SEPTEMBER to MID-NOVEMBER:
Here we are in the middle of November, reflecting on what the first two, and a half months of music classes have held for the students at SES!
Here’s an overview of what students have participated in so far, during their forty-five minute classes, held twice, per six day cycle:
1. SCHOOL SONG, set to the tune, “I Love the Mountains. Here are the lyrics, complied from student suggestions, and that support the character building initiatives of the school. Students have enjoyed learning the instrumental accompaniment parts to this song, including bass guitar, drum kit, ukuleles, finger cymbals, tubanos, keyboard, tambourine, vibraslap, sound shapes, and rhythm sticks. Students have rotated from one instrument section to another throughout classes. music reading of notes on the musical staff, and musical elements that create expression have also been discussed.
“Stratford Elementary, it’s a favourite place to be! With our friends we learn and play, showing kindness is the way! Join with us to sing this song; we can sing it all day long! School-dee-ah-da, school-dee-ah-da, school-dee-ah-da, school-dee-ah-da, School-dee-ah-da, school-dee-ah-da, school-dee-ah-da, school-dee-ah-da,
We respect our classmates; we lend a helping hand, we care for those around around us, we will take a stand!
Stratford Elementary, it’s a favourite place to be! With our friends we learn and play, showing kindness is the way! Join with us to sing this song; we can sing it all day long! School-dee-ah-da, school-dee-ah-da, school-dee-ah-da, school-dee-ah-da, School-dee-ah-da, school-dee-ah-da, school-dee-ah-da, school-dee-ah-da, STRATFORD SCHOOL! 🙂
Here is a video of the Discovery Chsnnel’s version of our song!
2. MUSIC ACROSS the AGES
Students have been discussing periods in history, from a musical perspective, discussing characteristics of each, as identified as:
MIDDLE AGES, RENAISSANCE, BAROQUE, CLASSICAL, ROMANTIC, 20th CENTURY, and NOW! We have made a time line on our music room wall, and have been adding songs and instrumental music to this visual display, according to when the music was composed and performed.
3. UKULELE 101
Students enjoyed a mini-unit on ukulele, learning/reviewing the C7, C, G and F chords, as well as reviewing holding and playing positions that involve the following reminders:
Hold the chicken gently by the neck; your chicken wing keeps the instrument close to your body; keep the body of the instrument next to your appendix; the instrument is held at an angle like a tutor jet taking off, within the Snowbird’s, Canada’s military flight aerobatic team; place shy, Farmer Fred, your left hand thumb behind the neck of the instrument, arch your left hand, as if you’re holding a raw egg, as you play; strum the nylon strings, gently, as if your thumb is a chicken feather.
Grade 5-6 classes learned the chords to the school song, F Major, d minor, G Major, C Major. Grade 4 students learned the C7 chord to play, “Lime in the Coconut”. FUN!!!
4. THANKSGIVING
We discussed what thanksgiving means: giving thanks. We shared ways that we show thanks for what we have and appreciate. We watched two videos, and sang along with one: “All that I am; all that I see; all that I did, and all that I’ll ever be; it’s a blessing; it’s amazing.” We also shared ways to support others less fortunate, and how to stand up against bullying.
5. HALLOWE’EN
We listened to Johann Sebastian Bach’s, “Tocatta and Fugue in D minor”, Berlioz’s “Symphonie Fantastique”; and, Camille Saint Saens, “Danse Macabre”. Some classes dramatized, the story of Danse Macabre. We sang, “The Ghost of John”, and had a visit from, special guest, “Stingy Jack”, who through drama and acting, shared the origins of the Jack o’ Lantern. All of this, led to a discussion of the musical elements of music as identified in a descriptive way, by well-known, American bass player, Victor Wooten:
1. Groove 2. Notes 3. Articulation/Duration 4. Technique 5. Emotion/Feel 6. Dynamics 7. Rhythm/Tempo 8. Tone 9. Phrasing 10. Space/Rest 11. Listening
Then, we brainstormed in small groups or as a full class, a story line that began with the words, ‘On a dark and stormy night”. Once the story was complete, we expressively read the story, adding sound effects, using a multitude of instruments, and discussing how in using various musical elements, we were creating, “PROGRAMMATIC MUSIC”.
6. ALLADIN.
Two years ago, the students at SES produced the musical, Alladin. Students watched this performance, focusing on the story line, and analyzing how dramatic and musical expression plays a crucial role in any presentation.
7. VIOLA DESMOND, THE UNITED NATIONS, and the DECLARATION of HUMAN RIGHTS This unit is leading to a whole school assembly for students, on November 30th, with Monique LeBlanc, representative of the Bank of Canada, introducing to our students, the new $10 bill, featuring Viola Desmond. Tom Hilton, education coordinator at the PEI Department of Human Rights will also be in attendance.
The song, “Free to be You and Me”, by, “The New Seekers”, will be sung at this assembly, led by the school’s Honour choir, complete with a demonstration-style parade.
“There’s a land that I see, where the children are free, and I say, it ain’t far to this land from where we are. Take my hand, come with me, where the children are free. Come with me, take my hand, and we’ll live…In a land where the river runs free; in a land through the green country; in a land to a shining sea; and, you and me are free to be, you and me!”
8. CREATE YOUR OWN BANK NOTE
Students are invited to create their own $10 bank note, featuring a Canadian person who has made a significant contribution to the lives of others, within Canada and beyond, from a human rights perspective. The dominant colour should be purple. The note should be double sided, and feature a picture of the person who the student is inspired by. There should be at least seven symbols that represent the contribution of the individual. All student work will be featured in a slide show for the assembly, and three students will be selected to speak to the school about their design. Isn’t this exciting! 🙂
More to follow, as the year progresses! Cant wait!!
Music Matters 