Week of June 15th, 2015

Rat-tat-tat-boom! SNARE DRUM!

We had a blast with the snare drum this week!

The kids took turns experimenting with what this percussion instrument sounded like with, and without, the snares turned on! Without the metal snare attachment in the “on” position (which vibrates the coils against the head of the drum), it sounds a whole lot like a normal tom drum. However, when the snare is turned on, it has that snappy, marching drum feeling to it that you know as the snare!

I showed the children the different parts of the drum—lugs, head, shell. The schoolagers even used the snare drum to practice their quarter note rhythms this week and MAN—were they on top of it! They are reading rhythms like absolute champs! I am so proud of them. =)

We also enjoyed singing “The Ants Go Marching One By One” while I played the snare drum. Ask your child what they thought about playing with the drumsticks—and don’t forget to check out the extender questions below! 

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR CHILD

1) Did you play a drum with drumsticks this week in music?

2) What is the top of the drum called? The drum head

3) What makes the snare drum vibrate? The metal snare at the bottom drum head

Week of August 6th, 2012

FRUIT AND VEGGIE SHAKERS!

Today in music class we had a great time using our Remo fruit and veggie shakers! There were several shaker and fruit themed songs we sang, some of which focused on playing and resting, or large motor movements. The others were just for fun but also incorporated the element of learning the names of fruits and vegetables that we might not otherwise know! I was actually surprised by the number of children who knew what the avocado was—one of my favorites to eat!—which was impressive! There must be quite a few families at Joyful Noise who buy avocados frequently. Yum!

Pictures, videos and an mp3 clip of a fun chant (Bananas Unite) are all linked below.

I hope everyone had a nice Coast Guard week. I enjoyed my vacation but I’m so glad to be back at work! J

SHAKER SONG (featured above in infant room):

Way up high! (Shake up high)

Way down low! (Shake down low)

Round in a circle, here we go! (In a circle)

Shake really fast!

Shake really slow.

Now hide behind your back (hide shaker). Where'd it go?

Avocado!

BANANAS UNITE CHANT (mp3 download)

Bananas UNITE! (Open arm clap)

Peel, bananas, peel peel, bananas

I said peel, bananas, peel peel, bananas!

Peel them down the left (pretending to peel to left)

Peel them down the right (peel to right)

Peel them down the middle (both sides at once)

Then UMPH take a bite (chomp sound, pretending to eat banana).

There are other fun versions of this chant! You can find them easily by searching "Bananas Kid Chant" or "Bananas Unite Chant". :)

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FYI: The four's class will be rescheduling music for Thursday this week due to their picnic at East End park today. We will be repeating today's class with students! :)