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!

Kindergarten LYRICS and updates songs

Hello Kindergarten Parents!

For the concert on April 30th, there will be 2 groups:

Group 1 - Mme. Emond, Mme. Diane, Mme. Ziwani/Mme. Cesari
Group 2 - Mme. Yolanda, Mme. Adrienne, Mme Bojanowski/Mme. Genevieve

LYRICS:
You can now access the lyrics (and songs) for the concert song at the links below.
Group 1
Group 2

Please also download the new versions of the following tracks:
Group 1 - The Best Day of my Life
Group 2 - Roar   &  We're Making Music

You will need a Dropbox account in order to save the songs and lyrics to your computer.

Please encourage your child(ren) to practice their singing. They should know the lyrics to their songs, sing loudly without yelling and do their best to pronounce the words clearly.
There are actions that go along with the songs, but we will practice those in class only.

Please note that we will be adding a song to each group after the March Break. Stay tuned!
Thank you for your support.

Kindergarten Songs so far!

Hi Kindergarten Parents!

If this is your first time visiting my blog, welcome!

Here is where I try my best to keep you up-to-date with what's going on in our music class.
As I only see the kindergarten students for 30 minutes each week, I ask that you please help me to help them prepare for our upcoming Spring concert on the evening of April 30th.

You can find your child's homeroom teacher's name on the link below and click to access the songs we have started to learn so far in music class.
The children may not know all of the songs yet, but please play them so that they become familiar with them.

I will post the lyrics pages soon, although most are pretty simple.
This song list is not finalized yet and we will be adding to it or changing it depending on how ready the children are to sing for the concert.

I am still unsure, but I believe you will need to download a free Dropbox account to access the files.

Enjoy! Happy singing!

Mme. Emond, Mme. Diane, Mme Ziwani/Mme. Cesari
Mme. Adrienne, Mme. Yolanda, Mme. Bojanowski/Mme. Genevieve

Kidz Bop Kids & Mini Pop Kids...My secret to being a "cool" music teacher with students aged 5-8

Hi Everyone!

I know I am bombarding you with posts today but if you haven't heard about the groups Kidz Bop Kids or the MiniPop Kids, you should check them out. Most of the time, the kids can't even tell the difference (or at least they don't complain about it) because they cover the same catchy radio tunes we all like to hear but in a fun and appropriate way. Whenever you hear that we danced to "Timber" or "All About That Bass", you can be sure it was a version from one of these groups.

Check out a couple of my favorite ones below:

TALENT DAY 2015

The stage is just about set for our Talent Day in music class this week.

I am excited to see what some of the children are preparing to present for us in their music class.

Although I sent an email out about Talent Day, here are some things I'd like to clarify:


1. Talent Day is strictly for the students:
Unfortunately, no parents are welcome at this activity because I want as many children as possible to participate and enjoy performing without the stress of presenting to an unfamiliar audience. This is the first chance many will have had to perform a musical talent that they are working on.

2. No one is obligated to perform for Talent Day:
Although I fully acknowledge that the nature of the activity is stressful to many students, it is important to encourage your child(ren) to come up with something to present. Motivating the children to want to practice a piece of a musical nature is one of my goals for this activity. However, it is meant to be FUN for all, so it's too much stress and not enough fun, the way to participate this time around is just by being a good audience member.

3. The children can:
Sing a song, do a dance or play an instrument....something they have practiced alone or with friends. Arranging a "play date" for the children in a group to work on their performance is encouraged if it's possible for them to get together.

4. I do not necessarily know what the children are going to present:
The children are required to let me know what they are doing for talent day and their song choice if applicable so that I can filter the content and make sure it is appropriate. However, you should speak to your child about what they are planning and they should be in charge of discussing with their group members if necessary as to what song they will perform. Also, some children may decide to present on the day of the Talent Day but were not signed up  - I will always support that and do my best to fit them in if time allows.

5. A scheduling conflict with a field trip has changed Mme. Lyne and Mme. Le Vasseur/ Mme. Sophie's music classes to Thursday afternoon. (the 29th) They will be combined with grade 1 classes. This will be a great opportunity for the children to learn from each other (as the grade 2s know all about Talent Day from last year and it is new to the grade 1s).

6. Instruments:
Please notify me (written note or email) if you plan to bring your child's instrument to school. If you are worried about it, it can be dropped off in the office and it will be kept locked up in the music room until pick up at the end of the day.

7. My objectives for this activity:
This activity feeds directly into the music appreciation component of music class.
I introduced Talent Day as a way to spark the students' curiosity in music and encourage them to want to practice a musical talent they may be developing. In our regular music class, the students don't always have the opportunity to show off their musical talents.
By watching others and discussing the performances, I hope that some children may be inspired to learn to play an instrument or to be less shy about singing, dancing. or performing for others. Performing builds self-confidence and the ability to express creativity, important to develop in all children and best to start encouraging at a young age.
With this activity, I hoped that parents would also become involved with encouraging the children to discover and experiment with music at home in preparation for the Talent Day. In our school community, I know that parents are very enthusiastic about fostering all kinds of learning in their children and we are fortunate as teachers to work with such a supportive group. Talent Day is also used in my classroom to teach the students about proper audience etiquette/behaviour. This way they will be able to listen to and appreciate their classmates' efforts in presenting for the Talent Day...and maybe they'll remember some of what we practice the next time you take them to a movie or a show.

I am really looking forward to Talent Day in all of the classes. The grade 2s kept asking me whether we were going to have one this year, so I guess it was a hit with them last year. I know that this year will be just as rich of an experience for everyone involved.

Please excuse me for such a long post! Wow!

Thank you again for your support.

New Choir Songs!

Hello Choir Members!

Everyone is doing amazing with learning the songs for our show!
I have posted the new songs to my Dropbox

Click HERE  to access them

We will be continuing to work on Kick It and will soon be starting on El Juego Bonito

SPEAKING PARTS: I think we will only be handing out the speaking parts after we learn all of the songs. I am trying to play the scenes before we practice each of the songs in our lunchtime rehearsals so that the children get a feel for the material. This way they will be able to see where their character fits in the big picture.

Parents, thanks for your continued support by helping the children to rehearse. Their preparation really shows and is helping things move quickly.

FOR CHOIR MEMBERS

A special note to all choir members and their families:

Hello!
I am so excited to have begun our choir for 2015! I was thrilled to see over 100 children sign up for the choir this time around. WOW! We do love to sing and perform at SJF Jr.!
It was difficult to select so few children, but we've ended up with an amazing group this year and I know they'll work hard to put on a good show. We'll also be having lots of FUN in the progress!

I've added 2 of the songs from the show we'll be working on soon to my Dropbox. Please download them and their lyrics to help the children practice and be ready for our rehearsals.
You can access them by clicking this link:
GOAL Songs 1&2

See you Thursday!

Holiday Wishes!

Hello Everyone!

Hope you are enjoying the start of 2015! Best wishes for this New Year!
I am looking forward to seeing the children soon and starting some new material.

When we start back again, grades 1 & 2 we will be exploring RHYTHM and different music genres.
Kindergarteners will continue to explore pitched and non-pitched percussion, as well as doing lots of singing!

I also wanted to say a big THANK YOU to all those who wished me well this holiday season, especially to those families who sent their elves to deliver lovely gifts before the break. Thank you for making me feel so special!