Week of November 7th, 2016

ALL ABOUT THE CLARINET!

Students this week were very interested in checking out our "JN Clarinet!" Miss Sally donated the instrument to our music program when her son, Paul, was no longer using it. =) We were glad to inherit the reeded "woodwind" which was a term that we learned about in class! Woodwinds require air to play! In fact, reeded woodwinds require a LOT of air (more than master instrument and woodwind, flute.)

I showed the children how to assemble the pieces of the clarinet--the ligature and mouthpiece, upper and lower barrel, barrel joint, bell and also the reed that is attached to the ligature and mouthpiece to produce "vibration"--another special word that comes up so often in music class!

I played some tunes for the children and we also got to examine the parts of the clarinet, as well as how it is put together and the ends of the corked barrels are coated with cork grease (which comes in a  container that looks just like chapstick.)

We also listened to some Benny Goodman and colored pictures of clarinets! It was a great time! See the extender questions below and my apologies for the missing blog last week--we DID have class for all ages (the theme was slidewhistle) but due to family illness, there have been a few days in the last two weeks that I have been absent!

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR CHILD

1.) How do you make sound with the clarinet? With air! It's a woodwind!

2) Does the clarinet have lots of pieces/elements? Can you name some of them? Mouthpiece, ligature, reed, barrel joint, upper and lower joint, barrel joint, bell, tone or keyholes, cork grease

3) Do you like the way the clarinet sounds? What are some of the songs Miss Chantal played on the clarinet?

Week of November 6th, 2012

THE CLARINET!

I am a woodwind. I have  REED. Blow air through me and press the keys!

The kids very much enjoyed learning about the clarinet, exploring the pieces and their names, and also enjoying the wonderful and famous music of Benny Goodman, a famous clarinet player!

We started out by taking a look at the elements of the clarinet (from the top to bottom): the mouth piece, the reed, the ligature (metal "gasket" that holds the reed in place on the mouthpiece), the barrel joint, the upper joint, the lower joint, and the bell! I did play a few tunes! (Not my best instrument, but I can play simple lullabies!)

I told the children about the clarinet being a reeded woodwind instrument, and demonstrated how to grease the cork that lines the end of each barrel piece as I put it together. Older children learned about the diaphragm muscle in their chest and how it relates to breathing and woodwind playing. I also showed them how to properly clean the clarinet after using!

We then listened to some of the fabulous big band music of Benny Goodman and his orchestra! Check out the pictures and videos below! (Be sure not to miss our "montage" of fabulous dance moves--no one could sit still during the big band today, not even teachers!!!)

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BENNY GOODMAN DANCE OFF!

Benny Goodman "Stardust"