Autumn is Here

 Autumn is Here!

Autumn is Here

The Grade 3/4's have been participating in music activities around the concept of Autumn.  We have sung 'Falling Leaves' as a round, and we played the song on the Orff Instruments.  We read the story 'In the Middle of Fall'.  We also had a wonderful time participating in Mr. Del Gaudio's  'Autumn is Here' song and instrument activity.  All students had a turn to play the woodblocks, drums, shakers, bells and triangles.  Each instrument represented a different part of the lyrics in the song.  

Grade 1 and 2 Xylophone/Metallophone

 Grade 1 and 2 Xylophone/Metallophone

The Grade 1's and 2's recently had their first Xylophone/Metallophone (Orff instruments) lesson of the year.  They enjoyed playing a chord to the beat during the song 'Falling Leaves'.  

We focussed on gently playing the beat, playing on the middle of the key with our mallets (the bellybutton of the key) and holding our mallets like a turtle.

We are using  a new poster to help with playing the Orff instruments:

We have always talked about 'Bicycle Hands' while holding our mallets  - however they are responding well to thinking about a turtle.  Turtles have long necks and short tails so we need to keep our hands with an open grasp closer to the end of the mallet (by the tail).

 

Hey! Hey! Look at Me!

 Hey! Hey! Look at Me! 

Kindergarten has been working with an action song called 'Hey! Hey! Look at Me!'

There are many Music curriculum connections with this song:

• moving to the beat
• listening and moving our bodies to show the high and low sounds
• music can be fast or slow
• music can be loud or quiet
• using our singing voice and speaking voice

Playing the Spoons

 Spoons

The Grade 5/6 students recently practiced playing the Spoons.  

We focused on:

• maintaining a steady beat at different tempos
• playing the spoons between their still hand and their lap.  We talked a lot about keeping the hand still while playing  - and producing the sound by playing the spoons back and forth between the hand and the leg.