One of my favorite Halloween songs to do in class is called "Halloween Night." The piece includes a great background arrangement for xylophones and metallophones. We spent a couple class sessions learning the various parts, and we finally put it all together as a large ensemble. The parts were fun and challenging, yet the real challenge was putting them together so that we play simultaneously with the beat. Only Mrs. Guy's class had enough time to make the actual recording, however, Miss Kalmus' class also did an amazing job! We were playing "catch up" from the missed music class a couple of weeks ago on a Monday, which is why we ran out of time for a recording. :(
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One of the most rewarding experiences in music class, is having the opportunity to share the Star Spangled Banner with your kids. As part of the learning process, we studied the historical events surrounding the writing of "The Star Spangled Banner." Please ask your child! We also had a little competition on which class could solve a mixed-up puzzle of the lyrics in the fastest time....without talking, of course! It was definitely a close competition! Finally, after taking a few classes to understand the significance and meaning of the National Anthem, we completed a "I used to think, Now I think" visible thinking routine. This was a great way for us to put into words what we learned throughout the learning process. Most of the kids thought of the Star Spangled Banner as just a regular old song that was randomly sung at sporting events. They now know the song is over 200 years old, has stood the test of time, and represents the freedom that our country stands for. What an amazing symbol of our heritage and strength!
Below are the students final recordings of their non-traditional instrument compositions! I loved hearing the various combinations of sounds the students chose for their music. Again, the goal was to maintain a steady pulse, but also to incorporate rhythms and/or melodies (not everyone just playing the steady beat). Keeping the parts synchronized and together is always a great challenge for any small group composition, yet I was proud at how well the students listened to one another and followed through on their plans! Great job!
4th Grade has spent the last couple of weeks working on their very own compositions. These compositions, however, must not utilize any real instruments, but only objects that can be used to create great sounds for their songs.
Through rich discussions, we came to the conclusion that music should not be describe as merely sounds. Because the sound of the construction trucks outside Hamlin and the sounds of other things do not necessarily make music. Likewise, music cannot be defined as instruments, either. Rather, we can make music with pretty much anything! Therefore, we've decided that music must be organized and have a sense of beat to be considered music. For our project, then, the students could utilize any objects to create their songs, but the requirement was to organize and plan the song, maintaining a sense of beat, and including patterns of sounds. They have been working hard, and the completed songs will be posted very soon! |
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