Happy Summer!

Hi everyone!

Wanted to say a quick thank you for my goodies at the end of the school year. I am so spoiled - not just with wonderful students, but parents too. I really appreciate the support I have received from the school community. I am fortunate to have been teaching something I truly love so far in my career and I hope to be able to keep sharing my passion for music and creative expression with your children. I am just getting started! I am crossing my fingers for next year, but I do not know what the future holds. Send positive vibes my way! I want to wish everyone a fabulous, relaxing, fun-filled, exciting and enjoyable summer. For those who are wondering if your children are in fact "in-the-know": I will be getting MARRIED in just under 2 weeks from now! Very exciting!!

I will leave you here with some pictures that I found on my ipad from this year. Don't know if I got a chance to post them.
Have an awesome summer!


Here we are practicing writing our ti-tis and tas with animal syllables.
We created our own rhythms and had others play them.

 With Rhythm Rockets tried to be really quick identifying which line represented the rhythmic phrase being said by the caller.



On the left, you can see our rhythm caterpillars. We created our own rhythmic phrases and practiced new rhythms such as: tika-tika and tika-ti. One person created the rhythm and helped the other follow along as they played it. First by clapping, then on a drum or other percussion instrument.

                 

Look! We can identify the high and low pitches of a song using bingo chips!

                                        In the hoola hoop we played a game that helped us recognize ti-ti, ta and shh

Below you can see how in grade 2 we are now able to identify and correctly place natural notes on the treble clef.

                    

 Here we are playing games again - we can clap our rhythms really well!

Music Monsters is a game that helps the students read rhythms. In grade 1, they helped each other correctly say or clap the ti-tis, tas and rests

 Here the students are matching up the rhythmic phrases of notes to their corresponding words. We try to work quickly and help each other to ensure everyone understands.

Reading and composing music in grade 2!

In grade 2 the students are identifying notes in the treble clef. Many can do this now simply with the use of the memory aide Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge for the notes on the lines and FACE in the space for notes in the space. Some children have even made up their own mnemonics to help them remember! They are also using their knowledge to compose and play on some of our tuned percussion instruments. They are already familiar with note values and rhythm and this combined knowledge can easily be transferred to learning an instrument...which I encourage them all to do. I am so proud of them for beginning to learn the language of music!

Check them out in action below:

Grade 2 - Help for learning the names of the notes

Here are videos I have previously posted that will help your child to learn and understand the names of the notes.

For the TREBLE CLEF:
The students need to know that we use Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge or Every Green Bus Drives Fast to remember the names of the notes on the lines (E G B D F starting from the bottom) and that F A C E is in the space for the notes in the spaces (starting from the bottom) in order to be successful at this point.

For further assistance, please have your child re-watch the following videos:

Line and Space Notes
The Music Staff
The Music Staff #2
The Music Alphabet
Every Good Boy Does Fine
Every Good Boy Deserves Football
FACE

Last Kindergarten songs!

Here are the additional songs for the kindergarten concert:

Group 1 - Mme. Emond, Mme. Ziwani/Mme. Cesari, Mme. Diane:
Bonjour Bonjour
Dance - Music is Always There

Group 2 - Mme. Yolanda, Mme. Adrienne, Mme. Bojanowski
Nous Sommes les Musiciens
Dance - Music is Always There

Why I Teach Music

Grade 2 Links & HOMEWORK

Hello Grade 2 Parents!

Your child should have recently come home with a package from me with 24 words that they are expected to know for music class. If you did not receive it, you can click HERE to download the word list from Dropbox. Please have your child ask me for a package. 
I apologize for the delay in sending these instructions and for any confusion it may have caused.

These words are not new to the grade 2 students who have been with me all year. If your child is not yet able to recognize the symbols, the activity provided should help them to learn the language we are using in class.

The 2^nd page of the package can be used to play a self-correcting matching game. Students should cut up the pieces and keep them in a plastic bag to go over on a regular basis (by matching up words to symbols) in order to familiarize themselves with the symbols. 

I would ask that you please help your child to recognize the symbols by being able match each music symbol to its music word. If they have difficulty reading, please read the words to them so that they can match up the words and symbols.

Your child is not required to spell or memorize the words, only to recognize them.

Knowing the words means sharing the same vocabulary as everyone else in music class. The students are all learning this new language together and as with learning any new language, some regular practice is required.

Although there will be no formal test at this time, in order to fully participate in our activities the students must be able to recognize the symbols. I will be continuing to help them better understand the meanings of these words.

Thank you so much for your help and support.

Please check out the links below for some of the best videos that we have watched in music class so far this year.

They may help to demystify some of what have been learning and the terms we use. The students are getting so good at using all of the complex music terms!


Whats in a score
Sometimes Music is Silence
How Notes and Beats Go Together
How to Read Music

Rhythm Lesson -Note duration/value and Names
Getting Ready to Read Music
Line and Space Notes
Quarter Notes
Forte Piano
Crescendo / Decrescendo
Give it a Rest
Whacky Do Re Mi
Ode to the Treble Clef
Every Good Boy Deserves Football
Note Values
The Music Alphabet
Music Theory - Lesson One

Last choir song!!

Hello Choir members!

I thought that I had posted all of the songs but it seems I hadn't yet posted "It's Not if You Win"
Please click  HERE to visit the Dropbox link for the song and lyrics.

I hope that everyone has gotten a chance to learn their line(s) for the show over the break.
This week we will be starting to rehearse the lines, as well as part of the last song.

Speaking in front of an audience will be a new experience for many of the participants, but don't forget: we are all in this together! Giving 100% to your part will help us succeed as a team.
We will be going over the text several times so that everyone gets comfortable with it. What may seem scary now will not in just a few weeks. I continue to encourage the children to take risks and push themselves to find out what being a performer is all about. I know there are lots of stars just waiting to shine!