Today in class we learned "The Jack O'Lantern" on the piano. This piece uses the entire keyboard. The children played the two groups of black keys starting from the top, moving down to the lowest notes and then back up again. It is in triple meter which means it moves in three.
In preparation for "Jack O'Lantern" we chanted Du da di, Du da di to become familiar with the feel of triple meter. You may guide your child in chanting the triple meter syllables Du da di to practice at home. Also have your child listen to Track 6 on your Music Moves Book A CD where you will hear the Jack O'Lanter Song.
Continue to listen to Track 4 "London Bridges" this week as well.
Today the children continued to sing "Johnny Had One Friend" as a group, this time without me singing along. They are now learning how to sing the song all by themselves.
We began to learn the French folk song "Fais Dodo"-see handout.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
September 23, 2009
It's been a while since I posted, ah moving... Now that I'm getting settled in the new home and setting up the new music studio you will be seeing more Do Re Music notes updates!
Additionally, I am currently learning how to post video blogs so that I may demonstrate the pieces that the children are learning online. This will further help you assist your child in practicing the pieces at home on your piano or keyboard.
Update: I will be hosting a Halloween group class on Thursday, October 29th. This will be the first of the monthly group lessons that will be available several months out of the year. We will be playing music games and playing our Halloween songs. There will be treats! Come dressed in your Halloween costume. Time TBA.
This week in Do Re Music class:
We reviewed the song London Bridge-Sheet music is in your music binder. Listen to Track 4 on your Keyboard Games Book A CD with your child this week.The class did a great job keeping the beat, some opted to sing along as they played. It was very fun! This week have your child practice keeping the beat on the high notes and singing along. (please call for questions)
We played the musical game "Audie" in which the students recognized a familiar sequence of pitches.
We continued to learn the song "Johnny Had one Friend"-This song sheet should be in your music binder.
The children clapped different music patterns in Duple Meter-Duple meter is a beat that moves in two. Listen to Track 35 on your Keyboard Games Book A CD with your child this week.
Reminder: No class next Wednesday!
As always, please call me if you have any questions or comments.
Additionally, I am currently learning how to post video blogs so that I may demonstrate the pieces that the children are learning online. This will further help you assist your child in practicing the pieces at home on your piano or keyboard.
Update: I will be hosting a Halloween group class on Thursday, October 29th. This will be the first of the monthly group lessons that will be available several months out of the year. We will be playing music games and playing our Halloween songs. There will be treats! Come dressed in your Halloween costume. Time TBA.
This week in Do Re Music class:
We reviewed the song London Bridge-Sheet music is in your music binder. Listen to Track 4 on your Keyboard Games Book A CD with your child this week.The class did a great job keeping the beat, some opted to sing along as they played. It was very fun! This week have your child practice keeping the beat on the high notes and singing along. (please call for questions)
We played the musical game "Audie" in which the students recognized a familiar sequence of pitches.
We continued to learn the song "Johnny Had one Friend"-This song sheet should be in your music binder.
The children clapped different music patterns in Duple Meter-Duple meter is a beat that moves in two. Listen to Track 35 on your Keyboard Games Book A CD with your child this week.
Reminder: No class next Wednesday!
As always, please call me if you have any questions or comments.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
June 17, 2009
Today we began class with our Hello Song! Then we warmed up our vocal chords with a slide whistle.
Next we sang a song in three different modes. The first song, "Russian Dance", was in a minor or aeolian mode.
Then we danced to a song in Mixolydian, You Really Got Me by The Kinks.
Next we sang a song in a major or Ionian mode, a folk song called "Down Came a Lady".
Next we sang Pitter Patter together, in preparation for solo singing.
We tried out our Arioso's. Today many of the children came up with their own Arioso's and created beautiful music.
We sang the song- Caney Mi Macaro, a song in spanish that focuses on call and response.
At the Piano:
Today we learned a part of the song London Bridge. Track 32 on your CD. See the worksheet I sent home that will show you where to guide your child's hand placement. Listen to the student part of track 32 to hear the rhythm that these notes shall be played. Enjoy!
Back in circle:
"Bill Grogan's Goat"-This is a very fun echo song. The children echo each verse of the story.
The Statue Game: I asks all the students to stand very still and make a statue pose. As I beat my drum the children change poses until I stop drumming. Wherever the student is, they must freeze in the new statue position.
Next we sang a song in three different modes. The first song, "Russian Dance", was in a minor or aeolian mode.
Then we danced to a song in Mixolydian, You Really Got Me by The Kinks.
Next we sang a song in a major or Ionian mode, a folk song called "Down Came a Lady".
Next we sang Pitter Patter together, in preparation for solo singing.
We tried out our Arioso's. Today many of the children came up with their own Arioso's and created beautiful music.
We sang the song- Caney Mi Macaro, a song in spanish that focuses on call and response.
At the Piano:
Today we learned a part of the song London Bridge. Track 32 on your CD. See the worksheet I sent home that will show you where to guide your child's hand placement. Listen to the student part of track 32 to hear the rhythm that these notes shall be played. Enjoy!
Back in circle:
"Bill Grogan's Goat"-This is a very fun echo song. The children echo each verse of the story.
The Statue Game: I asks all the students to stand very still and make a statue pose. As I beat my drum the children change poses until I stop drumming. Wherever the student is, they must freeze in the new statue position.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Do Re Music June 10th
Much of Today's class was a development of last week's class, therefore, some activities were repeated in order to reinforce concepts. We began by singing our hello song, "Hello Everybody" and continued into our vocal warm ups.
We improvised melodies in e harmonic minor. There are many songs that are in minor keys. Toccata and Fugue in d minor by J.S. Bach is one example. Ominous, isn't it? Well, not all minor pieces sound that way, some minor key pieces are very peaceful and reflective such as Chopin's Mazurka in b minor, beautifully interpreted here by Vladimir Horowitz. Some minor pieces are playful and light such as Mozart's Rondo Alla Turca which is in "a" minor.
We sang "Little Brown Beagle" (mixolydian). See June 3rd. The theme from Star Trek: The Next Generation is another example of a piece in Mixolydian. =)
I played the piano piece called "Silly Willy" (track 31) by Marilyn Lowe for the children. Please listen to track 31 this week. I did not send home the info sheet for the piece because I simply want the children to be listening to the piece in preparation for next week. Continue to work with your child on "The Woodpecker" and "The Apple and the Worm" at the piano this week.
To close the class, I sang the story song, "Kitty Alone", and played my Uke. This story is a quiet song, and is really a lullaby. The children listened intently and were very relaxed. You'll find a beautiful recording of the song, as sung by Jean Ritchie in 1956. (Track 7)
Saw a crow a flying low
Kitty alone, Kitty alone
Saw a crow a flying low
Kitty alone a lye
Saw a crow a flying low
And a cat a spinning tow
Kitty alone a lye
Rock a ma rye ree
In came a little bat
Kitty alone, Kitty alone
In came a little bat
Kitty alone a lye
In came a little bat
With some butter and some fat
Kitty alone a lye
Rock a ma rye ree
Next came in was a honey bee...
With a fiddle across his knee...
Next come in were two little bats...
Fixing around to have a dance...
Next come in was little Pete...
Fixing around to go to sleep...
We improvised melodies in e harmonic minor. There are many songs that are in minor keys. Toccata and Fugue in d minor by J.S. Bach is one example. Ominous, isn't it? Well, not all minor pieces sound that way, some minor key pieces are very peaceful and reflective such as Chopin's Mazurka in b minor, beautifully interpreted here by Vladimir Horowitz. Some minor pieces are playful and light such as Mozart's Rondo Alla Turca which is in "a" minor.
We sang "Little Brown Beagle" (mixolydian). See June 3rd. The theme from Star Trek: The Next Generation is another example of a piece in Mixolydian. =)
I played the piano piece called "Silly Willy" (track 31) by Marilyn Lowe for the children. Please listen to track 31 this week. I did not send home the info sheet for the piece because I simply want the children to be listening to the piece in preparation for next week. Continue to work with your child on "The Woodpecker" and "The Apple and the Worm" at the piano this week.
To close the class, I sang the story song, "Kitty Alone", and played my Uke. This story is a quiet song, and is really a lullaby. The children listened intently and were very relaxed. You'll find a beautiful recording of the song, as sung by Jean Ritchie in 1956. (Track 7)
Saw a crow a flying low
Kitty alone, Kitty alone
Saw a crow a flying low
Kitty alone a lye
Saw a crow a flying low
And a cat a spinning tow
Kitty alone a lye
Rock a ma rye ree
In came a little bat
Kitty alone, Kitty alone
In came a little bat
Kitty alone a lye
In came a little bat
With some butter and some fat
Kitty alone a lye
Rock a ma rye ree
Next came in was a honey bee...
With a fiddle across his knee...
Next come in were two little bats...
Fixing around to have a dance...
Next come in was little Pete...
Fixing around to go to sleep...
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Do Re Music Notes June 3
We began class by singing our hello song today, "Hello Everybody, Yes Indeed":
You will find the hello song on your class CD Track 1 as sung by children's folk singer Rachel Buchman from her CD entitled "Hello Everybody" I really love this CD and fortunately it's now available on iTunes. I grew up with this on LP in the early 80's. I believe it was released in the 70's although I can't seem to find an exact release date.
Hello Everybody, Yes indeed, Yes indeed, Yes indeed
Hello Everybody, Yes indeed, Yes indeed my darling
Hello (child's name), Yes indeed, Yes indeed, Yes indeed
Hello (child's name), Yes indeed, Yes indeed my darling
We warmed up our voices today by drawing vocal maps on the white board. Some of our maps looked like roller coasters and some looked like mountains. We sang the shape we drew by singing "oooh" and changing our pitch as the vocal map went up or down.
Our minor key song was "Leaves are Falling" Track 33 on your CD. It is the second melody on the track and falls between the seconds (0:19-0:26)
We had lots of fun with the Mixolydian song, "Little Brown Beagle" Track 33 (2:25-2:41). In this song we clap and jump after many of the phrases. The Mixolydian mode is like the Major (Ionian) scale except that the 7th pitch is lowered. Parents:"You Really Got Me" by the Kinks is based on the Mixolydian mode. Give it a listen and I think you'll begin to realize that you've probably heard this mode before but may have not known know it was called Mixolydian! Many of Jazz, Blues, Latin and Rock music also utilizes this mode.
The children took turns singing a "Frog in the Meadow" Solo. We are also learning a new song this week "Pitter Patter". Today the children were invited to listen to me as I sang the song for the first time.
Pitter Patter, Pitter Patter
Listen to the Rain
Pitter Patter, Pitter Patter
On my Windowpane
Today we improvised musical conversations (arioso). The children are beginning to sing their ariosos. Some are using "Frog in the Meadow" as their arioso which is a very good start!
We listened to Orff intsrumental recordings as we moved to music today Track 28. As we listened to the music we moved, danced, bounded, skipped around the room, changing movements as the music changed. Feeling the music and using our imaginations to decide which move to do next.
Today's rhythmic chant:
Bate Bate Chocolate
Bate Bate Chocolate
Con arroz y con tomate
Today's story song was Jenny Jenkins. Each child took turns picking a color that Jenny might wear. However, it seems she didn't like any of them! We had fun trying to figure out what rhymed with Orange and Purple. A couple of students thought of Porridge for Orange. And Burple for Purple! There's a wonderful recording of Jenny Jenkins on your CD by the late Jerry Garcia and David Grisman from the "Not Just for Kid's" CD: which is, true to it's title, very listenable!
You will find the hello song on your class CD Track 1 as sung by children's folk singer Rachel Buchman from her CD entitled "Hello Everybody" I really love this CD and fortunately it's now available on iTunes. I grew up with this on LP in the early 80's. I believe it was released in the 70's although I can't seem to find an exact release date.
Hello Everybody, Yes indeed, Yes indeed, Yes indeed
Hello Everybody, Yes indeed, Yes indeed my darling
Hello (child's name), Yes indeed, Yes indeed, Yes indeed
Hello (child's name), Yes indeed, Yes indeed my darling
We warmed up our voices today by drawing vocal maps on the white board. Some of our maps looked like roller coasters and some looked like mountains. We sang the shape we drew by singing "oooh" and changing our pitch as the vocal map went up or down.
Our minor key song was "Leaves are Falling" Track 33 on your CD. It is the second melody on the track and falls between the seconds (0:19-0:26)
We had lots of fun with the Mixolydian song, "Little Brown Beagle" Track 33 (2:25-2:41). In this song we clap and jump after many of the phrases. The Mixolydian mode is like the Major (Ionian) scale except that the 7th pitch is lowered. Parents:"You Really Got Me" by the Kinks is based on the Mixolydian mode. Give it a listen and I think you'll begin to realize that you've probably heard this mode before but may have not known know it was called Mixolydian! Many of Jazz, Blues, Latin and Rock music also utilizes this mode.
The children took turns singing a "Frog in the Meadow" Solo. We are also learning a new song this week "Pitter Patter". Today the children were invited to listen to me as I sang the song for the first time.
Pitter Patter, Pitter Patter
Listen to the Rain
Pitter Patter, Pitter Patter
On my Windowpane
Today we improvised musical conversations (arioso). The children are beginning to sing their ariosos. Some are using "Frog in the Meadow" as their arioso which is a very good start!
We listened to Orff intsrumental recordings as we moved to music today Track 28. As we listened to the music we moved, danced, bounded, skipped around the room, changing movements as the music changed. Feeling the music and using our imaginations to decide which move to do next.
Today's rhythmic chant:
Bate Bate Chocolate
Bate Bate Chocolate
Con arroz y con tomate
Today's story song was Jenny Jenkins. Each child took turns picking a color that Jenny might wear. However, it seems she didn't like any of them! We had fun trying to figure out what rhymed with Orange and Purple. A couple of students thought of Porridge for Orange. And Burple for Purple! There's a wonderful recording of Jenny Jenkins on your CD by the late Jerry Garcia and David Grisman from the "Not Just for Kid's" CD: which is, true to it's title, very listenable!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Do Re Music Notes Cancelled Last Week
Hi everybody, I'm finally feeling better after what the doctor thinks is an inner ear infection. Still a little off balance and symptoms could last for a while. See you tomorrow though! Can't wait to be back!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Do Re Music Notes May 13th
Vocal warmup- The Ice Cream Sundae-Today I read a poem by John Feierabend about a yummy ice cream sundae. After each stanza the children said: mmmm. This activity warmed up the children's voices.
Echo Song- No More Pie!
New song: Johnny on the Haypile
Simple song- Frog in the Meadow-Today the children sang Frog in the Meadow together and then each took a turn singing solo if they wanted too! Every student wanted to take a solo today!
Arioso-Today we sang musical conversations without words. We expressed different emotions through our singing such as: happy, sad, angry, surprised, etc.
Pitch Activity-See April 22nd.
Fingerplay-
Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill (bounce fists on thighs)
One named Jack (Thumbs up with right hand)
The other named Jill (Thumbs up with left hand)
Fly away Jack (Left hand behind back)
Fly away Jill (Right hand behind back)
Come back Jack (Bring left out)
Come back Jill (Bring right hand out)
At the Piano-The Woodpecker by Marilyn Lowe. To help your child play this at home on piano or keyboard:
First have them raise there arms in the air and drop them loosely, letting them swing. Ask "Can you feel the weight of your arms? Are they a bit heavy?"
Sit at the piano. Have them make two loose fists. Gently bounce right fist 4 times in the air. Without pause, gently bounce left fist 4 times in the air, repeat. Using the worksheet I sent home as a guide, find the groups of 3 black keys. Gently knock right fists 4 times on the black keys, gently knock left fists 4 times on the black keys, repeat. Hope this makes sense. :) If you have any questions parents feel free to call or email me!
Dance- Today we performed the a movement activity to "Walz in A flat by Johannes Brahms". See April 29th.
Song Tale- "Little Bird" as sung by Elizabeth Mitchell . Today I played the Ukulele and sang the song with the children. It was so much fun!
Echo Song- No More Pie!
New song: Johnny on the Haypile
Simple song- Frog in the Meadow-Today the children sang Frog in the Meadow together and then each took a turn singing solo if they wanted too! Every student wanted to take a solo today!
Arioso-Today we sang musical conversations without words. We expressed different emotions through our singing such as: happy, sad, angry, surprised, etc.
Pitch Activity-See April 22nd.
Fingerplay-
Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill (bounce fists on thighs)
One named Jack (Thumbs up with right hand)
The other named Jill (Thumbs up with left hand)
Fly away Jack (Left hand behind back)
Fly away Jill (Right hand behind back)
Come back Jack (Bring left out)
Come back Jill (Bring right hand out)
At the Piano-The Woodpecker by Marilyn Lowe. To help your child play this at home on piano or keyboard:
First have them raise there arms in the air and drop them loosely, letting them swing. Ask "Can you feel the weight of your arms? Are they a bit heavy?"
Sit at the piano. Have them make two loose fists. Gently bounce right fist 4 times in the air. Without pause, gently bounce left fist 4 times in the air, repeat. Using the worksheet I sent home as a guide, find the groups of 3 black keys. Gently knock right fists 4 times on the black keys, gently knock left fists 4 times on the black keys, repeat. Hope this makes sense. :) If you have any questions parents feel free to call or email me!
Dance- Today we performed the a movement activity to "Walz in A flat by Johannes Brahms". See April 29th.
Song Tale- "Little Bird" as sung by Elizabeth Mitchell . Today I played the Ukulele and sang the song with the children. It was so much fun!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)