It’s hard to believe that the 2020-2021 school year began six months ago! We’re grateful that all is well, with thanks to so many in our school, community, and on the whole of our small island.
What have we been accomplishing in the upstairs music room this year, with the contribution of the grade 4 English students, and all the grade 5 and 6 classes? Although our music curriculum and outcomes have been significantly revised to accommodate Covid protocol, we’ve been learning and enjoying lots of activities, as outlined below, having 2 music classes, every 6 day cycle.
September 8th – 28th
Discussions: What is music? What does it mean to you? How is a collaborative experience? How does it inspire kindness, and cooperation?
Songs to Analyze: 1. Walk Off the Earth, “Oh, What a Feeling” 2. Travers and Sons, “Smile!” 3. From Toy Story, “You’ve Got a Friend Like Me” 4. Beethoven, “Fur Elise” 5. Magic Dragon, “Believer”. 6. Paper Lions, “Believer” 7. John Williams, ” Raiders of the Lost Ark” 8. Okay Go, ‘Obsession” 9. Rachel Beck, “Reckless Heart”
Definitions of music: Let’s create our own!
What is “Song Form”? Analyze songs above to determine. (intro, verse, chorus, interlude, outdo, etc.)
Mood and Lyrics: How does a composer/singer/song-writer create mood? think of musical elements, such as melody, harmony, dynamics, pulse, instrumentation, tempo, etc.
What is Rondo Form? ABACA (Examples: “Fur Elise”, “Raiders of the lost Ark) Create your own composition in Rondo Form, using sticks to tap, or to gently hit the back of a chair, and body percussion.Experiment within a small group and/or with the whole class, divided into 3-4 subgroups, each with a different, but complementary rhythm.
September 29th – October 16
Orange Shirt Day inspired us to think about caring and kindness. What is the meaning of Orange Shirt Day? How can we ensure tragedies like the 60’s scoop, never happen again?
How do the following songs, help us understand empathy? Five for fighting, “What If?”; “What is Caring?”: DJ Shub, “Indomitable”; Thailand Insurance, “Unsung Hero”.
Flags of each of the 28 countries that represent the birthplace of students who have music upstairs, are now on display in the music room! We are in process of adding an additional 10, to feature parents’ roots/culture as it’s a part of our community as well! Within each music period, we admire 4-5 pictures from a selected country, that show urban and rural living, animals, celebrations, natural wonders, and foods. We also watch a video to learn about traditional music/dance from that country. It’s been amazing to see the smiles from the students who are from each specific country, and to hear many kids saying how excited they are to learn about a variety of cultures. We’re realizing that dancing, singing, family, friends, fun, food, candles, and the colour red, are celebrated by most people around the world!
Music to Relax: Have you ever invited 20+ kids to sprawl out on the floor, close their eyes, remain silent(!), and listen reflectively to calming music? Well, a couple grade 4 classes did this! Afterwards, comments such as, “Wow, I really needed that”, and “When can we do that again?”, were made!
October 19 – November 6th
Danse Macabre, by Camille Saint Saëns. After learning of Camille’s life story, students heard the story of Danse Macabre, based on a French poem. A sheet of questions was distributed to students, a word search, and pencil sketches were made of students’ favourite scene from the story. It’s truly unbelievable how Camile Saint Saëns cold create such beautiful and kind of spooky music, following his tragic happenings of his life. Perhaps his gift of music carried him through difficult times. Little did he know how much enjoyment his music would bring to many, throughout several generations.
Monster Mash: students created various rhythmic patterns to play along to this fun, Hallowe’en song.
MUSICAL UNITS in ukulele, circle drumming, creating sound stories, and rock/stage band, have begun for 5 cohorts of students(10 classes), who will video-record their accomplishments, and share with parents/guardians before the December holidays. The remaining 4 cohorts(8 classes) will complete a similar project in the new year/spring.
Rhythm Reading: We are learning rhythmic notation, quarter notes, half notes, whole notes, etc., and their time names, in preparation for students creating and performing their own rhythms, which we’ll call rhythm riddles! We’ve share a few riddles just for fun, and studied the video by, Five for Fighting, “The Riddle”, in an attempt to figure out it’s meaning.
Remembrance Day preparation: We shared a basic overview of WW2, with contributions by many knowledgeable students; read a short poem by Michel Hauer, called, “Just One”, and learned of her father’s survival as a captive during the Holocaust, and his forgiveness of those who persecuted him. We also reviewed the poems, “In Flanders Fields”, and “Words of Remembrance”. Islander singer/song-writer, Andrew Waite recently released a video of a song he wrote, inspired by the writings of his grandfather who served in the Canadian Forces, the last last letter as it turned out before his passing. Andrew’s video is called, “Cash It In”. In response to conflict, and the need for peace, India Arie and Idan Rachel, wrote a song a few years ago, called, “Gift of Acceptance”, featured at the Nobel Peace Prize concert, 2010. This song had been the opening song of our December concerts in the gym, for the past 9 years. It’s a great discussion starter, and an example of how music can inspire change.
More to come, as the year progresses! 🙂
November 9th – March 5th
A rotation of classes have been video recording musical performances, for the purpose of sharing with parents some of their accomplishments. With 18 classes, containing over 400 students, and 9 cohorts, it’s been impossible for all students to use the same equipment and instruments at the same time. Students have been patient and respectful of this, realizing that we are adhering to the Covid protocols of our school/province, to ensure everyone’s safety. It’s been a challenging year on many levels, but with the cooperation of all, we’re learning many life lessons. Thank you!
Recorded performances so far:
4A and 4B presented a ukulele song about Stratford Elementary School, based on the tune, “Lime in the Coconut”!
4C and 4D did a short piece, “We Are Circling”, by Buffy Sainte Marie, to complement the Sound Story, “Ruddy the Fox and Mouse Bring Summer”, by Julie Pellissier-Lush. We haven’t completed the sound story yet, as a result of more logistical details to figure out than anticipated, but, progress is being made, and the recordings should be completed soon!
5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D had a great time with a creative rhythmic routine using sticks, to the beat of the seasonal song, “Sleigh Ride”.
6B and 6C created rousing covers of, “Stompa”, by Serena Ryder, and at present, 6F and 6G now have the use of the instruments to do the same.
5/6Z is beginning to work on a sound story.
5G is learning a first nations song, while 5F and 6D are creating a puppet show to accompany the song, “Best Day of My Life”.
Please note: These projects are being straddled amidst music appreciation lessons. Again, please appreciate that due to Covid, these performances are not able to happen simultaneously.
So, what else have we been excited to learn about amidst all of the above?
- “The Nutcracker Suite”, by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, introducing students to the story upon which it’s based; a Zoomba version to dance along to; an introduction to the life of a ballet dancer; the various musical movements within the ballet; and, a spin off version of the Nutcracker’s Overture, by jazz musician, Duke Ellington!
- Within our multi-cultural community of Stratford, we learned about Mid-Autumn Festival, Hanukkah, Chinese New Year’s, Martin Luther King Day(favourite quote posters), and Baba Marta Day, all involving music listening, and learning of the stories and foundational pillars of each event and how stories, current events, celebrations, and emotions are reflected in music.
- Beethoven Project. Movie: “Beethoven Lives Upstairs”; listening lessons, Beethoven’s Greatest Hits; a listening fun sheet; review of musical terminology, musical expression, musical elements and terms, Beethoven Bingo, and more!
- Gustav Holst, “The Planets”. The connection to music for this study, is NASA’s Perseverence Misson to Mars! Music really does relate to everything…to life! We are listening to each of the seven planets represented by Holst’s music, and each child has been asked to respond to the emotion they feel, in response to the music. Through this learning, students are learning how music expresses what you feel, and how making music, or listening to music is a healthy response to emotion.
- Jam sessions. Due to scheduling, just a couple classes have enjoyed jam sessions so far, where each child chooses an instrument off the back shelf, and keeps the beat, together with his/her/their classmates. The main goal, is students keeping the balance/volume of their sound in mind. This activity is a creative one that helps us all feel, “in the groove”, co-operating and celebrating music together!
- Students who have music on Days 3 and 6, will soon be participating in a Department of Education initiative; an “ArtsSmarts project”, focusing on Diversity in Music! We’ve had to reschedule this opportunity 3 times, because of 2 storm days and the recent, 3 day lock down due to Covid, but hope to learn from our assigned, special guest, the week after March Break. Students involved in this project are encouraged to share their new learning with parents.
THANK YOU to all students, parents, staff, and admin for making a challenging year due to Covid, a safe, and meaningful one, in which we have learned much about cooperation, patience, sharing, and caring for the well-being of those around us. We are meeting our curriculum outcomes in music, although somewhat differently from years past, but in the process developing new strategies and experiences for the students that we might not have pursued before! We are fortunate, with much to be grateful for this year, and always, at Stratford Elementary!
Music Matters 