Thursday, December 1, 2011

up and down on the xylophones!

You ask a child which way is up, and he'll point to the sky.  However, you ask a first grader standing at a xylophone the same question, and hopefully he can point toward the right.  Here's some 1st graders playing and singing Burn Little Candles.
 

Light the Little Candles Dance

The music of the Hanukkah season is rhythmic, minor, and very fun to dance to!  You'll enjoy watching the Kindergarten (Red color group) perform a fun dance.

We can hardly wait!

The Third graders in the PS are ready to share our lovely songs for you.  Our Christmas program is scheduled in the Chapel for Dec. 15 at 1:30 pm.  Please come if you can.  Here's the 3rd Red Color group singing Panis Angelicus:
 

"Are we going to sing this for our parents?"

When the song and experience is so special in class that a student asks this question:  "Are we going to sing this for our parents?" you know it's wonderful!  I saw a very disappointed expression when I answered that I wasn't planning to.  So, I thought, "sure, we'll sing it and put it on the blog".  Isn't technology wonderful?  Here's our Kindergartners singing The North Wind Blows accompanied by unpitched percussion instruments.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Music and Art join together for a song!

Our talented art teacher, Mrs. Turner, found this wonderful song to share with our classes.  Here is the composer singing his creation:

"Thing of Beauty" by Dave Nachmanoff










Now for some of our wonderful voices singing together with Mrs. Turner on her guitar.  So precious...

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Informance with the Signature Symphony

Primary School Families,
Mark your calendar for a special event with the Signature Symphony on Thursday, November 3 from 6:30-8:00 pm at the TCC (Southeast) VanTrease PAC.  This "Rehearsal Look-In" will involve Dr. Barry Epperley, the conductor, and members of the Signature Symphony and Signature Chorale interacting with the audience. 
There is no charge for this session.  You're welcome to contact Susan Martin at 918-595-7776 or smartin1@tulsaacc.edu if you have any questions. 
I think this opportunity will be so exciting for our PS families!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

In the Hall of Mountain King

Several of the 2nd graders asked how they could get the song Peer Gynt Suite In the Hall of Mountain King No. 1 Op 46 by Edvarg Grieg.  Get on the I-tunes site and search for this title.  You'll get a multiple number of matches, all are the same song by various orchestral recordings.  I know they will enjoy it on their collections.
Also, Logan found this great video on You Tube to share with his classmates.  It shows the conductor and the instruments as you hear them:

1st Grade creates sound effects to story

The video is quite long, but I know you'll enjoy watching these 1st graders put fun sound effects to the story "The Little Old Lady that was Not Afraid of Anything". 

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

more 2nd grade Halloween fun in music class!

"Better Watch Out, it's Halloween Night" were playing, singing, and moving.

2nd Grade have fun with movement!

Here, the 2nd graders are creating a shape while they are moving in a troll-like manner.  The song "In the Hall of the Mountain King" by composer Edvarg Grieg is set to the folk tale of Peer Gynt.  He was having a bit of trouble with the trolls on the island.  Watch as they move from small actions to giant actions depending on the dynamics of the music.  The words we used to describe the way trolls may move are:  crooked, jagged, awkward, goofy, slithering, creepy, etc.
Also, notice the shape of our crescendo at the end of the song...which describes the dynamics from quiet to gradually louder with each phrase.  Then all of the action climaxed with the accents. 

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Falling Leaves (Scarves) in Kindergarten

Check out your Kindergartner singing, moving and playing glockenspiels to "Five Little Leaves".  Enjoy!

1st Graders and Glissandos on the Barred Instruments

Playing scales and glissandos on the xylophones! 

Pics of our Opera outing

Downtown in T-town
On the Bus
Wow, this is a nice place!
Playing at the park afterwards!

Interviews from 3rd Graders

We had a wonderful time at the opera "The Barber of Seville" on Oct. 11.  Here's some thoughts from various Third graders about their experience:


Tuesday, October 4, 2011

3rd Grade goes to the OPERA!

Oct. 11, the 3rd graders will be attending the opera "The Barber of Seville" by Rossini.  We've been learning about opera and specifically this story.  Ask them what the difference is between a Soprano and Tenor. 
They need to be sure to bring a SACK LUNCH on Oct. 11 because we won't return to the PS until after the cafeteria closes. 
Here's some clips from the opera that you may enjoy.  First, the Overture (which is the orchestra playing music introducing the audience to many of the melodies they'll be hearing in the opera - the curtain is still closed and the action hasn't yet begun):
Here's a chaotic scene that will make you laugh:
Just for fun, here's "Woody Woodpecker" singing one of the aria's cartoon-style.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

xylophones & Kindergartners

Finally, they've been waiting all their life for this moment, at least since they were in Pre-School.  The moment to play the big xylophones.  Here's a few pics:

a glimpse into Kindergarten fun

Check out our interesting shapes!  Kindergarten parents, you'll love this video:

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Marching for Sept. 30 too

Here's some of our Third graders showing everyone the march/movement for our Sept. 30 (Primary School Night at the Football Game).  The National Emblem March by Bagley.  It's going to be fun!

3rd Graders - practice at home "Panis Angelicus"

Here's the link to You Tube featuring "Panis Angelicus".  Of course you're welcome to download the song off of I-tunes also.  The group Libera has a very nice recording.

Maestro and his friend, the talking Baton

 Here our First graders were practicing conducting with Maestro!

Listening Map

Hello 1st grade fans,
We followed a listening map to a song written by Aaron Copeland called Fanfare for the Common Man.  Many of the kids really wanted to take our Music Express magazine home with them...so I thought I'd share the map on the blog.
This classical pieces features two families of instruments, the brass and the percussion families.  They loved listening and following along.  Don't be surprised if your kids would like it downloaded onto their mp3 or i-pods...enjoy!

Monday, September 12, 2011

A Special Day

My 1st-2nd-3rd graders enjoyed a book called September 12th, We Knew Everything Would Be Alright written & illustrated by a class of 1st graders in Missouri. The art-work is wonderful and the words are very reassuring. Then we enjoyed singing our National Anthem "The Star Spangled Banner".  Wow, so many of your kids know their history and they loved hearing more about how the song came to be.  We all walked away with a renewed sense of pride in our great country, U.S.A.!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Let's Practice our song for Sept. 30!!

Hello Primary School Families,
It's almost time for our Primary School Night at the Holland Hall Football Game.  Details about the event (including times and locations) will be coming home soon.  Until then, let's all practice this song together.  Here's a variety of classes practicing the song:

"Oh beautiful, for spacious skies             for amber waves of grain
for purple mountain majesties                  above the fruited plain.
America, America                                  God shed His Grace on thee,
and crown thy good with brotherhood   from sea to shining sea."

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

pics of 1st grade (Red/Blue Color Groups)

Hello Fans of First Graders,
Here's some great pictures of your curious and bright children.  After taking some moments to talk about the xylophones (size, keys, musical alphabet, sound box, order, etc.) I surprised the kids.  I turned the xylophone over and all of the keys fell to the ground out of order.  After a few moments of gasps...I proceeded to mix up all of the keys even more.  I asked if anyone may be able to help me put this mess back together.  THE HANDS FLEW UP - READY TO SOLVE THIS DILEMA!  Look at their eager faces ready to face this challenge!







3rd Graders (Blue Color Group)

More Third Grade Fun!  Here, we're playing the xylophones for the first time this year.  We're learning to play a song called "Music Magic" and are planning to perform it for our Christmas program in December.  Lots of fun to see them improve throughout the year!  OH MY GOODNESS!  As you can see, I'm learning how to video using my phone.  OOPS!

3rd Graders (Red Color Group)

Hello  3rd Grade Fans -  Here's some of my Third graders reviewing movement terms:
     Open Spaces, Locomotor, Levels, Pathways, Body Facing
                                          VS.
     Non-Locomotor, Body part dance, CREATIVITY!
The music in the background is just right for the two contrasting activities.  They love expressing their creative self :)  Enjoy!


Tuesday, August 23, 2011

What a blur, the first day of school!

All the things you want your kids to do to be succesful....
dream big, work hard, set goals, never give up, try and try again....all the things you need to be a great musician too.
Here's a video we watched very briefly...the kids totally related!
We certainly will try to follow the words of wisdom from this 4-5 year old throughout this entire school-year.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Here we go....

It's time to get this show on the road!  The room is cleaned and freshly painted, the instruments are lying dormant - waiting for little hands and excitement, the room is silent, for now.  Soon, voices of children singing and playing games and instruments will fill the entire corridor.  As wonderful as summer break is, it doesn't compare to the excitement of starting the school year fresh and new.  Be looking for your children's voices and faces on this blog as the year moves forward.  See you very soon.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

July's about over - You know what that means?

 Yes, it's that time....to squeeze out the last few drops of summer.  If you're like me, we're scrambling to do all of the things that we wanted to do as a family.  We're loading the camper and heading to Colorado for the week.  Then as soon as we return,  it's "crunch" time...back to school shopping, picking up schedules, and helping mom prepare her classroom for the kids to return.  It's exciting.  See you all soon!