Week of March 16th, 2015

THE PICCOLO!

This week in music class we learned all about this beautiful woodwind instrument with thirteen keys--the piccolo! The children learned that woodwind instruments need air blown through them to create sound, and we experimented with the keys on the piccolo, and how they move. I also showed them how to put the two pieces of the instrument together, and how the cork grease (which looks like a tube of chapstick!) lubricates the joints as you put them together.

We discovered that the piccolo is just like the flute, only smaller, and more high-pitched! We also learned that the piccolo can be made of wood or metal (mine is made of metal, but higher quality piccolos are often made from wood, or a mixture of both).  Piccolos usually play the melody of an arranged piece of music in a group setting, like an orchestra.  

Beyond the instrument, I also showed children how a music stand works, and explained a little to them about how I read music (I played Vivaldi's "Allegro" for them with sheet music on a music stand). We passed around the small velvet hard case that the piccolo goes in, and threes and up also watched an excellent video from Gudrun Hinze (first piccoloist for Gewandhaus Orchestra of Germany) playing a Daniel Dorff song entitled "Tweet". It really reminds you of lovely birds--check it out below!

Additionally, the children enjoyed coloring a piccolo information sheet. Look for that in cubbies, and don't forget to check out the video of the two's class below, as well as your weekly extender questions!

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR CHILD

1) Does the piccolo sound high or low? (Very high!)

2) How many keys does the piccolo have? Thirteen!

3) What is the piccolo made of? Metal or wood!

Week of July 28th, 2014

ZIN ZIN ZIN, A violin!

Today I read Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin  to students! We had fun learning about all of the classical instruments (from trombone to harp) and we also learned a few lessons about the number of people in musical ensembles:

1) Solo

2) Duo

3) Trio

4) Quartet

5) Quintet

6) Sextet

7) Septet

8) Octet

9) Nonet

10) Chamber Group

The kids also listened to excerpts of each instrument, and the trombone "Frozen" medley was a big favorite. =) We also explored the cymbals, and moved our bodies to harp sounds. See the questions below to follow through with your child's music experience today! =)

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR CHILD:

1) What is it called when someone plays music all by themself? A solo

2) Can you tell me what some of the instruments were in Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin? A trombone, a trumpet, a french horn, cello, violin, flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, harp

1) Did you play the cymbals today? How many times did you clap the cymbals together?

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"