Week of May 14th, 2012

Photo by Christian J. VanAntwerpen

Come away with us…to the music store!

Would you like to take a virtual field trip with us today?

We enjoyed watching this video in class today about Firehouse Guitars of Muskegon, Michigan. It is a music store in the Norton Shores area that I myself have taught private lessons at for years. Because we couldn’t take everyone on a REAL field trip, I thought it would be just as fun to take a look inside with a video camera, and thanks to the helpful staff there (including the manager Brenden VanSlyke who is also a J.N. parent!) we received a great tour and even a free concert!

Before we actually watched the segment, the four year olds brainstormed on what one might find in a music store, and this is what they came up with:

-guitars

-trumpets

-cymbals

-voilins

-drums

-triangles

-necklaces

-maracas

-flutes

-tambourines

We then watched to see if any of those items popped up! Check out the video below to “come away with us", and please note that the three year olds music has been rescheduled for Wednesday afternoon due to a walking field trip to the train park today.

After the video we had a blast singing songs with the parachute! Just about any children’s song can be turned into a parachute game or action song. Some favorites today included “Peekaboo”, “Roll that ball right down to town” and “Ring around the Rosie”.

Week of January 16th, 2012

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 November 1st, 2010

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 August 16th, 2010

MORE fun with parachutes!

INFANT THROUGH SCHOOL AGE

Well, it has been hot this week but before we know it, summer WILL be gone! With that in mind, this week we headed out in the beautiful morning sunshine to enjoy that warm weather before it slips away. With the parachute in tote, we did all of our favorites like "Ring around the Rosie", "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" and also played the Fruit Salad Game, the Motorboat game, and others!

One of our favorites is the "Pirate Ship Song". It is traditionally sung while the class holds hands in a circle, but it also works well while holding a parachute.
I've included words and movements below!
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ON THE DAY I WENT TO SEA

(The Pirate Ship Song)



When I was one I sucked my thumb on the day I went to sea!
I jumped (jump up) aboard a pirate ship and the captain said to me:
Go THIS way (children move clockwise in a circle)
and THAT way (children move counter clockwise)
and FORWARD (come together towards the middle)
and BACKWARD (pull quickly back to the circle)
OVER THE DEEP BLUE SEA!


Triangle Hokey Pokey
To the tune of "The Hokey Pokey"
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
Thursday, August 26th, the school age class will be performing five songs for the Senior Center of Grand Haven. It is their monthly birthday party for all of the participants and we are pleased to be a part of the entertainment! Next week marks our last practice and dress rehearsal!
The show will be from 11:00-11:15 a.m. at the Senior Center, a part of the Community Center next to Loutit District Library. Please feel free to join us and watch if you would like!

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MOM AND DAD CONNECT: Check out these cool downloads of today's practice at school age choir class!

You've Got A Friend In Me

The Fox Went Out on A Chilly Night

Week of May 24th, 2010

PARACHUTE FUN

All classes had a blast using the parachute to play fun musical games such as "Roll that ball right down to town" and "There was a man in our town who went for a walk one day". We had fun exploring pitch and tempo as it relates to movement around the parachute. Ask your child about it! :)

INFANT THROUGH TWOS

We had a very fun week in music class exploring more of our new songs, including "Riding on My Teacher Pony", "Walk all Around", "Elevator and Escalator" and more! Next week a zip file will be made available here at the blogsite that contains lyric sheets for all of the songs we are singing. As part of a fundraiser for the JN Music Program, we will also be selling CDs at a very reasonable price with our music curriculum!

THREES, FOURS

This week concluded a week of review for three and four year old students! I am very pleased with the learning that our friends have done! Everyone seems very capable of identifiying a quarter note, quarter rest, and the rhythms that can be created using these two values! We used rhythm instruments as well as clapping, snapping and tapping to play different combinations of quarter note "tahs" and quarter rests..."Shhh!". We also sang a few new songs from our songbooks including "Grattitude Attitude" and more!

SCHOOL AGE

We had alot of fun this week learning about half notes, as well as watching clips from "The Sound of Music". We watched the musical number "Do Re Mi" and also learned the song! We are using solfege and Curwen hand symbols to learn Do-Re-Mi-Fa-So-La-Ti-Do and we are also doing alot of other fun vocal warm ups in music class. We can't wait to show you some of our singing skills!

PARENT RESOURCES THIS WEEK:

Interested in buying a small parachute for home play? Here is a link!

Buy a Parachute on Google Shopping"

The Sound Of Music, "Do Re Mi" on YouTube:
The Sound Of Music: "Do Re Mi"