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Kindergarten: Fairies and Giants

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Kindergarten Parents, I really enjoyed our informances the other week. In it, you saw you children sing, move with music, play, and read music. I just wanted to let you know that just because the performance is over, the learning hasn't stopped. This rotation we've been moving with the music "Fairies and Giants" by Edward Elgar. We listened to the music, discussed the different sections, and moved as fairies and giants. We moved just our hands, then our bodies as either dancing as a fairy or stomping as a giant, and then we did both creatures and added scarves for the fairies. Moving to music with dramatic contrast is a great activity to incorporate into the time you spend with your children. The best part, you can use whatever music you like as long as: 1. It only has 2 - 3 different sections (most pop songs have 3: ABABCB) 2. The sections are very different, Kindergarteners are not known for subtlety. 3. The sections are not too long, 1 minute maximum. H...
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Playing with Melodies

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This rotation in 4th and 5th grade we explored major and minor modes and heard the Star Spangled Banner in both Major (original) and minor. Musicians have always taken familiar melodies and changed them to create something new, protest, experiment, or as a compliment. Here are some versions of the Star Spangled Banner. Why do you think the artist chose this piece to perform and create a variation? Here is Mozart's Variations on "ah vous dirai-je maman" (Twinkle Twinkle): If you want to hear a couple other songs moved from major to minor, here you go. I tried to pick a couple songs that you might already know. In addition to putting the songs in a minor key, he changes instruments and tempo (speed) too. This is done to fit the mood of the minor key. Make sure to listen to the originals, so you can compare.
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E-Learning Rotation 3

Folk Song Share Grades K-5 Background Many of the songs we sing in class are Folk Songs.  Folk Songs are:  1. Songs of regular people, not the nobility, the rich and powerful, or the famous 2. Passed down through oral tradition (taught by singing together) 3. use acoustic instruments or no instruments at all. 4. No clear original composer or song writer Some examples are: Scarborough Fair, Sakura, Auld Lang Syne (the New Year's song), Arirang, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Kalinka, Yankee Doodle. Not only are folk songs  used in the music classroom, great composers often took folk songs they heard and put them in their music. If you want to explore how composers use folk songs, check out this story from Classics for Kids . Assignment Murdock has a diverse community with cultures from around the world represented. I thought it would be neat to make a collection of folk songs that represent our school. This song can be done with your siblings ...
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