Joyful Noise Music

Week of February 6th, 2012

2012-02-07T10:44:00.000-08:00

We had a great start to February, a month filled with African American history, poets, jazz, and African/Afrocuban music!

Today all of our classes recited the Langston Hughes poem, "Bouquet" (more info below) and also did some fun movement songs (like "Washing Machine" and "Walking Feet" ) with the conga drum! Infants and toddlers also used puppets today as I sang "Willoughby Walloughby" with an elephant, "Bunny Foo Foo" with a rabbit, and "Butterfly, Butterfly" with a butterfly prop.

Older children also had a blast "trapping" a pretend fox with our musical game, "A Hunting We Will Go".

Check out the videos below the pictures to hear and see more! Thanks for stopping by--and please check out the bulletin in the hallway and my February Music Calendar.

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Bouquet

Gather quickly (grabbing air)

Out of darkness (swimming motion)

All the songs you know (hug self)

And throw them at the sun (fling arms upwards)

Before they melt

Like snow (Melt to the ground)

-Langston Hughes

Miss Chantal on how the poem is being used in class:

The Three's Class: "A-Hunting We Will Go"...

The Infants: "Washing Machine Song"

Week of January 30th, 2011

2012-01-31T09:17:00.000-08:00

Due to a lack of pop bottles recieved for our "garden trumpets", we postponed our scheduled music craft until another time when more children can participate!

Instead, today we had a blast playing "Musical Hoops" in the fellowship hall! The object of the game was to run around like crazy during the music, and hop into a hoop with another friend while it stopped!

Also, we'd like to thank Mr. Rob for taking time out of his schedule to stop by and show us how the pipe organ works. The kids absolutely loved this. Check out the video montage below for some great pics and a sample of Mr. Rob playing "Fugue in D Minor"!

Week of January 23rd, 2012

2012-01-24T10:36:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Chinese New Year, that is!
Did you know that yesterday, January 23rd, was the Chinese New Year? It is the Year of the Dragon this year. We had tons of fun viewing some celebration videos, learning facts about China and also having a traditional "lion's dance" in music class!

I showed the children pictures of the parade, traditional female dress and head dress, dragons, lion costumes, and the instrument "Gong". We also discussed the difference in American and Chinese culture when it comes to dragons. In western civilazations (American, Celtic, etc.) dragons are often viewed as evil, or representing one's own "demons". However, in eastern culture, specifically China, the dragon is viewed as good luck, or representing other positive qualities.

Can you guess which of our friends are behind the lion masks?

My lion mask was the western image of a lion, but the true lion costume is a beautiful and impressive interpretation that resembles the same style as many Chinese dragons. Check out the Youtube videos at the bottom of the blog to see what the children watched today in class!

We played rhythm instruments during our very own "lion dance" and made a simple beat very similiar to the traditional one using castanets and tambourines. The rhythm was "tah-tah-tucka-tah" or quarter, quarter, two eights, quarter. Look for the video that shows how well the four year olds played this rhythm!

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HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR FROM JOYFUL NOISE!

Check out our very own lion dance!

TRADITIONAL LION DANCE
This is the video we watched in class on Tuesday. See how these two men work together in the lion costume to perform some pretty amazing moves!

Week of January 16th, 2012

2012-01-20T09:49:00.000-08:00

Do you love the bass guitar? So did our students today! Infants all the way through school agers enjoyed hearing about the bass, exploring its long body style and thick metal strings, and listening to its low and melodious vibrations. Here are the highlights of what we learned and fun things we did:

The bass guitar has four strings
The electric bass is amplified by plugging it into an amplified speaker
Bass vibrations are very strong, low and slow. I demonstrated this to the children by having them place their hand (shown below in the two's room) on the neck of the guitar while I played it. They felt the strong vibrations go through their hand and into their arms!
I demonstrated three different styles of playing bass for the children: picking, playing with fingers, and slap bass
We touched the bass and explored the thick strings, comparing them to the classical acoustic guitar.

We also had a blast with the parachute below. Check out the fun videos and be sure NOT to miss the adorable two year olds singing one of their favorites, "Jesus Loves Me" with sign language.

Have a beautiful weekend and stay safe and warm!

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Week of January 9th, 2012

2012-01-10T10:24:00.000-08:00

What fun we had with tambourines, fingerpuppets and half note rhythms today! The infants and toddlers enjoyed both fun animal fingerplays and using tambourines to play rhythms and songs.

Check out the video below for a fun fingerplay song you can sing to your infant!

"Choo Choo"

The children colored a "half note dog" after reviewing the differences between the quarter note and half note!

QUARTER NOTE: "Tah" -- 1 beat - - has a head and tail and is ALL colored in :

HALF NOTE: "Toooo" -- 2 beats - - has a head and a tail and is NOT colored in:

This is the silly way I have the kids "rest" their tambourines to be quiet--we wear it as a hat!!!

MORE FUN VIDEOS FROM CLASS:

See how well the twos did with a combined quarter and half note rhythm on tambourines!

The threes also did a great job distinguishing quarter notes from halves:

The four year olds demonstrate "Mary Had a Little Lamb" with half notes. Notice in the sheet music below how the words "lamb" and "snow" are denoted by a half note! We used our tambourines on these word with a "shake" for the half note value.

Week of January 2nd

2012-01-03T06:15:00.000-08:00

Today we rediscovered the symbol and properties of quarter notes (they are black, colored in all the way, have heads and tails, and are represented by one beat and saying "tah"). It was a lot of fun to work the rhythms with silly chants, physical activities and songs using our rhythms sticks!

From infants to school agers, everyone had fun using the rhythm sticks today! Check out the video and pictures below and see some of the fun things we did!

PS-- do you need a refresher course on quarter rhythms? Check out this link!
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Week of December 26th, 2011

2011-12-29T11:04:00.000-08:00

All about the ballet!

The children really enjoyed learning about the ballet today and listening to some classical Tchaikovsky pieces from the Nutcracker Suite! Boys and girls alike were fascinated to watch a few clips from the Royal Opera Ballet "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" and the Russian company Kirov performing another group scene in the Nutcracker Ballet. We also enjoyed trying a little French vocabulary (being that the first ballet was in France) and learned some ballet moves like plié, grand-plié and piroutte!

Check out the video of the schoolagers creating their own ballet company to "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" and also the video we watched in class today! Twos through School Agers also had a coloring page with ballet facts to take home. Ask your child about what they saw!

Also, my apologies for the blog and music class being late. Unfortunately I was ill last Tuesday! Hope everyone had a lovely holiday!

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Week of December 19th, 2011

2011-12-20T09:59:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Jesus!

We had a fun music class today that started with a few birthday tunes dedicated to Jesus! The children sang the traditional birthday song and we also watched an adorable video of the four's class singing "Happy Birthday Jesus" with sign language.
Unfortunately, Youtube wouldn't allow the uploading of the video due to a CMG copyright law. I will try to find a better way to share the video with parents!

A fun highlight of music class was the baby dolls that we used to sing songs with. We talked about Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus in swaddling clothes. I used a variation of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star that we sang while rocking our babies:

TWINKLE TWINKLE NORTHERN STAR

Twinkle Twinkle Northern Star
How I wonder what you are
Shining in the sky so bright
Baby Jesus born tonight!
Twinkle Twinkle Northern Star
How I wonder what you are

We also did all of the rocking, swaying, peekaboo and bouncing songs that I typically do with the babies. The kids really enjoyed pretending to be moms and dads with their babies!

Week of December 12th, 2011

2011-12-13T09:19:00.000-08:00

Today was a fun day as we explored Christmas carols and also met a very famous gentleman who is one of my very favorite trumpet players...Dizzy Gillespie! Of course we were only able to become acquainted through this awesome Youtube Video:

I asked the children if they thought that growing a beard would make me a better flautist--they all said yes! Hahah! Of course I'm referring to the incredible bearded gentleman who opens up the jazz orchestra shown above.

The children were very entertained by the the massive amount of air that Dizzy could hold in his cheeks! We all tried (pictures below) to do the same! We discussed a little about Dizzy--he was born in South Carolina, and got his nickname from silly antics on stage. The trumpet he is playing (like other trumpets) has many parts, but we highlighted the mouth piece, the bell, and the valves (what we press to make the notes). The trumpet has three valves.

Your 2 years + child took home a coloring sheet with facts on it today about Dizzy!

We also had fun using jingle bells today. The four year old and school age class practiced a "reindeer crescendo". We began shaking the bells at a "piano"-or soft--volume. Then, we performed a crescendo, gradually increasing to a "forte"--or loud--volume. I likened this to the reindeer being far away, approaching, and then finally, jingling loudly on the roof! See this in the video below!

Here's a little version of "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" from today's class to get you into the Christmas spirit! :)

Week of December 5th, 2011

2011-12-06T09:23:00.001-08:00

"I Saw Three Ships"

Today we learned the traditional English carol, "I Saw Three Ships". From what I have read, there are questions over what the meaning of this carol is. Read a little about the history of "I Saw Three Ships" here!

Here are the words and movements we did today with the song:

I Saw Three Ships

I saw three ships come sailing in (sailing/wave motion with hands)
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And what was in those ships all three, (shrug shoulders)
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day?
And what was in those ships all three,
On Christmas Day in the morning?

The Virgin Mary and Christ were there (count two people on fingers),
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
The Virgin Mary and Christ were there,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

O they sailed into Bethlehem (sailing motion),
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the bells on earth shall ring (ringing handbells),
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing (make halo above head),
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

Then let us all rejoice again (clap hands),
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
Then let us all rejoice again,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

Older children did a writing/thinking/drawing extension with a worksheet that said:

"I saw three ____________ on Christmas Day". The kids filled in the blank and drew a picture of three items they saw. We got plenty of unique answers from snowflakes to planets!

It's so wonderful to see the kids enthusiasm for music class each week. Check out this adorable reaction to the music cart rolling into the gym today:

Week of November 28th, 2011

2011-11-29T10:47:00.001-08:00

Measuring Up!!!

We had so much fun today measuring instruments and height in music class! Before using "Boom Whackers", "Tap-a-tunes" and xylophones, we measured both younger students and the length of instruments to determine their pitch!

The children repeated the mantra "longer is lower" and "shorter is higher", and I demonstrated this by playing several instruments and comparing their length and pitch.

The first of these instruments was the slidewhistle. I showed children the slidewhistle with the slider all the way inside the instrument,which measured at nine inches, and then with it all the way pulled out, which measured around 16. The shorter the slide whistle was, the higher the pitch! The longer it was, the lower!

We also sang a favorite tune while tapping our boomwhackers that requires the children to "rest", or wait to play, on a particular beat.

You can practice this song at home to encourage your child's waiting, listening and rhythm skills!

Though it is sung to an original tune, you could even try it as a chant!

WHO'S THAT TAPPING AT MY WINDOW?

Who's that tapping at my window? (Tap-tap)

Who's that tapping at my door? (Tap-tap)

Who's that tapping on the ceiling? (Tap-tap)

Who's that tapping on the floor? (Tap-tap)

Thanks for reading the blog and have a fantastic Tuesday!

Please note that December's music calendar is now available for viewing and download at the website in it's usual location at: http://www.joyfulnoisekids.com/pdfs/musiccalendar.pdf

Also, I'd like to apologize for a video that I sent last week of the JN Four's class performing at the community center. The video accidentally had no sound and I'm in the process of correcting that right now. I will send a new link when it is finished! Thanks!

Miss Chantal

Week of November 22nd, 2011

2011-11-22T12:36:00.000-08:00

Over the River and Through the Woods!

We enjoyed singing songs about thankfulness and Thanksgiving today!

An old favorite is "Over the River and Through the Woods"! I decided to add a new twist today with a little recall and art project.

First I showed the children a youtube video of the song with illustrated depictions and sign language as well. Older children learned the sign for "river" and "horse". Mrs. Grace helped us pick those motions out among others with her ASL expertise.

Here is the video we watched:

After we listened to the song several times, I asked the children to relay back to me what the horse did first before arriving at Grandma's house. We put all of the pieces together for directions and then I took the kids into the movie room where tables and large paper were set up. Together, we made "maps" to follow. The kids drew bridges, rivers, woods, hills with snow and finally Grandma's house.

If you get a chance, see the adorable drawings on display in the rec room! They really enjoyed working in groups together!

Younger children really enjoyed playing the doughnut game, a fun color and counting singing game with laminated doughnuts. I can't seem to find a clip of this song with the tune online but it is alot of fun and the children always enjoy the songs where they get to hold something tangible (and everyone loves donuts)!

Week of November 14th, 2011

2011-11-16T11:13:00.000-08:00

A BELL CHOIR PRESENTATION

It was a festive day in music class today as we explored a short video I made for the students after visiting a First Presbyterian Youth Bell Choir practice!

The kids enjoyed watching and listening to the hand chimes and we also had a blast exploring different types of hand bells (like desk bells and jingle bells) at the table.

We also did a little writing and graphing today in class. Each child received a square of paper with three pictures on it: one hand chime, one desk bell, and one jingle bell. The instructions were to circle your favorite bell, though some of our students circled all three because they couldn't choose between their favorite. I don't blame them! I love the sounds of all three bells, too. :) The overall favorite on our graph were deskbells, beating out the other two varieties by about 10 votes.

Please check out the video below the pictures from class, or view as a family later to start a great conversation about music and the holidays. I filmed it right upstairs in the First Presbyterian Sanctuary last week, and I think you'll enjoy hearing the lovely hand chimes. The youth choir is doing such a nice job with Christmas tunes already!

COMING SOON: Check for news on a "Year In Music Class" Dvd fundraiser I will be doing as we approach December. It would make a great stocking stuffer for your little Joyful Noiser and it will include the entire year's video clips from music class. We will be selling them for a very reasonable price to raise money for the music program and new instruments! Our full sets of instruments are rather affordable. Last year, with two generous donations we were able to purchase two full sets of instruments (enough for twenty or more children) for only around $80!

As always, thanks for stopping by!

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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN YOUTH BELL CHOIR

Week of November 7th, 2011

2011-11-08T09:50:00.001-08:00

Sound waves: you can hear them, but you can't see them, right? Not today!

It was an interesting, educational and scientific music class as we explored vibrations and sound waves!

Vibration is one of those "magical music words" that we talk about often in music class. Your child may even be able to tell you what produces sounds in instruments and other things by simply asking them what "magic music word" you are looking for. Often the students will shout out right away, "VIBRATIONS!"

Today I demonstrated that, though you can't always see vibrations and sound waves, you can hear them and often feel them. There were many giggles as we experimented with shouting behind a friends back to see if they felt the sound when it was near them. I also played the drum kit in Fellowship Hall and while the beat was going, the children lined up and walked by to see if they could "feel" the bass drum and other drums being played. They all confirmed that yes, they did feel the sound waves hitting them, and there was a lot of dancing and finger snapping going on! :)

The next experiment was in the dark. Using a can with a balloon on the end of it, I had attached a small hand mirror which would then move when sound vibrated the can. To see this visually, I shined a flashlight on the mirror while doing this, and the light oscillated back and forth like a sound wave. We tried this experiment with the guitar as well. The kids really enjoyed seeing the light move.

Finally, we got to see a sound wave up close and in person with the fantastic modern technology of computers. Using my recording program, we were able to simultaneously view and experiment with sound waves and volume. (The picture above is a snapshot of a real soundwave we recorded today.) Naturally, the kids were absolutely elated to both use the microphone and hear their recorded voices played back to them!

Listen to the following audio file below and, as you listen, follow the visual sound wave I've posted next to it, which is the actual graphic representation of the wave. See if your child can predict when the sound is coming and going. It's so interesting to see this right before your eyes!

"SOUNDWAVES" mp3 file (click to play)

RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY with the Toddler Class

This morning, as I was walking in with one of our families, one of my students was singing "Rain, rain, go away!". It was steadily drizzling outside and Dad joked, "Gee--who taught them to do all of this singing?" I laughed and I was reminded of those teachable moments, when the weather and other events in our lives create perfect opportunities for fun games and songs with children. In the toddler class this morning, I decided to improvise a fun version of this song where we interjected the name of each friend. Maybe you can sing this on the way home today if it is still raining on your way home!

"Rain, rain, go away...come again some other day... __________ wants to go outside and play, so rain, rain, go away!"

WASHING MACHINE CHANT with the Infant Class

We're always looking for fun and musical ways to stretch and move our bodies to the music in infant music class. Check out the video below for a quick and easy song you can sing with your child to stimulate motor skills and maybe get a giggle or two, if you're lucky!

"We are clothes in a washing machine

We wiggle and we jiggle until we are clean!

We are clothes in a washing machine

We wiggle and we jiggle until we are clean!

Then mama hangs us out to dry and hangs us on the clothes line high!"

Week of October 31st, 2011

2011-11-01T10:21:00.000-07:00

ALBUQUERQUE THE TURKEY

With Thanksgiving approaching us, we are singing a lot of songs about turkeys and thankfulness!

On November 17th (a Thursday morning) at 10 a.m., we will be performing some songs for our granfriends at the senior center. We are practicing those songs so that our 15 minutes of fame will be as fantastic as possible! I will be filming and posting our performance so that parents can enjoy watching!

We started our day off with a funny fingerplay about turkey sounds, entitled "Ten Little Turkeys". This is a great way to practice counting in a fun and seasonal way with your child! Check out the video below (and sorry that the sound quality isn't the best!):

TEN LITTLE TURKEYS

1 little, 2 little, 3 little turkeys

4 little, 5 little, 6 little turkeys

7 little, 8 little, 9 little turkeys

Ten turkeys making silly sounds!

(Make a funny turkey sound)

The next tune is one we will be singing at the senior center! Today we read and sang the song as a book, and we also extended this song into a literary activity. At the end of the song, because Albuquerque is a pet, the family decides to eat scrambled eggs for Thanksgiving dinner instead. After we sang and read the book, children three years of age or older worked on a small strip of paper that had a square to draw an alternate meal in. They were then encouraged to label their "2nd choice" dinner instead of the pet turkey. :) Younger children were also a part of this brainstorming activity but just in the form of conversation.

When I extend our music lessons this way, I always try to make sure that things are done at an age appropriate level. Therefore, older children may bring new ideas to fruition using pens and paper, while younger children may use manipulatives, conversation or body movements. Ultimately, the goal is to stimulate critical thinking, enjoy the music and ofcourse...HAVE FUN!

ALBUQUERQUE the TURKEY

Albuquerque is my turkey,

And he's feathered and he's fine.

And he wobbles, and he gobbles,

And I’m awfully glad he’s mine!

He's the best pet that you could ever get,

Better than a dog or cat!

Albuquerque, he's my turkey,

And I'm awfully glad of that!

Albuquerque, he's my turkey,

He's so cozy in his bed,

Because for our Thanksgiving dinner,

We had scrambled eggs instead!

Week of October 24th, 2011

2011-10-25T08:48:00.000-07:00

Everybody quiet down....it's "piano" time!

Not the instrument, but the musical dynamic marking! We

revisit this music symbol quite a few times throughout the year and learn how to apply it to our music to make a song or element more quiet.

Today we used an old classic hymn, "Whisper a Prayer", as practice in how to sing a song very softly with the "piano" marking. We then went on to sing other songs using the contrast between soft and loud.

When we were all done, children tried identifying the piano symbol amongst the forte symbol on a worksheet. (They circled only the "P"s and not the "F"s). The kids did a great job with this and we also enjoyed listening to a beautiful jazz song by one of my favorite artists on trumpet, Miles Davis.

Please enjoy the famous tune below "My Funny Valentine" and ask your child about listening to this wonderful song in music class today. Ask them about the elements they hear: soft playing (piano), trumpet, piano (the instrument), drums and upright bass!

Also listen to this sound file of the two's class practicing the singing of dynamics using "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star":

Piano Vs. Forte

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UPDATE ON GUITAR ASSEMBLY!
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The kids had such a blast watching our guest guitarist, Joe Sturgill from Four Finger Five, play guitar and talk about effects, amplification, and parts of the electric guitar. We played fun movement games, got to ask a few questions, and even had an electric guitar coloring sheet.

Thanks so much to Joe for taking time out of his busy schedule to come and visit us! Pictures below!

Week of October 17th, 2011

2011-10-18T11:49:00.000-07:00

Today in music class we began with some fun warmups! Check out the video below for “Washing Machine” , a fun chant with twisting movements and stretches! Also see the video below for “Row Row Row your boat”. Partner songs not only encourage cooperative play but the kids have an absolute blast working with a friend. You'll also find a super cute rhyming tickle game to play with your baby, and highlights from our "Jack and Jill" bird rhyme!

Thanks for stopping by the blog!

WASHING MACHINE

(Watch for video)

We are clothes in a washing machine

We wiggle and we jiggle, until we are clean!

We are clothes in a washing machine

We wiggle and we jiggle, until we are clean!

Then mama hangs us out to dry, and hangs us on the clothes line, high!

Willoughby Walloughby

Willougby Walloughby W ______(plus child's name: for example, Mary becomes "Wary")

An elephant tickled ________ (child's name)

ROW YOUR BOAT WITH PARTNERS

TWO BIRDS: Jack and Jill

Two little birdies sitting on a hill

One named Jack

One named Jill

Fly away Jack, fly away Jill

Come back Jack, come back Jill!

You can use your hands for this poem! Just pantomime an open and closing with your hands!

Week of October 11th, 2011

2011-10-11T10:19:00.000-07:00

JUMP ROPE FUN!

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Check out the video below for some fun highlights (and lyrics for chants)! Our music class today was centered around jump rope games, songs and chants! We chanted some of the rhymes below, played the "snake" game with the rope and even did the limbo. It was a blast and great exercise. Somehow I remember that jumproping didn't use to "hurt" when I was a kid...but I feel the burn now! The kids got a real kick watching a grown up "jump in" and do some jump rope tricks. Brought me back to my childhood. Anyone else a big double dutch fan? :)

CANDY CANDY CHANT

Candy Candy in the dish

How many peices do you wish?

1, 2,3...(count number of jumps)

COFFEE AND TEA

I love coffee, I love tea

I want (child's name) to jump in with me!

Week of October 3rd, 2011

2011-10-04T12:07:00.000-07:00

Week of October 3rd, 2011

Hello everyone! My apologies for the music blog being one day late today. There were many pictures and video to sort through from yesterday and I found myself getting a day behind!

Our day started with a fun adventure! I recently purchased a new classroom guitar secondhand and shared with the children how to restring a guitar.

They were fascinated by the concept of metal strings versus nylon, and I showed them how to properly restring and tune the guitar in the first morning class of the day, the four year old class.

We started our morning off with a new hello song, as well! Each year I take a new twist on singing hello with the children for class. I like to take a popular song and rework it for fun! Last year, I re-wrote a tune based on the classic rock song "Louie Louie". This year, I decided to rework the Beach Boy's classic "Good Vibrations".

Here are the words to our new hello song, complete with actions. Watch the video below to follow along!

HELLO SONG FOR MUSIC

(To the tune of Good Vibrations by the Beach Boys)

I'm picking up good vibrations (pounding the ground)

And I'm giving you an invitation

Are you ready for a music vacation? (Tapping thighs/crossing arms over chest)

To sing and dance with jubilation?

Lalalalala Lalala (cup hands around mouth)

Lalalalala Lalala

Oooh, oooh (tapping ground "piano", or quietly)

Oooh, oooh!

We also had a blast playing the "Doggie Bone" game today in music. The game is played by one child pretending to be a sleeping dog who has their dog bone stolen. The person who steals the bone hides it, and then the child pretending to be the dog tries to guess who is hiding the bone while the class sings this song:

Doggie Doggie, where's your

bone? Someone stole it from your home! Who stole the bone?

Last but not least, the infants really enjoyed one of our new music and movement songs that is easy for moms and dads to try at home!

The song is called "Windmill". Please watch the video below for lyrics, tune, and how to move your baby while you sing! It is very simple but alot of fun.

As always, thanks for stopping by the blog. See you next week!

Week of September 26th, 2011

2011-09-27T12:16:00.001-07:00

Songs of the Season

There's no doubt that fall is here, with the breezy days and turning leaves that have been appearing in Michigan the past few weeks!

We are celebrating this change in music class with songs about fall, leaves turning, scarecrows and autumn breezes.

Check out the lyrics and videos below!

SCARECROW MOVEMENT CHANT

Scarecrow, Scarecrow turn around

Scarecrow, Scarecrow jump up and down!

Scarecrow, Scarecrow arms up high!

Scarecrow, Scarecrow wink your eye.

Scarecrow, Scarecrow bend your knee

Scarecrow, Scarecrow sway in the breeze

Scarecrow, Scarecrow climb into bed

Scarecrow, Scarecrow rest your head!

Sleep little Leaves

Sleep little leaves for the Autumn is calling you

Cold blows the breezes and dark is the sun

Sleep little leaves for the Autumn has come at last

Sleep little leaves for the Autumn has come

The kids love to sing this song about leaves falling to the ground. We fall ever so slowly, pretending to be turning leaves drifting from the tree. Sometimes a friend will play the role of "Autumn", tapping friends individually on the head to signal them to start to fall!

Week of September 19th, 2011

2011-09-20T09:12:00.000-07:00

DIDGERIDOO FUN!

Students were totally fascinated today with this instrument native to Australia! We enjoyed touching, hearing and learning about the didgeridoo. Our friends learned these interesting facts about this instrument, which is believed to possibly be one of the oldest known to man!

The didgeridoo was originally made from Eucalyptus branches that were hollowed by termites and used by the Aborigines, a native people indigenous to Australia. They were often painted and used in ceremonies and for other musical purposes. Traditionally, men were the only ones to use the didgeridoo.

Many masters of the didgeridoo use "circular breathing", a technique that allows a constant stream of air to flow through the instrument as the player breathes through their nose, fills their abdomen, and releases through the mouth.

It isn't so easy playing the didgeridoo! I discovered that today! :) After playing a woodwind for the last 26 years, my mouth wasn't quite prepared for the relaxed "nicker" sound (like a horse making a vibration with it's mouth closed) and my "didgeridooing" sounded more like an elephant! Haha!

Check out this article for more interesting facts on the didgeridoo, and don't forget to watch our

video below along with the awesome Youtube performances I played for the children today. Keep your eyes out for a hallway display where you can see our didgeridoo and read more facts!

Didgeridoo Facts

Week of 9.12.11

2011-09-13T08:13:00.000-07:00

Today in music class we enjoyed learning about the history of castanets and playing different songs with them! I've taken the following excerpt below from "The History of Castanets" at http://www.carmendevicente.com :

"The castanets are a centuries-old, percussion instrument whose earliest recorded history dates to over 1000 B.C. and whose origin is attributed to the Phoenicians, a culture imminently commercial, who thrived in the countries surrounding the basin of the Mediterranean: Greece, Turkey, Italy, and Spain. However, over the course of history, it has been Spain that has conserved and developed their use and as such, the castanets are considered the cultural patrimony of Spain (they are considered the national instrument of the country). Thus, the castanets are usually used with the music that gives a Spanish color and character to that music."

Some of the fun children's songs we used castanets today for were "Walk all around" (which we changed to "click" all around".) This song reinforces basic rhythm and also incorporates a fun "freeze" time where everyone stops and silences their instruments! We also sang "Five little Monkeys" and the alligator was, of course, the castanet! We also did the name game, "I've got Five Little Fingers" and other fun songs.

Check out the videos below from our infant class today, and also the three's room!

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Week of September 5th, 2011

2011-09-07T10:23:00.000-07:00

Welcome back from Labor Day weekend! I hope everyone had a fantastic break!

Every year, we review and learn about basic rhythms. Most of our students that are three years or older are familiar with seeing quarter notes and rests around for music, but it is something we will continually be reviewing. Many activities and refreshers will be based around the music concepts we learn throughout the year: quarter notes, rests, dynamics, styles, etc.

Today we used symbols, worksheets and a song to learn about and refresh on the quarter note and quarter rest symbol. You can find many resources right here on my blog for extender activities at home; simply type "quarter note" in my search bar at the top and tons of entries and resources will pop up!

I wanted to make sure and link this song, which is something I sing with the children regularly to help reinforce quarter notes.

It's simply called "The Quarter Note" song and yes--that is me singing in the recording! =)

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The Quarter Note Song

Week of August 29th, 2011

2011-08-30T08:28:00.000-07:00

PVC PIPE FUN!

Today we enjoyed playing with a homemade instrument that I created from PVC pipe! It is like a cross between a pan flute and a xylophone, but

made with plastic pvc piping. The pipe itself is not great conduit for sound, but rather the air traveling through it makes a sound. Therefore, we played it by "tapping" the ends with the rubber spatula you see, which actually "bumped" air quickly through and out,creating a sound.

The kids had a lot of fun with this and we also refreshed on how length of tube and amount of air

relate to pitch. As a general rule, we know that:

BIGGER/LONGER/MORE AIR: lower pitch

SMALLER/SHORTER/LESS AIR: higher pitch

I also made a pvc flute and demonstrated playing that for the kids. It is so much fun to make instruments! Check out our pictures below, and also the impressive video below from Youtube of a high school student playing pop medleys with his home made PVC pipe instrument!

PARENTS CONNECT:

Check out this neat video of a highschool student playing his PVC pipe instrument!

Week of August 22nd, 2011

2011-08-23T09:26:00.000-07:00

THE CARROT SEED

Today we listened to the audio book, "The Carrot Seed" by Ruth Krauss. For those who may not have heard this classic book, it is a tale of perseverance about a little boy who plants a carrot seed and hopes to see it grow. He takes care of it well and stays faithful despite surrounding doubt.

The audio book version of this story is wonderfully musical, and includes several little songs as well as musical sound effects for story elements, including the flute for watering can, timpanis for steps and many other instruments like guitar.

I used this story not only as a musical and listening activity, but also as a strong example of prediction while reading. Children were asked to predict whether or not the carrot would grow, and reviewed their predictions as the story progressed.

Older school age children made a "Carrot Seed" prediction book where they indicated their prediction and why, and then reviewed their response after hearing the end of the story.

I've included a free MP3 to the audio book that I used today, along with some great literacy extender activities in printable/downloadable pdf format below.

I hope you enjoy! =)

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PARENTS CONNECT

MP3 of "The Carrot Seed" by Ruth Krauss, read by Norman Rose

Wondering and Guessing Activity

The Carrot Seed: Reading extensions from the BookIt Program

More Carrot Seed Extenders

Week of August 15th, 2011

2011-08-17T09:40:00.000-07:00

INFANT THROUGH SCHOOL AGE

Learning about the piano!

We really enjoyed taking a walking field trip to the chapel today, to view and learn about pianos. In the chapel we have an upright piano. Today we learned that there are upright pianos, and grand pianos, and these additional facts:

-Pianos have black and white keys

-Pianos have 88 keys if they are full size

-Pianos are stringed instruments that make sound when a felt hammer strikes the inside.

We got to see this neat process in action by lifting the lid of the piano and taking a look inside while the keys were being pressed. Everyone got a turn to stand on a chair and take a peek!

We also had a fun coloring sheet with some facts and a few pictures of the keys on a piano and an upright piano itself. Feel free to download it below

under "Parents Connect"!

PARENTS CONNECT
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Piano Coloring Sheet

Week of August 8th, 2011

2011-08-09T09:00:00.001-07:00

Infants through School Age

We were so pleased to have Anna Garza visit with her saxophone today! Anna, a local band student and former JN alumni, is our cook Miss Kathy's daughter. We very much enjoyed the selection of saxophone music that she played for us which included some jazz standards like "Pink Panther" and also some childhood favorites like "On Top Of Spaghetti" and "Supercalifragilistic"!

Along with listening to the saxophone and learning about its parts, we also watched this neat Youtube video about how Selmer saxophones are made!

The main ideas we focused on today are:

-Saxophone is a woodwind with a reed

-Sound comes out of the "bell" (the bell shaped sound hole at the bottom

-Saxophones make sound through vibration

-Saxophones are made of metal

Also check out a few of our highlight videos below. Thank you so much for sharing your saxophone and talents with us, Anna! =)

YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE

ON TOP OF SPAGHETTI

Week of August 1st, 2011

2011-08-02T09:27:00.000-07:00

INFANT THROUGH SCHOOL AGE

Learning about harmonies!

Today in music class, we learned all about harmonies!

What is a harmony? Harmonies are defined as the simultaneous combination of notes or pitches, particularly of a pleasing sound or of chord structure.

Today, using a xylophone as a visual, I taught children to use the "skip a bell" method to harmonizing in thirds...that is, to play notes with one skipped note between them. Using our 8-note bell sets here at Joyful Noise, this lends itself to making a third harmony each time. Older children noted the note that was displayed on the xylophone and used that reference to select desk bells to create matching harmonies. Because were selecting pleasing or harmonious tones, we also learned the definition of "dischord".

Here is a free download of a song called "I like the flowers" that I played for children this morning in order to demonstrate what singing harmonies sounded like!

I LIKE THE FLOWERS

Week of July 25th, 2011

2011-07-26T09:06:00.000-07:00

INFANT THROUGH SCHOOL AGE

Today in music class I had an opportunity to share one of my guitars from home, a classical. The kids were very interested by the nylon strings and the different, "mellow" tones that emanated from the guitar verses the different, brighter sound of the standard acoustic with metal strings.

We sang and reenacted the popular tune, "Five Green And Speckled Frogs" and also used "frog and tadpole" rhythm cards to represent quarter notes and eight notes. The kids got such a quick grip on these rhythms when replaced with syllables from a few familiar words! They were clapping rhythm patterns in no time! We used shakers to express the rhythm patterns we made and older kids worked in groups to devise their very own songs. I've attached a website below that offers free instructions and printables for using this kid-friendly and musically educational concept with your kids at home! :)

MOM AND DAD CONNECT

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Frog and Tadpole Rhythm Cards and Directions

Week of July 18th, 2011

2011-07-19T07:30:00.000-07:00

INFANT THROUGH SCHOOL AGE

Today in music class we learned all about the flute: how many pieces assemble it, the head joint, embouchure, keys and pads, air technique, and how it is a member of the woodwind family. I have several flutes but today I brought an open-holed flute to share. We had fun trying different breath techniques, moving to the pace of the flute's music and also creating a paper flute that even had "hole punched" keys! Ask your child about the flute and if they enjoyed listening today! =)

Week of July 11th, 2011

2011-07-12T07:49:00.000-07:00

INFANTS THROUGH SCHOOL AGE

It was a great rhythm exercise today to try and tap to a fun song called "Mango Treats"! We played a game where the children stood in a circle and waited for a turn to "jump in" and "jump out" with their tambourine while the "Mango Treats" song played (check out the free download below!)

The cue to jump in and out was to hear your name called. Older children practiced "resting" with their tambourines to give the person inside the circle a "tambourine solo".

DOWNLOAD: Mango Treats

MANGO TREATS VIDEO

We also played a fun chanting game called "Five little hotdogs". See the video below! I like to use the props of a frying pan and 5 little paper hot dogs when I play...but it is just as fun when you use your fingers. Try singing this simple song with your child for fun and to hone pre-math skills...you can subtract and add hot dogs as you like! Have fun!

FIVE LITTLE HOT DOGS

Also, check out this adorable pirate song we will be singing on July 30th for the annual Coast Guard Kid's Parade! Please remember to bring your child to JN at 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning if you would like to participate in this fun event. We hope to see you there! After the parade, we will be serving juice and cookies in the parking lot!

PIRATE SONG

Week of July 4th, 2011

2011-07-05T09:48:00.000-07:00

What a fun day we had learning all about the violin! Check out the video from our assembly below that highlights what we did today--don't forget to quiz your child to see what they remember!

Thanks again to Miss Kate, who took time out of her work day to come and share her talents and instrument with us!

We learned about:

The parts of the violin
The different sounds of the violin
The vocabulary words: pizzicato (the term for plucking violin strings by hand), spicatto (the coarse bouncing or tapping of the bow on the violin to create short, choppy chords) and glissando (the name of a slur, or glide from one pitch to another).
The nickname for the violin: fiddle!
The material used to make violin bows: horse hair!

Week of June 27th, 2011

2011-06-28T07:50:00.000-07:00

INFANT THROUGH SCHOOL AGE

It was alot of fun moving our bodies this morning in accordance with the sounds from the slide whistle! We tried moving our arms up and down as the sliding tones of the whistle moved up and down, and also standing and sitting! There were alot of giggles as the slide whistle went faster and faster. It was great exercise and also a great way to recognize high and low pitches!

Infants, Toddlers and Twos also had a blast with a fun hankerchief peek-a-boo song. I've included the lyrics and movements below so that you can try it at home! The song does have a tune but would be just as fun as a chant!

PEEK-A-BOO SONG
Cover child's head with hankerchief or scarf

(Child's name), (Child's name)
Likes to hide from you!

Cover up (child's name)
'Til (mommy, daddy, teacher) says BOO!

Uncover child's head when you say "boo!"

MOM AND DAD CONNECT

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Here's another fun peek-a-boo song we like to sing in music class from Kididdles, with lyrics and tune!

Do You Believe In Magic?

2011-06-21T10:15:00.000-07:00

Week of June 20th, 2011

2011-06-21T08:43:00.000-07:00

INFANT THROUGH SCHOOL AGE

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We had such a fun time playing a game today called "Find the Ring". The idea was to take a ring and hide it in a friends hand, while everyone's eyes were closed. We had a "Find the Ring" song that we sang while our friends were choosing the next person to hide the ring! It was a lot of fun guessing who might be hiding the ring. This would be a fun game to play with at least 3-4 family members!

Infants and Toddlers used shakers today and sang songs with the piano. We had a blast!

Week of June 13th, 2011

2011-06-14T09:01:00.000-07:00

INFANT THROUGH SCHOOL AGE

Does anyone remember "hand jiving"? :) We had a great time snapping, clapping and tapping with partners. It was tricky to remember the combination of movements! We also did fingerplays and chants with our hands, and explored melodies on the keyboard while singing a traditional Moroccan chant, "A-Ram-Sam-Sam".

The words are just nonsense, and have no English translation!

TAKEN FROM WIKIPEDIA:

"A Ram Sam Sam" is a popular children's song and game which originated in Morocco.

The song's lyrics are usually:

A ram sam sam,
a ram sam sam
Guli guli guli guli guli ram sam sam
A ram sam sam,
a ram sam sam
Guli guli guli guli guli ram sam sam
A ra-vi, a ra-vi Guli guli guli guli guli ram sam sam
A ra-vi, a ra-vi Guli guli guli guli guli ram sam sam

The game is played by a group of children. The song is sung by the group leader and the participants should perform several actions during certain lyrics, usually:

A ram sam sam - pound fists, right over left, then left over right.
Guli guli - pull hands apart gesturing as if something were gooey
A ra-vi - spin index fingers on either side of the head (like someone is crazy), ending with the fingers pointed up.

Ask your child if they can recall some of the hand jive movements. A fun extension that would improve memory, cognition and also be a great fine and large motor exercise might be to try and make your own pattern for your child to follow!

Week of June 6th, 2011

2011-06-07T09:27:00.000-07:00

INFANT THROUGH SCHOOL AGE

Before we began learning about armadillos today, we played a really fun game called "The Present Giving Game". It was so much fun and also a wonderful critical thinking exercise. It began with me pretending to give a child an imaginary gift. I would then pantomime giving a child a ring, a candy, or maybe even a toy. The kids would then guess what the gift was, and whomever was the last to receive the gift took the next turn to choose a friend to be the recipient of their imaginary gift. The kids had a total blast with this and were so excited to both give and recieve the gifts! Here is a fun clip from the school age room today, to give you the basic idea:

THE GIFT GIVING GAME

The infants enjoyed using shakers today!

We learned so many fun facts about the armadillo today, including:

Anteaters are related to sloths and anteaters!
Their bodies are designed for digging.
They like to eat eggs, small birds, and anything they can find in the way of insects, like grubs and ants.
The Armadillo is the state mammal of Texas!
The name comes from the Spanish word for “little armored one”.
Armadillos are very good swimmers, but can’t see very well at all!

The song we learned today was a fun, latin inspired song called "The Armadillo Dance". We used the cues from the music to rest, and "Shake-shake-shake" in time. We also did a motion pretending to dig. This worked very well with our shakers and the kids had a great time.

Download the "Armadillo Dance" mp3 here!

MOM AND DAD CONNECT

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More fun facts about the armadillo here, at TheJungleStore.com

Week of May 30th, 2011

2011-05-31T09:40:00.000-07:00

INFANT THROUGH SCHOOL AGE

We had a ton of fun with tambourines today! The kids always enjoy reviewing quarter notes and rests, and we practiced playing and resting on the beat. We also sang a few fun songs with the tambourines, like "Tap All Around" (a variation of "Walk All Around") and also "Riding On My Little Pony" (pictured below). The school agers also had a great time making and notating their own tambourine rhythms.

We also learned a few fun new cheers today. I often do "cheers" in class as a way of centering the class for focus and also boosting self-esteem! They are fun sayings coupled with actions that the children really enjoy. The two new shownlisted are "I'm good stuff" and "The Fantastic Cheer"

YOU'RE GOOD STUFF

Pat your own self on the back and say, "I'm good stuff!"

Now gently pat your neighbor on the back and say,

"You're good stuff, too!"

THE FANTASTIC CHEER

Pretend to squirt your spray bottle, and wipe it off (Remember "Fantastic" cleaning solution?)

Do this three times. Then say:

"Fantastic!"

Week of May 23rd, 2011

2011-05-24T11:29:00.001-07:00

INFANT THROUGH SCHOOL AGE

It was so much fun learning about the rich culture of Puerto Rico today in music class. We discussed a little of the history, land features, location and musical heritage.

We looked at pictures and learned about the Puerto Rican flag and tried recreating it on a flag coloring sheet. We also sang a couple of traditional Puerto Rican folk songs. I've included the lyrics below, along with a great interactive website with audio if anyone would like to learn more Puerto
Rican songs!

We also learned alot of Spanish along the way!

For example:

nosotros cantamos: : we sing!

la clase de música: music class

cantar y bailar: dance and sing

It was muy divertido--lots of fun! =)

PIN PON EXCERPT

Pin Pon era un muñeco muy guapo de cartón.

Se lava la carita con agua y con jabón!

(Pin Pon was a handsome doll made of cardboard. He washed his face with water and soap).

The basic movement is to pretend you are washing your face with this small excerpt!

LISTEN TO PIN PON IN MUSIC CLASS TODAY

PON, PON, PON

Pon, Pon, Pon

El dedito in el pilón!

(Put, put, put your little finger in the pestle!)

This song is often sung to young children and infants and has a basic movement of putting one finger into the palm of the opposing hand, as if you are grinding a mortle and pestle with your palm and little finger.

MOM AND DAD CONNECT

Songs from Puerto Rico

Week of May 17th, 2011

2011-05-17T09:36:00.000-07:00

INFANT THROUGH SCHOOL AGE

Today in music we learned an old gospel bible song about David

and Goliath! We enjoyed reading the story of David from our children's bible, "The Beginner's Bible". The kids learned all about Goliath and King Saul, and David the shepard volunteering to fight Goliath. We also learned about

shepards, and harps! I brough zithers and psaltries to class and we passed them around

while discussing how David might have played his harp. This song (posted above) lent itself well to movement, so I created some song movements based on a rebus chart. Rebus, meaning actions depicted by picture, was a handy way for us to remember what movements to perform throughout the song. Schoolagers took this one step further and created their own rebus charts for familiar songs. We had fun guessing which songs were represented with the rebus pictures they had made. Please enjoy watching the video below with "Little David, Play on Your Harp" taken in the two's room this morning. I've also attached a few pictures, including the rebus chart for movement. Thanks for joining us on the music blog and we'll see you next week!

MOM AND DAD CONNECT

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I found this fun folky blues version of "Little David" by an artist name Chris Bryant. Enjoy!

Week of May 9th, 2011

2011-05-10T09:24:00.000-07:00

INFANT THROUGH SCHOOL AGE

Today we learned all about crescendos (a musical dynamic term that tells us to increase the volume of a piece of music, for example, piano to forte) and descrescendos (decreasing the volume).

I've put a short piece of music below to illustrate how a crescendo is used:

To utilize the crescendo, we sang a song today called "Chicka Hanka"!

After playing and singing the initial melody to the left on xylophone, I had students follow with the rhythm sticks and this chant, meant to emulate the sound of an impending train:

"CHICKA-HANKA, CHICKA-HANKA"

We began "piano" and ended "forte". Then we learned that this technique is referred to as a "crescendo", and when done in a backward order, "decrescendo".

They did a great job with controlling the rhythm stick clicks to illustrate the train coming and going in the distance. Check out the mp3 of our three year old class doing just that today!

CHICKA HANKA WITH JOYFUL NOISE FOURS

The school agers also performed Chicka Hanka and worked with their own crescendo compositions, marking them down on staff paper and experimenting with drawing the crescendo and decrescendo symbols.

MOM AND DAD CONNECT

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Check out this neat link on the crescendo!

Also, an extension activity for "Chicka Hanka"

Week of May 2, 2011

2011-05-03T10:27:00.000-07:00

INFANT THROUGH SCHOOL AGE

Hey everyone! Sorry for the missing blog last week! Due to a professional development meeting, music was moved to Friday. We had a blast playing with the parachute outside and filming a SUPER COOL music video to the popular song "Dynamite" by Taio Cruz. If you didn't recieve the email Friday, please take a moment to view it at this link:

Dynamite by JN Schoolagers

Today, we had fun exploring a "pipe xylophone" and the sounds that it makes with two mallots! Check out the fun video below!

Also, we talked about singing melancholy songs. The kids sang the melody and words to "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen" and we explored the meaning behind the lyrics. We also did some fun movements!

See you next week in music class!

Week of April 18th, 2011

2011-04-19T10:15:00.001-07:00

INFANT THROUGH SCHOOL AGE

What a blast we had pretending to "karaoke" with a microphone today! The kids really enjoyed passing around the mic and hearing their amplified voices.
We also played with different settings and effects. Some of our children are natural born performers and others prefer to watch, but they all giggled and love listening to the audio tracks that I recorded afterwards.

Check out the fun downloads below!

Eddy (Four's room) singing ABC's
Jack (Three's room) singing happy birthday to Zoe

Week of April 11th, 2011

2011-04-12T10:25:00.000-07:00

INFANT THROUGH SCHOOL AGE It was a rhythmatic day today in music class as we explored hand drums, rhythms and even African storytelling! As some of you might remember from the email announcement or music calendar, we are having a hand drum assembly this week at Joyful Noise for our music students. Eric Durkee, a talented hand drummer from the Grand Haven area, will be demonstrating his drumming skills for the children on Friday, April 15th, at 4:00 p.m.

IMPORTANT: Our assembly location has changed due to a large funeral that will be taking place at First Presbyterian Church on Friday. We will be moving the assembly location to the J.N. Rec Room!

Our lessons today about different drums and styles tie in directly with the exposure we will be getting to hand drums at the end of the week:

VOCABULARY: We learned about three basic drums, the "djembe", mini-congas and bongos! I also illustrated for the children the way that you can generally achieve three different tones or sounds with a hand drum head. We had a blast freeze dancing and playing movement games to the drum beat!

SCHOOL AGE MUSIC AND LITERACY: The school age class took the drumming concepts even farther with a lesson that incorporated African drum storytelling. We watched some African drummers and a short film on African storytelling (both listed as resources below) and then we experimented with all of the hand drums available at JN. Each child constructed a story with whatever drum they chose, and we then illustrated and recorded those stories on paper. Afterwards, we joined in a "storytelling circle" so that students could share both the audio and written or oral version of their story. The kids did an absolutely phenomenal job with this! MMMMM

A RAINY DAY TUNE

DOWNLOAD THE MP3 HERE:

"There's Nothin' Wrong With A Rainy Day"

There's nothin' wrong with a rainy day

Everything needs water, and that's ok!

There's nothin' wrong with a rainy day!

It's not a bad day...it's just wet!

(whistle tune)

MOM AND DAD CONNECT

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Check out these neat Youtube videos on basic djembe technique and African storytelling!

Week of March 28th, 2010

2011-03-29T10:47:00.000-07:00

INFANT THROUGH SCHOOL AGE

It was so fun to use the triangles today to talk about shapes and "vibration", that magical music word. In our classes today we discussed the importance of holding the triangle by the string so that it properly resonates. We also played a very fun game pretending to be baby pigs sleeping and getting called to the trough by a farmer yelling "Sooeeey!" with his "mealtime triangle".

INFANT CLASS

Beyond exploring the triangle, we had fun with these "bouncing" or "lap" songs today: "Bumpin' up and down in my little red wagon" and "Mommy Go Round the sun". Check out the video below!

SCHOOL AGE

The schoolagers really used their creative literary brains today as we did a visualization exercise in music today. Using the sounds of the triangles, we closed our eyes to conceptualize an image, time or place, or object that the triangle sound reminded us of. We then drew these concepts and made a book, discussing and sharing them in circle time. See the video below!

MOM AND DAD CONNECT
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Fun Homeade Triangle Instrument on Sprout Online!

Week of March 21st, 2011

2011-03-22T09:09:00.000-07:00

INFANTS THROUGH TODDLERS

It was so fun using our slide whistles today in music class! This fun instrument uses a metal slider to create "sliding" notes! Our whistles cover one full octave of notes in the key of B flat. We had so much fun singing songs and doing activities with our whistles including:

-"Elevator and Escalator" (Children made their bodies move up and down as they moved the slide whistle in and out)

-"Five Green And Speckled Frogs" (Children made the slide whistle go down in pitch to signify the frog jumping in to the pond)

-School age children experimented with slide whistle sounds and we graphed the results through a line graph, which we then related to a sound wave!

Check out the pictures and video below of our fun day!
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MISS AMANDA HAVING FUN WITH THE TODDLER CLASS!

ILLUSTRATING "SOUND WAVES" WITH THE SCHOOL AGE CLASS

SCHOOLAGERS "ELEVATOR and ESCALATOR"

FOUR YEAR OLD CLASS "Five Green And Speckled Frogs"

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MOM AND DAD CONNECT

The slide whistles we used today are available on MusiciansFriend.com!

Week of March 14th, 2011

2011-03-15T10:02:00.000-07:00

INFANT THROUGH

SCHOOL AGE

Today we learned about Celtic music and the traditional handdrum, the "Bodhran". The tool resembling a two sided mallot that you see to the left is called a "topper". Using a series of wrists

twists, brush like effects and taps along the outside of the frame, a traditional Celtic beat is kept. I wish that we had been able to use an actual Bodhran for class today but I wasn't able to locate one. We did, however, have alot of fun coloring a picture of this special drum and we also watched this video of a very talented bodhran player!

The infants enjoyed hearing songs with the drum and guitar today!

We also explored the idea of 3/4 time signatures, which are most common in Celtic or Irish music. Often in music class, our favorite songs are in a time signature of 4/4, or four beats to a measure. This is the most standard time signature and very common. To practice, I used a hand drum and the children chanted "ONE-two-three, ONE-two-three" with an emphasis on beat one.

An easy Irish example of a 3/4 time signature is "My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean". After we practiced singing in a 3/4 time signature we sang it together.

Here is the School Age class singing "My Bonnie"!

And last but not least, the two's had such a blast with this simple "buzzing bee" fingerplay. Watch and follow along with the word bubbles and actions for guarunteed giggles! =)

MOM AND DAD CONNECT

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Read more about the Bodhran!

Week of March 7th, 2011

2011-03-11T13:07:00.000-08:00

INFANT THROUGH SCHOOL AGE

I apologize for the lateness of my blog htis week! Due to my son's illness, our usual Tuesday classes were postponed to Friday instead. If you are wondering what the normal music schedule is, please note that a downloadable file is linked on the menu to your right, along with the monthly calendar and other resources. As always, please feel free to subscribe to my blog, email questions to

music@JoyfulNoiseKids.com or comment here! Your feedback is always appreciated!

CLASS TODAY: The students had a great time using castanets to sing animal songs today! We had fun discussing rhythms and using the small castanets to sing "5 Little Monkies Swinging In a Tree" (the castanet was the alligator), "The Little Woodpecker", and also "Wide Mouthed Frog", the song about a frog catching flies at the pond. For this song we used a fun frog picture whose mouth was cut out so that the castanet could be placed there. Each friend got to take turns playing a rhythm for other children to "copy cat". Having your child listen and copy rhythms or melodies is a great way to improve listening skills and musical ability using a "Suzuki" style method of teaching!

We also played a few fun games and tried a few fun exercises, such as "Peanut Butter and Jelly Stretches" (four year old room).

I strongly believe incorporating literacy with music and in the school age room, we generally combine a reading or writing element along with the music lesson of the day. Today, we used castanets in combination with rhythms to learn more about syllables. We then worked in teams to play guessing games involving syllables of similiar or grouped words. They had a blast!

MOM AND DAD CONNECT ______________________

The castanets we used in class are available for a very inexpensive price at Castanets: MusiciansFriend.com

Week of February 27th, 2011

2011-03-01T08:57:00.000-08:00

INFANT THROUGH SCHOOL AGE

Today we enjoyed using these fun tambourines to learn rhythms, tapping songs and "chants". I use chants to help children understand basic rhythms. For example, to understand this rhythm:

I would use a variety of simple phrases, such as "I - like - green - grapes" or perhaps, "I - like - ice - cream". Older school age children chose their own more complex rhythms and journaled those rhythms along with playing them on the tambourine. Using words and syllables really helps translate the notes for the kids, and we are generally able to play more complex rhythms than we can read on the staff!

MOM AND DAD CONNECT _______________________

If you are interested in purchasing the same inexpensive tambourines we use in music class, check out this link on MusicansFriend.com!

Feb 21st, 2011

2011-02-22T09:24:00.000-08:00

INFANT TO SCHOOL AGE CLASSES

Today we had such fun in music classes singing and performing activities with rhythm band instruments. Traditional rhythm band instruments include:

Tambourines

Hand Drums

Maracas

Triangles

Rhythm Sticks

Cymbals

The picture to the left is a fun CD that I've enjoyed using for the past ten years. In a Calypso style, Frank Leto uses traditional and storytelling songs in a new way to teach about rhythm band instruments, latin rhythms and using words and sounds for instruments to express rhythm (i.e., "Click-click" for rhythm sticks, or "tap-tap" for tambourine.)

Ask your child about the fun storytelling song, "Mr. Boom Boom Bong" and find out what instrument that they played in rhythm band!

MOM AND DAD CONNECT

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Interested in checking out Frank Leto's "Rhythm Band Jam" on Amazon?

Check out this affordable Rhythm Band Starter Kit on MusiciansFriend.com!

Week of February 14th, 2011

2011-02-15T09:21:00.000-08:00

Toddlers through School Age

We had an absolute blast in music class today using some very fun "tappers"! I found a neat idea online that used small elastic strips and washers. To make "tappers", I simply strung one washer on a short strip of elastic and glued the ends together. I then had a small band that could slide over the tip of each shoe! The washer is slid to the bottom of the foot, and makes a great "tapping sound"! We had a very fun time doing different activities with our tappers. To start the class, we watched the funny cow video below. Then we talked about tapping rhythms and tried tapping to several songs; "Who's that tapping at my window?" and "Hickory Dickory Dock". Check out our awesome tap video below that highlights all of the fun things we did in class today!

JN TAP DANCING:

DANCING COW:

INFANTS: Today our infant class enjoyed exploring hand bells while singing "Hickory Dickory Dock" and also read the book "Toot Toot! Quack Quack!" by John Archambault using an African Pod shaker!

MOM AND DAD CONNECT

Tap dancing is a great way to stay fit! Here are some video resources if you are interested in purchasing a tap dance video for your child!

Tap Dance Resources

Week of February 7th, 2010

2011-02-08T11:49:00.000-08:00

Toddler through School Age

Today we enjoyed playing matching games with instrument memory cards! We also sang and danced while playing large motor musical games, and did some fun fingerplays as well.

For groups a little too young to play memory, we used the cards to learn new vocabulary words. The included instruments were: tambourine, saxaphone, gutiar, violin, snare drum, xylophone, trombone, french horn, trumpet, flute, clarinet, piano and maracas.

We also graphed the results of reoccurring instruments and school age children played a thought provoking game of "guitar" hang man and also had a question and answer session geared around the instruments we were learning about.

For our infant class, we had a fun teacher and child sing along with the guitar including our favorite tunes like "How Much Is That Doggy In The Window" and "Five Little Ducks Went Out To Play".

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MOM AND DAD CONNECT

PlayMusic.org--a fun way to learn about classical instruments!

Instrument Coloring Pages

Week of January 31st, 2011

2011-02-01T09:23:00.000-08:00

INFANT THROUGH SCHOOL AGE

UKELELE!

Today we enjoyed experimenting with this mellow, four stringed instrument in music class! I tought the kids a funny commonly used tuning song that uses a musical phrase to help the musician remember the tones or pitches of the strings:

"My dog has fleas"!

We also talked about the meaning, or direct Hawaiian translation of the word "ukelele", which means "jumping flea".

The kids had a blast learning a ukelele song and also performing some of our favorites like "Knees up Mother Brown" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider". They also got to explore the ukelele and try out it's warm and mellow sound, which is partly due to the use of nylon, or plastic strings!

Please feel free to ask your child about today's instrument, and download the free pdf to color at home!

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MOM AND DAD CONNECT

Click the image to download/open the pdf! Or use this link.

Week of January 17th, 2011

2011-01-18T09:48:00.000-08:00

TODDLERS THROUGH SCHOOL AGE

Today we enjoyed making castanets in music class using some simple materials: can lids, poker chips and strips of cardboard, tape and stickers! After decorating our paper strips, we fixed the poker chips or can lids to the undersides, so that, when folded, the strips would cause the chips and lids to collide and make a nice, castanet-y "click"!

Then we enjoyed singing songs together. I've included one of them below so that you can try singing them at home with your child! (Castanets went home in cubbies).
Enjoy!

5 Little Monkeys

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5 Little Monkeys sittin' in a tree

(use fingers of one hand as monkeys and swing branches by waving hand)

Teasin' Mr. Alligator

"Can't catch me, you can't catch me!"

Along comes the alligator quiet as can be (quietly snap the castanet towards the wiggling hand)

and SNAP! That monkey right out of that tree! (Put one finger down to represent one monkey leaving)

Continue with 4,3,2,1

INFANT CLASS

Today in infant class we sang some new songs! I'm highlighting a fun song that we did using the infant signs for mom and dad! If you've forgotten how to do these signs, please see our "Starter Sign Pdf", hosted from our website at http://www.joyfulnoisekids.com/!

Mommy Go Round The Moon (with infant on lap)

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Mommy go round the sun (sign for mommy)

Mommy go round the moon

Mommy go round the rocking chair

Every afternoon

BOOM! (Bounce child in lap)

Repeat with lyric/sign for daddy!

SCHOOL AGE MUSIC CLASS

We had a nice large group because of our snow day today! With 21 kids total, we decided to do something fun and have a rhythm contest. I gave some of the students the choice of being specatators and judges, and some the choice to form groups with names and compete by clapping a rhythm correctly. Our panels of spectators then judged the group by a rating of 1-5 stars, which depended on how smoothly and accurately the rhyhtm was clapped. The kids had a little help by watching a monitor in the movie room, which displayed an animated prompt that displayed the notes and indicated rhythm.

Congratulations to the all the groups for participating, and to the "Marshmallow Mush" group for a 5 star job and being chosen as the "smoothest" at clapping the rhythm!

I've included the actual rhythm below. Try asking your child to clap it out for you!

Week of January 10th, 2011

2011-01-11T08:52:00.000-08:00

INFANT THROUGH SCHOOL AGE

Today in music class we enjoyed exploring the world of cymbals! We discussed and got the opportunity to play several different types of cymbals: finger cymbals, handheld cymbals and also a "crash" cymbal on a stand from my drumkit at home!

We talked about the material that cymbals are made of (metal) and how they vibrate. We also experimented with the sounds and vocabulary of a "swung" rhythm versus a "straight" rhythm. The kids made the rhythm sounds with their mouths ("ch...ch...ch....ch..." for straight and "ch...ch-ch" for swung") and both danced and marched to the different styles.

We also watched a short youtube video on jazz cymbal use and played a few games with the sounds. Everyone got a chance to touch and play the materials and we also used the coloring sheet I've linked below.

Check out this slideshow from the toddler class, who absolutely loved trying out the drumsticks on the mounted crash!

MOM AND DAD CONNECT
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Cymbals Coloring Page

Week of January 3rd, 2011

2011-01-04T09:29:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

Hope everyone's 2011 is off to a wonderful start!

We had a great time in music class doing some different things with each age group! Younger children danced with scarves and did fingergplays and peek-a-boo songs!

Our fours group prepared for a winter music performance in Fellowship Hall, and the threes class did fingerplays and songs and also used the parachute.

Our school age class had a great time making home made rainsticks with chip/puff canisters. First we decorated the outside of the container and then added twisted newspaper and small beans to create an interesting rain sound. If you are interested in making rainsticks or other homeade instruments with your child, please see the resource link below.

Thanks and have a great week!
Miss Chantal

MOM AND DAD CONNECT

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Home Made Instruments

Easy to make rainstick

Week of December 27th, 2010

2010-12-28T09:41:00.000-08:00

INFANT THROUGH SCHOOL AGE

Today in music class we enjoyed learning all about the bass guitar! We discovered how many strings most electric bass guitars have (four) and what their names are, respectively, in standard tuning: E, A, D, and G. We also learned that the bass has strings that are much thicker than a guitar or some other stringed instruments, causing a lower vibration and tone. We enjoyed watching a short instructional video about how to play bass with your fingers and also practiced rhythms with shakers!

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MOM AND DAD CONNECT

We watched a video in our class of this same instructor showing basic technique with his fingers and also, illustrating simple rhythms. Check out this episode on "funk bass"!

Funk Bass on Youtube

Week of December 20th, 2010

2010-12-21T07:32:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas To All!

In honor of the approaching holiday this week, all of our music classes celebrated with a Christmas song sing-along that included:

Jingle Bells, Up On the Housetop, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Twinkle Twinkle Northern Star, Silent Night, The Reindeer Hokey Pokey, and also some neat finger plays that I've included with directions below.

Please enjoy and have a safe and blessed holiday!

In his service,

Miss Chantal

HERE IS SANTA

Here is the chimney (Make a fist)

Here is the top (Cover fist with opposite hand)

Open the lid (Open hand covering chimney)

And OUT Santa pops! (Stick up thumb on hand that is made into fist)

Ho Ho Ho! (Thumb wiggles)

WHEN SANTA COMES

When Santa comes to our house (Make a roof with both hands and arms above head)

I always want to peek (Peek through fingers as if playing peekaboo)

But I know he'll never come (wag finger for "no")

Until we're fast asleep (rest head on folded hands for sleeping motion)

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MOM AND DAD CONNECT

Looking for more Christmas songs to sing with your kids this week? Try these links!

Christmas Songs A-Z

Christmas Songs, Prayers and Plays

Hot Cocoa and Candy Canes!

2010-12-14T08:53:00.000-08:00

Infant Through School Age

Hot Cocoa And Candy Canes!

We had a great time in the rec room today for our Hot Cocoa and Candy Cane assembly! The four year olds did a fantastic job singing their Christmas songs and performing with instruments, and the school agers performed an awesome rendition of "Silent Night" and "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" as a bell choir!

All the kids enjoyed hot cocoa and a candy cane and watched the performance in the recreation room. Threes, twos and toddlers were a fantastic audience today and did such a great job listening and following directions! Everyone received sparkly snowman stickers and a great time was had by all.

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Please enjoy the slide show of today's performance!

Week of December 6th, 2010

2010-12-10T07:47:00.000-08:00

INFANT THROUGH SCHOOL AGE

We are using all kinds of bells this week as we enjoy the pre-Christmas season of carols, traditional Christmas songs, chimes and bells!

Look on our website next week for a stream of our Hot Cocoa Concert, which will feature students performing for students with bells and Christmas carols!

Week of November 29th, 2010

2010-11-30T09:14:00.001-08:00

INFANT THROUGH SCHOOL AGE

We had a good time reading this Kindermusik book and "singing" the story, along with another singable book, Raffi's "Wheels on the Bus". While singing the melodies, we also performed matching actions and sang the phrase that repeated over and over again in "This Is My Dance":
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OOM PAH-PAH BOOM PAH-PAH, TANGO CHA-CHA!

One, two, three WALTZ with me, OOM-PAH-PAH-PAH!

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MOM AND DAD CONNECT:

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Interested in buying this book? This Is My Dance: on Amazon.com

Week of November 15th, 2010

2010-11-16T08:39:00.000-08:00

INFANTS THROUGH SCHOOL AGE

This week in music class we enjoyed using rhythm sticks for a listening activity using McKie/P.D. Eastman's book "Snow". Some of our school age students used hand bells instead. Each time that we heard the word "snow" in the book, the children clicked their sticks together.
We also did some vocal warmups, namely, "The Rubber Band Word Stretch". Around the circle, we slowly pronounced each child's name (pretending to stretch the rubber band) and then SNAPPED it back (bringing hands quickly together) and said the child's name very quickly.

MOM AND DAD CONNECT
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If you are interested in buying the book we used in class today, please visit this Amazon link!

"Snow" on Amazon.com

Week of November 8th, 2010

2010-11-09T08:28:00.000-08:00

INFANT THROUGH SCHOOL AGE

Today we revisited our good old pal, the quarter note! The kids really enjoyed creating their own four beat rhythms comprised of quarter notes ("tahs") and quarter rests. They also used treble clef stamps to both decorate and begin their music staff patterns.

We also had fun playing rhythms with shakers and rhythm band instruments!

MOM AND DAD CONNECT

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Click here to learn about the basics of reading music, including quarter notes!
Basics of Reading Music

Week of November 1st, 2010

2010-11-05T09:09:00.000-07:00

INFANT THROUGH SCHOOL AGE

Rhythm Band Fun! This week we did some very fun activities using mixed groups of rhythm band instruments! Working with beats and rhythms, we also integrated the theme of "being sick" with a funny song about a grandma with an upset tummy, and a listening/instrument activity based around the book "Barnyard Song". This book is all about some farm animals who contract a cold/flu from a nearby bee. The kids did a great job listening and performing the rhythms with tambourines, rhythm sticks and castanets. Check the "Parent's Connect" for book info. Also, see if your child remembers this funny chant/poem from class today:

Grandma Moses

Grandma Moses sick in bed

Called the doctor and the doctor said

"Grandma, Grandma, You're not sick!

All you need is a peppermint stick!"

SCHOOL AGE HIGHLIGHTS

Day one this week was a lesson based on our Michigan curriculum, songs and fingerplays. The kids had a blast learning and singing about Michigan and also recieved a coloring and info book about our "Great Lakes State"!

Day two was in conjunction with all other class's "Rhythm Band" theme. We also had fun playing a game on the parachute. Check out the Youtube video below!!!

PARENTS CONNECT

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Are you interested in purchasing the book we used today?
It's called "Barnyard Song" by Rhonda Gowler Green!

Check it out online here at Barnes&Noble.com:

"Barnyard Song" on Barnes&Noble.com

Week of October 18th, 2010

2010-10-19T12:21:00.000-07:00

INFANT THROUGH SCHOOL AGE

Songs about leaves! This week in music class we had fun singing lots of songs about the changing leaves outside, and how they blow in the breeze. Try a few of these fun Autumn songs with easy tunes, below!

LEAVES ARE FALLING DOWN

(To the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell")

The leaves are falling down

Red and Yellow, Orange and Brown

The leaves are falling down!

THE LEAVES ON THE TREE

(To the tune of "The Wheels on The Bus")

The leaves on the tree sway back and forth (sway your body)

Back and forth

The leaves on the tree sway back and forth

All through the town!

Continue with:

----The leaves on the tree fall down, down, down (pretend to fall to the ground)

----The leaves on the ground go crunch, crunch, crunch (stomp feet as though you are crunching through the leaves!

SCHOOL AGE SONG WRITING WORKSHOP

We had a lot of fun writing an Autumn themed song today together!

Our process started with some mindmapping. I asked the children for simple 1-2 word ideas that came to mind when they heard the word "fall".

Here is what they came up with!

Then, we worked together to come up with a basic framework that fit a pre-existing tune, "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean".

After hearing the original song, the kids felt that the pumpkin fit the best. One of our students observed that "My Pumpkin" could replace "My Bonnie." Wow! Great thinking! =)

MY PUMPKIN

My pumpkin is round and it's growing

My pumpkin is orange as can be

My pumpkin is getting quite ready

Can somebody pick it for me?

Cut off the top

Take out the seeds

Jack-O-Lantern for Halloween

Put in a light, give us a fright!

My pumpkin's the best that I've seen!

PARENTS CONNECT

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Check out our pumpkin song here:

My Pumpkin

Week of October 11th, 2011

2010-10-12T10:38:00.000-07:00

INFANTS THROUGH SCHOOL AGE

Today we learned all about the snare drum! The snare drum is a percussion instrument that has a top and bottom head, lugs to hold heads in place, and a metal snare that is attached to the bottom head. By turning the snare switch on, a vibrating sound is made when the drum is hit. When the snare switch is off, the snare sounds more like a normal drum. A typical part of any "drum kit", the snare provides the "rat-tat-tat-tat" of the beat!

All the kids had fun taking turns hitting the drum today. Beginning at the three year old level, we combined a language arts mini-lesson about "syllables". I asked children to predict how many syllables were in words that they knew, including their names. After making predictions, we used the snare drum to "tap out" the syllables to a beat. We then compared the real amount to our predictions. It was so much fun!

We also enjoyed singing "If you're happy/mad/sad/silly and you know it, Clap your hands!" today. Ask your child about how they can show these emotions for the song by using physical movement. See you next week, and thanks for reading the music blog!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE TODDLER CLASS TODAY:

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PARENTS CONNECT
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Read more about the snare drum!
All About The Snare Drum

Week of October 4th, 2010

2010-10-05T08:46:00.001-07:00

INFANT THROUGH SCHOOL AGE

Today we had a fun time learning all about the metronome and how it helps us to "keep the beat". The children saw and touched a few different versions. First, we looked at a traditional "mechanical" metronome that looks similar to a clock in the way it "ticks and tocks" back and forth. Then, we observed a digital model. Finally, we looked at the keyboard and how it's metronome and tempo features work.

Older children discussed "BPM" or "beats per minute", which is how we determine how fast a tempo is. For example, a BPM of 50 is quite slow, while 120 is considered more upbeat.

To practice these concepts, we performed the tune "Hickory Dickory Dock". Children did a hand/arm movement for the ticking of the clock that coincided directly with the bpms of the metronome we were using. We also practiced using shakers and singing to different tempos!

TWO YEAR OLD SPOTLIGHT!

It's a video from our music class, and it's the karaoke version--so you can sing along! :)

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This video from today's music class for the two year olds, who were practicing a few their favorite shaker songs, "Way up high" and "Walk all around".

MOM AND DAD CONNECT:

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Check out this online metronome that you can explore with your child! Try clapping to the beat and singing your favorite songs to different tempos!

FREE ONLINE METRONOME

Week of September 27th, 2010

2010-09-30T09:18:00.000-07:00

Infant through School Age

This week in music class we learned all about the brass instrument, the trumpet!
We discussed how playing the trumpet takes a different breath technique and mouth shape than some of the woodwind instruments that we've previously discussed. The parts that we learned (all of which are shown above in the picture, along with others) were:

The mouthpiece

The valves and buttons

The "bell"

The spit valve (just school age)

We also really enjoyed watching this trumpet solo of a dixieland tune. While watching we discussed how jazz musicians often stomp their feet in certain parts and even shout "hey" sometimes!

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MOM AND DAD CONNECT:

Trumpet Coloring Sheet This is the coloring sheet that we used this week for our lesson! Feel free to download and print at home!

Week of September 20th, 2010

2010-09-24T09:46:00.000-07:00

INFANT THROUGH SCHOOL AGE
This week in music we had fun using puppets to sing. We played a rhyming game with an elephant puppet called "Willoughby Walloughby". Each time we sang the song, one of the kid's would identify their name through a rhymed sound. We also did the puppet hokey pokey and other fun songs!

Try using the Willoughby Walloughby song below to help your child identify rhyming words (friends and family names) in a silly way!

Willoughby Walloughby
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Willoughby Walloughby "Wustin"

An elephant tickled "Justin"

Willoughby Walloughby "Wennifer"

An elephant tickled "Jennifer!"

SCHOOL AGE CLASS

This week in school age music class, we wrote our own musical using puppets that the kids created! I was very impressed with the characters and story line that they created. They helped to come up with the ideas for the songs and I set the words to simple tunes. We had a blast creating our musical, "Rosie La and the Fairies who saved the Mermaid from the Wolves". Download a copy of our script below! :)

Musical Script.

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MOM AND DAD CONNECT: Check out these cool resources!

Help your child recognize rhyming words: Video This video talks about techniques to help teach rhyming--offerd by a kindergarten educator with 20 years experience and a Masters degree in Education.