Creative Clutter and Music

I love using children's books as part of my curriculum.  I use them for teaching concepts, but some days I just want to sing with them!  The students of the John Denver and Kids series.  There are 5 total and my students asked if they would make more!!   http://www.amazon.com/Sunshine-Shoulders-Audio-Musical-Score/dp/1584690488/ref=pd_sim_14_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=51ByIGyf7UL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR138%2C160_&refRID=0W1FJNCH7Y6K25ZAJ6KW

I've always wanted to be a princess!! My staff decided to all be Disney characters this year, so I jumped at the chance to be Cinderella!!

I try to change my hallway display once per month so I thought I would post so far this year. This is always a go to board for the beginning of the year and I added pics with the description for the younger students. I have been incorporating art into the music room this year, as the students do not get an art class.  I started with a bang in September.  September 15 is International Dot Day, based on the book, The Dot by Peter H Reynolds.  This display was later accompanied by artwork from every child in the school!!  Each grade used a different medium and they loved the experience and discussions about leaving their mark on the world.  I was able to expand on the concept, discussing how musicians who have left their mark.  (Somehow I don't have a pic of the final wall.) http://www.thedotclub.org I love this one and the explanations (zoom in) but next time I will add pics for the little kiddos!!

So... I'm not sure if anchor charts are for the students or serve as a visual reminder for me.  I love the active listening one I made and can refer to to correct or redirect students, it hangs near where I stand in the room.  The other chart reminds me what to have the kids look for when examining a new piece of music.

Each class period one students gets to be the Music Maestro.  (I draw a number and all students in each class are numbered.). That student gets to sit in the chat and control the door and lights for me!  No more fighting over who will do things!! (And yes, I have permission to use this students picture!) 

March was Music In Our Schools Month Well, a bit late, but better than never.  My staff (ok 3/4 of them) completed surveys like the one here.  I took three statements, of music background or preference, from each staff member and posted them in the hallways with their names.  Students, staff and parents enjoyed ready the wide variety of music preferences and experiences!!

As my student teacher teaches the students about Ludwig Von Beethoven today I reflect on the timelessness of music.  Music is an ever changing and evolving medium of expression.  That being said there are pieces of music that, thanks to modern media, are interwoven into all of our lives.  As a music educator I feel it is important that students understand that songs like the theme from the Hallelujah Chorus did not "come from Spongebob".  Students and consumers alike must understand that quality music is enduring.  The Hallelujah Chorus was written in 1741 by Handel.  I ask my students, 'don't you think that it is a pretty well written piece if people still know it today'?  They generally agree.  With this realization and the fact that some students will receive no music education after elementary school, I decided to change my focus of music listening.  Each week students listen to a piece of music that they will recognize.  We always r...

FREDDIE THE FROG AND THE MIGHTY METERGNOME by Sharron Burch Two weeks ago our students performed Freddie the Frog and the Mighty Metergnome.  This musical by Sharron Burch was well written, with lines, catchy songs,cute characters and lots of music vocabulary!  I have always used the Freddie the Frog Series to teach musical concepts with second grade so I decided to use the musical as well.  I was concerned about second graders learning lines but they did quite well.    Here are a few guidelines I find helpful:      - Listen through:  To introduce the musical, we discuss what a musical performance is and what           their responsibilities will be.  We then listen to the recording of the entire show with lines and         songs while students have a paper and pencil in front of them..  The students are to draw or write         id...

More Music Room Centers!!! My students love doing centers!!!! Cuptastic Each student in the group has one cup and the group must come up with a pattern to pass the cups. Pitch Reading Practice Picked up this little tool at the convention last week!   Student groups for centers are right now leveled by their pitch reading capabilities. At this center, right next to me, students can practice reading bass and treble clef. More pitch reading fun!!   Students use their recorder or the xylophone and play the pitches on the cards.   Fifth graders use these cards.  Fourth grade students use other cards. Music Madness A board game I made years ago to practice treble clef pitch reading. Musical Pairs Buy It Here Rhythm Rockets Artie Almeida Music Proficiency Pack See It Here Don't Break The Ice Music Symbols on the ice cubes.   Students draw a term, typed on paper, and tap out the matching symbol. Found the id...