Friday Finds

Musical education in schools is an amazing pathway to the imperative development of children. However, not everyone knows this as well as we do. If you need a way to argue why music education is as important as we know it is, check out this list of the ‘Twelve Benefits of Music Education’.

Find it HERE

Friday Finds

Do you ever find, while on a creative streak, that you sometimes neglect your normal routines? Or, perhaps, you have always wondered why you are able to compose at all? Whatever your musings, I would definitely recommend THIS article to anyone who is even remotely curious about the brain and music. It certainly gives you a lot to think about!

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HERE

Take a Song

Chicken in a Fence Post

The key to a good teaching is a solid core of a sequential list of elements and good pedagogical practices. For me that is definitely a teaching sequence based on hear, feel, see and write where concepts are prepared, named and then practiced. Here, I will focus on the practicing of elements through the use of just one song.

There is more than one way to skin a cat (or should I say pluck a chicken). This is a list that is by no means exhaustive - just a few ideas to get your ideas pinging!

1.      Sing
2.      Sing in Solfa
3.      Sing in Rhythm Names
4.      Sing with text, solfa and rhythm names (Switcheroo)
5.       Create New Words – keeping as close as possible to the rhythmic pattern.

Here are some ideas....

• Music teacher stressing can’t sleep at all x3 Time to have a holiday!
• Marsha, Jan and Cindy, Bobby , Peter   x3 Greg and Alice, Mum and Dad

6.     Missing bars

7.      Missing notes

8.      Find the mistakes

9.      Play on boomwhackers

10.      Play on tuned percussion

11.      Create rhythmic ostinati

12.      Create melodic ostinati

13.      Create arrangement

14.      Aural Analysis - questions like... 

What is the metre? How many beats in the song? how many phrases? How many different notes? What notes do you hear? What is the final note? what is the starting note?...

15.  Written Analysis - instructions and questions like...

Circle the time signature. How many bars? Find the double bar line? Circle two notes that are next to each other and a major second apart. Are there any bars that are the same?...

16.  Writing – the rhythm
17.  Writing – the solfa under the rhythm 
18.  Writing – the song on the staff  
19.  Writing – transposing from one position on the staff to another

20.  Writing – the stems onto the note heads on the staff 

How to Import Sheet Music to Your iPad

I must try this!

Friday Finds #5

Boomwhacker Sheet Music

Now, I'm sure you've all heard of Boomwhackers and just how much fun they can be as an alternative instrument in the classroom! But did you know there are some awesome boomwhacker sheet music resources on the net? 

This website has bunch of sheet music resources for boomwhackers. Some easy (Twinkle Twinkle Little Star) and some challenging (The Pirates Of Caribbean Theme!). And the best part is all the music is colour coded to match up with the boomwhackers. Awesome!

Check it out and let us know what you think in the comments below or if you have any other boomwhacker resources you'd like to share.   

Friday Finds #4

The Value of Music Education - TedX

This week's YouTube clip is a little more serious than the last but we think you'll find it just as interesting. Richard Gill, a powerhouse proponent of music education in this country discusses the relationship between music and our imagination and the power music can have as a tool for helping children's minds to grow. 

Check out the clip below and then check out our YouTube channel for resources to help you in the music classroom. 

I am super excited by my newest addition to Youtube. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJdnNTX8yl8


I am fully aware that all of you techie types out there will probably stifle a giggle when you see what took me literally hours to do. 

I made this (and many more on the way) for a couple of reasons. One of the problems I see in music teaching is the difficulty in becoming truly literate. But this I mean that the symbols and sounds are linked on all levels and in any context. This clip will put notation and sound in front of the kids, and they will be engaged!

Dear Teachers,
A very exciting event for musicians (young and not so young) is planned for Saturday July 13th in Brisbane.
We need 6,500 musicians to play in the World’s Largest Orchestra with James Morrison.

Please consider organising a group from your school?
QMF have provided loads of support (everything from media releases like the one attached) to risk assessments and notes for parents… and more.
If taking a group isn’t possible, please promote it to your school community and encourage families to be involved.
The official Media release is attached, including all the links, so it would be easy to send a note home, put an article in the School Newsletter, post something on your blog, tell your students….

Spread this message as wide as you can – access all your networks – PLEASE PASS THIS ON - let’s not miss this opportunity for advocacy!

These ‘Find the Mistake’ sheets make for a great classroom activity.

Check out this free example worksheet – ‘Lucy Locket’ is written on the staff, but there are three mistakes. Students simply find the mistakes and circle them, working on their skills of reading and understanding the staff.

As a bonus this sheet is quick and easy to mark for teachers!

Find this sheet  here. While you are on the site have a look around at all the other free stuff!

More of this series is available for Crescendo members! Join for just $50 per annum.

Click here to go to the free download of this great worksheet. Staff positions for the little ones!!!
I think you will love it. There are more for members. For only $50 for an annual membership, you gain access to about a thousand downloads - and it is growing!!!!!

Christmas Carols for the Disturbed

 

1. Schizophrenia --- Do You Hear What I Hear?

2. Multiple Personality Disorder --- We Three Kings Disoriented Are

3. Dementia --- I Think I'll be Home for Christmas

4. Narcissistic --- Hark the Herald Angels Sing About Me

5. Manic --- Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores and Office and Town and Cars and Buses and Trucks and Trees and.....

6. Paranoid --- Santa Claus is Coming to Town to Get Me

7. Borderline Personality Disorder --- Thoughts of Roasting on an Open Fire

8. Personality Disorder --- You Better Watch Out, I'm Gonna Cry, I'm Gonna Pout, Maybe I'll Tell You Why

9. Attention Deficit Disorder --- Silent night, Holy oooh look at the Froggy - can I have a chocolate, why is France so far away?

10. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder --- Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle,Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,