Spooky Soundtracks by 5th graders

Back in October of 2013 5th grade students composed "spooky soundtracks" in small groups using the iPad app Garageband. Students began by listening to some examples of spooky music, such as music that people might play for trick or treaters or scary music they hear in the movies. They brainstormed ideas by creating a list of sound elements they heard in the examples, such as creaking stairs or wind whistling. On the iPad app Garageband students used the Smart Bass, Smart Keyboard, Smart Strings, and some also used the real mic to capture classroom instruments and voices.

Below are some examples of the finished products. Boo!

5 Little Snowmen iPad Videos

The 3rd and 4th graders made "5 Little Snowmen" videos using the iPad app iMovie. Students were broken into groups of five and each given a role. Some students recorded the poem and took pictures for the video, while others were assigned specific snowmen/scenes to draw. The videos were made in their Arts Enrichment block, led by the art, library, and music teachers.

Here is the "5 Little Snowmen" poem (found here):

"5 Little Snowmen sitting on the ground.
The first one said, "Oh my! Aren't we round."
The second one said, "There are snowflakes in the air."
The third one said, "But we don't care."
The fourth one said, "Let's run and run and run."
The fifth one said, "I'm ready for some winter fun!"
"Wooooooo" went the wind and out came the sun.
And the five little snowmen knew their fun was done."

4th GRADE VIDEOS:

3rd GRADE VIDEOS

Chorus videos to practice

Here are two links to chorus dances we are doing for healthy brains week and our upcoming concert on May 21st. Please note that students are not mirroring these dances but doing the same exact thing as the dancers in the video. Aka, if the dancer uses their left leg students use their left leg.

Hungry to Learn:

Forever Learning: 

Simple Gifts link for Band Students

Below is a link to the mp3 for "Simple Gifts", which we are playing in 5th grade band. Students should note that this recording is a faster tempo than what we have been practicing together. They may try to play along, or just listen to get a better idea of the overall sound and how their part fits into the piece.

Enjoy!

http://listeninglab.stantons.com/title/simple-gifts/259002/?s=1

Hungry to Learn Bulletin Board!

There is a new "Hungry to Learn" bulletin board outside the music room! 

What are you hungry to learn in music?! 

Music is such a treat! Below are the National Music Standards we experience in music class.

Found here

Don't miss the Spring Concert "Hungry to Learn" on May 21st in the DBS Gymnasium at 6:30 PM! This concert features the 4th graders on ukulele, 4/5 chorus, and 5th grade band.

Loose tooth sound poem by K/1

The second week in K/1 of our "Bye Bye Baby Tooth" theme, students performed a sound poem called "Loose Tooth." In sound poems students play instruments on certain words. Below is a picture of the Loose Tooth poem. Woodblocks play on the pink words "loose tooth", egg shakers play on the green words "wiggly, jiggly", hand drums play on the yellow words "thread", "bed", and "head", cymbals play on the gray word "quarter", and the ratchet plays on the orange word "hole".

From Interactive Now Volume 1

Here is Mrs. Raney's 1st grade class performing "Loose Tooth":

Here is Mrs. Schultz's Kindergarten class performing "Loose Tooth":

Loose tooth compositions

In K/1 we made loose tooth compositions. We learned about beats and rests while making a whole-class composition, on the Smartboard, with teeth as the beats and missing teeth as the rests! Then students got some big red lips and paper teeth to make their own compositions in pairs. How fun!