A Great Beginning...

Our year in music is off to a strong start. Students began actively learning and making music the first class!

A few students still need to return their Music Class Expectations forms to me. Please let me know if you need another copy. I can even e-mail you a PDF version. My e-mail is marell@veaziecs.org

Here are some highlights from the first couple of weeks:

PreK

Students have been exploring the beat through various activities. They played a freeze dance game to different songs. They were introduced to a drum and each had a turn to play. We started learning a simple song and next time, students will learn how to conduct classmates as we sing.

K-3

Students in these grades have also been exploring the beat. We played several games to work on keeping a steady beat. We played freeze dance with a variety of music. We played "Switcharoo" so that each student got to explore each hand drum in the room. Each student got a turn to conduct the class in singing. Class ended on Thursday with students working on reading rhythms and playing these rhythms on drums. Next time, we will work on making our own music using what we have already learned to help us.

4-5 (General Music)

Our intermediate students have also had a variety of activities at a more challenging level. Activities included beat games, freeze dance (which is still fun after age 10 I have been told), drum circles (with students taking turns leading the drum pattern), singing ("We Built This City" and "Song Sung Blue"), conducting, and we got to the point of reading rhythms and playing them on drums. Next time, we will work on making our own music. We always end our classes by walking to the door to the beat of a song (the song changes each class).

4-8 Band

Full band is off to a thrilling start this year. By now, I believe that each student has selected an instrument, but it is never to late to join! As a full group, we have worked on keeping a beat, dividing the beat evenly, and making a sound that matches the sound of classmates around us. On Thursday, we had a great experience working in groups of the same or similar instruments. 2nd year and beyond players acted as the teachers as they demonstrated their instruments to 1st year players and showed them how to assemble, hold, and produce sound on their new instruments. It was a beautiful thing watching these young students become leaders and teach and encourage their less experienced classmates. I heard great phrases like "You are doing so well. That took me a long time to learn last year", "See how I put my fingers there, now you try it", and "You are next on the drum set. Try to do what I just did". We are fortunate to have beginners at all grade levels as well as experienced players that enhance the learning process for all involved.

Middle School Band

Our Middle School learners are building confidence through playing exercises and *gasp* REAL songs! We have been working on feeling the beat as a group and tuning notes (matching) when we play. We have become masters of our first scale. On Tuesday, we started learning We Will Rock You. As part of that experience, we were introduced to Group Improvisation. Improvisation means students take the notes that they know and create their own melodies, riffs, licks, whatever you would like to call these original ideas. The "Group" part of the name means that they create these original ideas all at the same time. To the outsider, it sounds messy. But to the learner, especially with vulnerable Middle School egos, it means no one can hear you enough to "judge" you. After trying it a few times, a couple of students even asked if the could solo improvise as the rest of the class cheered them on. On Thursday, we started learning Eye of the Tiger and we will continue to look at this next week.

Middle School Chorus

Last, only because "Band" comes before "Chorus" in alphabetical order. This incredible group of eager learners has been making incredible progress. We began with exploring vocal warmups (different exercises that introduce us to our own voice and how to control it). Our big vocal tip so far is "if something hurts while you are singing, stop and readjust before you try again". We have worked on low breathing--filling to the bottom of our lungs. We practiced creating space inside our head by dropping our jaw and raising our soft palate. We then explored how music is written in the sense of how the beat is separated visually. To practice this, we rapped a couple of selections. Some students became so confident with this, that they volunteered to rap solo! We then looked at many different examples of melodic contour (shape) and started to discuss degrees of notes within a scale. We ended our classes by singing full songs that the students (hopefully) are already familiar with "Mamma Mia", as featured in the recent sequel, and "Firework" by Katy Perry.

I am very pleased with the progress that students are already making and I look forward to more great experiences with these learners!

Mr. Arell
marell@veaziecs.org