Week of May 4th, 2015

Feliz Cinco de Mayo...

con Mariachi!

It's hard not to smile when you hear the peppy, melodic sounds of Mariachi music, known properly as "Son Jalisciense" (music that originated from Jalisco). A traditional form of folk music in Mexico, Mariachi is usually comprised of string instruments--guitar, a high-pitched guitar called a "vihuela", a bass guitar (called a "guitarron") violin and often a trumpet. Check out the examples of Mariachi we listened to below! 

El Sinaloense

The kids loved dancing to the music and they also got to explore our school trumpet, as well as pictures of Mariachi musicians and the flag of Mexico.

Don't forget to check out the extender questions I've posted below so that you can keep the conversation going at home!

Please note: due to family illness, some of yesterday's classes were postponed. Three year olds will be having class on Thursday morning at 9 a.m., and the toddler class will be having music on Thursday right before lunch at 11:20 a.m. Sorry for the delay! =)

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR CHILD

1.) Do you know where Mariachi music comes from? Mexico

2) What mariachi instrument is made out of metal? Trumpet

3) Did you dance to music today?

Week of April 27, 2015

FUN WITH SCARVES AND RIBBONS!

This week, we got our exercise in for the day with music class while having some fun with scarves and ribbons!

Our first activity was "mirroring". I explained to the children that they would work with a partner--one child would be the mirror and copy the other's actions. The kids thought this was a hoot and had fun doing everything from tossing the scarf in to the air to wiggling their whole body and falling on the floor. ;)

We then did a fun interactive story with our ribbon streamers that paired events in the story with fun movements on the streamers. It went like this:

THE RAINBOW STREAMER WEATHER STORY: Once upon a time, there was a rainy day. The rain fell gently (gently wiggling streamer in front.)The wind caused waves on the beach. (Gently roll streamer in front of you in a wave motion). Then the rain fell a little bit harder. (Shaking the ribbon more vigorously). Even the snakes tried to hide under the rocks! (Create a snake shape with streamer on the ground and hiss.) The weather watchers said, "Let's send a helicopter up in the air to see what's going on!" (Twirl ribbons above head in a circle like helicopter propellers). 

THEY SAW A TORNADO! (Vigorously swirl the ribbons in a tornado twister in front of you). 

Then...suddenly...the wind stopped. (Still ribbons). The rain fell gently once more (gently wigging streamer in front). It stopped...and a rainbow appeared! (Create an arc shape overhead with ribbon).

Infants also read "Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed" today!

Of course, ribbon fun wouldn't be the same without FREEZE DANCING! Check out the videos below!!!

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR CHILD TODAY:

1) Do you know how to be a mirror? Can you copy what I do?

2) Do you remember the colors in the rainbow streamers in music class? (Look at the pictures to jog your memory!) Red, blue, green, yellow, orange, purple!

3) What kind of weather did you make with the ribbons in the story from music class? Wind, rain, tornado!