Keeping Up Our Craft

I perform on my flute and piccolo with the Pueblo Municipal Band.  I have also become the vocalist for them this year!  I have so much fun.  There have been years that I did not have a musical outlet for myself other than in the classroom.  I have so much more enthusiasm in my teaching when I can share my passion in another way.  I encourage you all to keep performing!!!

Pueblo Municipal Band Christmas Concert 2014!!

Elf On A Shelf In the Music Room

A student asked in early December why there was not an Elf On The Shelf In the music room.  

So I decided to give it a try.

Day 1 and 2: The elf arrived hanging out with our friend Leo with these notes: 

       

Day 2 Hanging in the tree...

Days 3 and 4 He found out that the students voted and his name is Jimmy Jingles!

            He discovered instruments around the classroom!  Jimmy Jingles also left us a song to sing.

Days 5 and 6:  Jimmy Jingles discovered the recorder!!!

We only had 6 school days after Jimmy joined us before break!  For the two literacy testing days he   hung out in the wreath near my desk watching me grade papers and do grades.

Jimmy came home with me for the break and we received his door to the North Pole from a friend.

He will be back to the music room next year!!!

Nutcracker

As a music teacher I think it is important for students to recognize music that is familiar in the world around them.   For example a student several years ago, upon hearing the main theme of the Hallelujah Chorus, excitedly told me that he knew where the song was from.  Spongebob!, he told me excitedly.  Along these lines I teach third graders a unit based on the Nutcracker Ballet,  We focus on form, overture, ballet, theme, history, and instruments.  We do movement, rhythm and singing activities in addition to attending a performance at the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center.  The unit and activities are always very exciting for the students.  This year I added a Nutcracker Spotting wall where students could add where they had heard music from the Nutcracker outside of the music room.  Students from all grades participated in this activity and it was a huge success.

After attending the ballet the students write a review of the performance.  All students should see the value of writing in all subjects.  We discuss what a review is and read samples, the students pre write and then write a final draft.  I grade the students on content for this piece.  Here are a few cute ones.

Second Grade Instrument Projects!!

Students started bringing in their instrument creations yesterday!  Today's presentations were very exciting.  The students knew what was expected of them based on the rubric in a previous post. 

Just a sample of some of the great things they came up with!!

You're Out

Just a thought...

   When I play passing games where someone gets out (Pick A Pumpkin, Apple Tree, Oboi Asi) I don't like the students to just sit and watch the rest of the class play.  So I usually have them get rhythm sticks to tap the beat with so that they have something to focus on.

Instrument Families Grade 2

As part of the second grade unit, Musical Ecosystem (http://www.cde.state.co.us/standardsandinstruction/curriculumoverviews-bycontent#MU ) must learn to identify and categorize instruments into the correct family.  I have the students review basics by making a page for their own Musical Instrument Family Book after we discuss each family.

Following the learning of all families students must make their own instrument.

I can't wait to post pictures of some of the completed projects!!!

Halloween Musical Jack-O-Lanterns

First grade students have been working on drawing and recognizing musical symbols.

We display our Musical Pumpkin Patch in the hallway after the students create Jack-O-Lanterns 

using music symbols as the face!!!

Love this for 5th grade first day.  They struggled with the activity, then we discussed that they had been taught all these things throughout elementary school and that they will all be on the district music test in February.  This led us to a discussion about paying attention, practicing, and retaining what they learn while in the music room.

Rockstar Music Room

 My hallway board, just took last years notes off the staff and will add a picture of each class being rockstars throughout the year!

 Blooms Taxonomy for the music room!!  Love this as a constant reminder.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Blooms-in-Music-Rooms-1275431

 Frames for important things!!

Music Alphabet!  I need to be better about reinforcing vocabulary so I decided to attempt a word wall this year!!  This rocking' alphabet set was perfect!
 http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Classroom-Alphabet-Rockin-Rockstar-Theme-Wall-CardsPosters-Many-Sizes-742407

 Gotta have those standards posted!

Promethean Board/ Piano Wall

 School character education words and definitions.

Love these clouds from Mrs. Dennis as a warm up and review activity for all grades.

http://musicwithmrsdennis.blogspot.com/2013/01/110-free-music-education-apps.html

I needed a new theme to my room this year, so I decided Mrs. Kuhlman's Rockstars!!  A few years ago a parent gave me a box of 50 old scratched records to use how I wished.  I melted and made bowls and used some for programs, but this year they helped me decorate!