Viking Music Room!

The before...

More chaos...

The very first class to have music in the new room!

A view of one half of the clean, organized room.  There is a large rug on order that will bring lots more fun color!