New Worksheets on the Crescendo Website

Yesterday I uploaded a bunch of new worksheets to the Crescendo Music Website. Go to Downloads and then Worksheets and you will find these exciting new goodies under Missing Notes and Missing Bars.


Missing Notes
Each worksheet features one song in staff notation with some notes missing. These sheets can be completed independently, as a class, or even as an assessment task.
Free:
Bluebells
For Members:
Chicken in a Fence Post
Dinah
Hot Cross Buns
Lucy Locket
Mister Sun
Naughty Pussy Cat

Missing Bars
Each worksheet features one song in staff notation with some notes missing. These sheets can be completed independently, as a class, or even as an assessment task.
Free:
Bluebells
For Members:
Chicken in a Fence Post
Dinah
Hot Cross Buns
Lucy Locket
Mister Sun
Naughty Pussy Cat

Check them out today at www.crescendo.com.au.

Being Positive

A recent U.S. News and World Report article, "Positive Psychology for Kids: Teaching Resilience with Positive Education" says that adults can help kids by encouraging them to think positively.

Psychologists Karen Reivich and Jane Gillham aim to use positive psychology on the youngest members of society to prevent them from later struggling with anxiety, depression, or other psychological problems. An estimated 2 million or so 12- to 17-year-olds experience clinical depression annually, and Reivich and Gillham have found that building resilience in younger children can help thwart depression before it starts.

Positivity has to start with us though and I found this little test you can do to help you see what kind of a positive person you are. Click here to take the test, only take you a minute or so and makes you think about your life and how positive you really are.

For a bit more of a read on this subject check out If bees are few blog.

Keep smiling.

xxx

Crescendo Music

Invest in yourself so you have more to give

I was reading one of the blogs I follow and came across this very good article by Amy Gould. Here is just a snippet, you can read the rest of the blog at MusicTeachersHelper.com.

Being a teacher requires you to give a lot of your energy to your students. If you don’t spend time taking care of yourself and replenishing your own energy levels, you may get burned out. Here are a few ideas that I’ve come up with to help you replenish your own energy. If you add a couple of these to your weekly schedule, they will pay off big time.

Start or make over a work out

Any way you can take time for yourself is a good thing, but working out is good for a lot of reasons. It raises your endorphins, which are the feel good hormones. It helps reduce stress. Plus you will increase your lung capacity and stamina. Even getting out and going for a bike ride or a walk will improve your outlook.

Read for fun

Take a look at the list of recommended books from your library. Pick something fun that you might read if you were a kid. (no self help books, educational reading or anything else applies.) Spend as much time as you can getting lost in the book (no guilt allowed either.)

These are just a couple of things mentioned on the website. Check it out, its a good read.

Rain, Rain go away

Well today is another lovely rainy day in Brisbane. The rain has come again. We have gone from being in drought to being flooded. But with the rain comes some great opportunities for indoor games with your kids in the classroom.

Check out Crescendo Music for some great game ideas.

www.crescendo.com.au

Music Teachers Help

Just uploaded is a new section under the Music Teaching Help tab at Crescendo Music “Hello Songs” These songs are just some simple, piggy-back Hello Songs. Piggy-pack songs are simply different words put to a known melody. One of these songs may become part of your daily routine! Check them out today!

New Link Updates on the Website

Hi all

Just spent some time adding some great website links to Crescendo Music Education website. I have been reading some fabulous blogs and thought that I should share my great finds. Also discovered some excellent teaching resources too.

Go to www.crescendo.com.au and checkout the new links. If you register and become a member you will have access to even more.

Happy music teaching.

:)

Helping Children To Sing In Tune

Below is part of an article featured on the Crescendo website. Click here for the whole article.

Why do some children sing out of tune?

• They may not hear the sound of their own voice
• They may not understand the difference between singing and speaking
• They may not have had good models to imitate
• Too much accompaniment
• Repertoire may not be appropriate
• Lack of confidence
• Physical defect

How can you help?

• Provide a safe secure environment
• Be or provide a good model
• Choose appropriate materials
• Pitch
• Rang
• Tempo
• Sit a child having difficulty next to a nice singer
• Children sing alone often
• Encourage and accept all efforts but do not say ‘good’ if it is not
• ‘Thank you’
• 1. say persons name
• 2. throw bean bag as high as you possible and make the noise with your voice
• 3. Sit down after you throw helicopter
• Encourage soft singing - you all must be able to hear the person beside you

The older children are the longer it takes to help them to sing in tune.

The whole article can be found at Crescendo Music.

Check this out, its cool

Check out this website I discovered through Betty's Blog. You type in an expression and, choose a language, and with a simple click, a lady says it. It's even possible to change the effects and hear it said in a lot of unique ways.

Great for kids that are learning to read and spell. They can hear their words said back to them. They even have an Aussie accent that almost sounds real.

It is great to have a play and try and discover the many ways you could use this. Technology is wonderful really.

Check it out here. Have fun.

Reward Ideas

This list of ideas was compiled during a music teachers workshop. The complete list can be found at www.crescendo.com.au

There are bound to be some new ideas to try, some old ones to revisit and hopefully find something that will be of benefit to you.

Reward Ideas

• CD’s – able to bring one in the following week
• Stickers – different sizes (small give often – medium occasionally – large – must be outstanding to get) - scratch and smell are a real hit with students
• Bookmarks/booktags (homemade music ones – use wrapping paper and laminate them)
• Bag tags
• Team points – let winning team line up first or choose activity
• Choose a game – use instruments
• Bookmarks
• Good points
• A full lesson of music games
• A special instrument for the lesson – choose a student to play
• Contemporary Dance – play popular music eg. ‘So Fresh’ (radio edits therefore no swearing) – students work in groups to prepare a routine to the class (one minute only)
• Music ‘Worker of the Week’ announced at assembly
• Give students a chance to perform/improvise for class
• Certificates for good manners, good listening, beautiful singing, most improved
• Puppets – students hold
• Listen to a song/CD of their choice – your music
• Start small with rewards
• Choose someone sitting up straight and singing nicely to begin a game
• Smiley face on board for good behaviour
• Positive Behaviour Management eg “I like the way ‘Jane’ is sitting”
• Newsletter mention
• Phone call to parents
• Public mention in class time
• Praise by other teachers
• Given special jobs
• Given royal names – ie. Should behave like one
• Special play times in the music room (a group of friend in a class etc.)

This is just a taste of the full list. Check out www.crescendo.com.au for other great music resources.