Week of September 8th, 2014

HAND DRUMS, JAMAICA AND CALYPSO!

Today and Monday in music class, we learned a little about the beautiful island of Jamaica (from native hairstyles to flag colors), and the wonderful Calpyso music that is played there! Using the hand drums, we explore their parts (drum heads made from animal skin, hollowed shells and vibrating sound) as we sang "Mango Walk".  Check out the basic melody here (though our version was slightly different!) The children practiced hitting the drum with their hands while I sang certain syllables, and we also explored a few different drums including congas and bongos!

I also played the children an example of Calypso music with Frank Leto's "We are Fine Musicians".

Don't forget to sneak a quick peek at the adorable video of one of our infants below enjoying "The Windmill Song" in class today! =)

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR CHILD

1) What colors are in the Jamaican flag? Black, green and yellow!

2) What number did Mother Deeda tell the child to eat in "Mango Walk"? All the number elevens!

3) Did you play a hand drum today?

Feb 21st, 2011

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!