Tis the Season to be Jolly

Well, tis the season to get serious in our practicing anyway!

In the past two days we have had our first combined rehearsals. That means all three classes from one grade at a time. This really helps the students hear what they will actually sound like and gives me a good idea of what holes we have. Yesterday I figured out that a few strong singers from one 1st grade class were singing "waddle" instead of "polka" and it was very noticeable! We had a good laugh about it.

Some things you can do at home to get ready for our big night:

• Pick out the concert outfit - I know for a lot of families this means shopping because they've definitely grown since last year!
• Stay healthy - make sure we're eating healthy, drinking water, washing hands and staying away from sickies
• Make sure you know when and where to go - your student will hopefully be able to tell you
• Talk about your expectations - remind them that you'll be able to see them when they're performing and even when they're not.

Thanks for your help to make this show special.

Next week I'll be sending a reminder note as well as an order form for DVDs that you'll be able to turn in the night of the concert.

Troll the Ancient Yuletide Carol

As our Winter Concert approaches I feel I have less to blog about.

The students are in various stages of readiness. Fourth grade being the least prepared but they're the best at getting caught up. Each grade has one or two lines in each song that are still a bit mumble-y but I'm confident we'll get it learned.

A question I've been getting from kids and parents is what are they to wear. They just need to wear dress clothes. No costumes this year :)

It's going to be a really special evening. The kids and I are looking forward to showing off their hard work.

I've added quite a bit to the links you see to the left so please take a moment to check those out.

Thank you for taking the time to visit the site

Fa la la la la la la la

For today's post please refer to the link to the left - "Program Information"

I've uploaded a few songs from our upcoming show. Many students requested lyrics and I thought they might want to sing along at home. 

There you will also find the note sent home about the program in case you've miss placed it. 

Also....BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

Mr. Maloun and his music technologies class will be filming our Winter Concert and selling DVD's for $6.00!

More information coming home next week!!

Peter and the Wolf

For the last two weeks, the students at PES have been experiencing the musical story Peter and the Wolf.

It is an orchestral symphony by Sergei Prokofiev. You can listen to a recording here for free: http://archive.org/details/PeterAndTheWolf_753

To enhance our understand of this story and its characters here are some things we did:

-movements for each character when we hear their theme (see if your student can remember them all! 2nd graders should know them too)
-matching sheet: match each character to the instrument that plays their song
-finger puppets for each character
-sequence activity into a book
-read two different books
-listened to two different recordings
-watched the Disney version of the story: Peter and the Wolf 1946
-watched a video of Disney talking about the story and Prokofiev playing the themes: Disney and Prokofiev

As you can see, we've been busy! The students love this story. It is fun to watch the recognition in their faces as they hear each theme in the story.

Please check out the Program Info and Show and Tell links to the left!

Spooky Sound Story

This week's post is coming early because I'm leaving town tomorrow.

I know I promised a post about Peter and the Wolf this week but the students are making somethings tomorrow and Friday that I want to post pictures of.

To celebrate Halloween, students used instruments to enhance a sound story. It's a poem called "Halloween Time". Doing these kinds of stories helps us learn how to use different instruments and respond to cues. After I've read through it once, I have one student be the narrator. This way they can work on expressive reading.

Here are some pictures and videos of Halloween Time:

The Halloween Misfits

Why is it that some weeks I feel I don't have much to say and others I feel I have too much?

It was a big week for third graders as we performed our program this Wednesday. We had a dress rehearsal in the afternoon for the other students. It was a great chance to practice with our costumes and sound system. The microphones did not work as well as we hoped despite our best efforts. We'll try to have that fixed by the next program.

I was so proud of the students. They really put in great energy. Our soloists were especially impressive. I think Riley and Miles might have brought a few tears! I took a video which I haven't watched yet. If it's any good, I'll burn copies for people who bring me DVDs (or even Blu-Rays!)

Here are a few pictures:

Two of our "misfits" and soloists!

All three classes together

Monsters, pumpkins, witches/wizards

Just our little witches

Helga getting ready for to stir her brew

Just a couple monsters hangin out :)

Miss Wools and her pumpkins

"Flying" all around

One more thing for this week. Some of the younger students were introduced to Melody Street this week. It is a website/application for iPads and iPods that teaches about different instruments. They enjoyed watching what they did but many wanted to see it at home. Here's the link: http://melodystreet.com/

Next week - update about our Peter and the Wolf unit study at Perry

Rockin' Rhythm Raps

In second grade, we have starting going through a curriculum called Rockin' Rhythm Raps.

It is one I love because it increases our musical vocabulary, is interactive and includes assessments for each page.

It hits so many of our music standards:

2. Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.

3. Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments.

4. Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines.

5. Reading and notating music.

In addition, we practice reading and math. Each song has hearts underneath the line to represent the number of steady beats in a measure. As we learn more note values, we'll have to make sure our measures add up!

I'll have to snap some pictures of how we use the Smart Board too. The kids love coming up and circling things or even writing up rhythms. 

Meanwhile, we're still getting to know the instruments of the orchestra in Kindergarten and 1st grade. Look for pictures next week!

Our 3rd grade music program is next week and the kids and I are pumped!

The 4th graders are making leaps and bounds as they get better at the recorder. We can't wait to show off for you on December 12th. 

Musical Show and Tell

Some of your 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders might have brought home slips about Musical Show and Tell.

Every other Friday we start class with a couple people doing musical show and tell. The kids have loved performing or sharing music with their classmates.

More information about this is under the Show and Tell link to the left.

Last week, I shared a video with the kids of some unique dancing. They really enjoyed it! I thought I would post it so they can watch it again.

 

Pumped Up Kicks Dubstep 

To my knowledge, the video hasn't been edited at all.

Our third grade music program is fast approaching. Check the link to the left for more info including copies of the notes I've sent home.

Getting Instrumental

This week I was out of town for a conference on Monday and Tuesday. I learned some great things for Kaw Camp!

It's always nice to come back to a great report from the substitute. Way to go, kids!

The fourth graders took a recorder quiz while I was gone. For the most part, they did awesomely! We went over it on Wednesday. A couple students were asked to correct it to raise their grade. If you are concerned about your fourth grader's grade, please contact me.

Third grade had a big day on Wednesday - solo auditions! Man did they knock my socks off! I didn't think it would be so difficult to pick soloists. I will tell the students Monday who will be playing each part. If you or your student want to know why they weren't picked, feel free to contact me. It can be difficult at their age to try so hard for something and not get it.

I will be sending home information about costumes and speaking parts on Monday. Look for that note! I'll also post in on here in case it goes missing. Our show is OCTOBER 24th. Coming soon!

In K, 1st and 2nd grade we've been talking about the different instruments in the orchestra and which "family" they are a part of. We've looked at pictures, listened to them and today we met a little guy named Tubby the Tuba.

 

Kid quote: In Tubby the Tuba, he gets really famous and he's walking the red carpet when a lady comes up and gives him a smooch. This surprised me a bit! The students all reacted and one said, "It's not even his birthday!"

PES Helps Break a World Record

 On September 27th, the students of PES got movin' in school! We danced along to the same video as 1.2 MILLION others! It was a blast. Click here for more information and to view the video.

Here are a couple clips of us dancin':

Spotlight on LES

This week was a very busy one in music class.

One thing we started this week at LES is Musical Show and Tell. I took a video and a couple pictures that are under the show and tell link to the left. Check them out!

4th graders had their first experience with testing on the recorder. They came up one by one and played the song for me. You can find the rubric and more recorder info at the link to the left.

They sure are improving! I can tell many of them have been practicing at home.

In 3rd grade, we are getting pumped for our music program! It's less than a month away now. If your student is interested in trying out for a solo, you've probably seen a note and some music come home. The info on that is at the link to the left. Keep practicing! We'll have auditions on Wednesday October 3rd.

I'll be sending home more info about speaking parts at costumes soon!

The 2nd graders did a neat project this week. I've posted some of their worksheets below. We practiced how to listen to classical music then drew some of the things it made us think about.

Organization - it's instrumental!

Since we had such a short week, I thought I'd share a little about my organizing technique I'm trying out.

Next week, at LES, we're starting back up with Show and Tell. See page to the left for info on that. 

At the beginning of this school year, I took some time to organize our many percussion instruments.

Here's are the before and after pictures:

Lecompton's instruments before

After!

Perry's instruments before - many instruments pulled out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After!

 

 

 To help students put instruments away when we are done with them, I made some reference charts. One shows which bin has which instruments. The other shows how the shelves should look after they've been to them.

Olympic Celebration!

On your mark....get set.....

Go!

The Javelin Throw

Such form!

Speeding skating - pick up the notes to get points!

Badminton

Don't worry, our special swatters are just for balloons

Poised and ready!

Get it! Get it!

 What a fun week! We've been celebrating the olympics in music, PE and library. Here are some pictures of the games we played.

At LES, we also found time to learn a song from a different country. Today we had an assembly with all our students K-4 and performed for each other. I'll get pictures and video up when I can.

I was very proud of the students! They learned the songs in such a short time and they pulled it off.

We'll definitely be playing these games again from time to time. They were a hoot!

Here's a clip of a Kindergarten class speed skating.

Thanks for visiting! If you'd like to receive an e-mail every time something new is posted, scroll to the bottom of this page and type in your address.

-Ms. Beaulieu

Up and Running

aaaand we're off!

The school year has started with many smiles and hugs. I'm so glad to see the students and they seem happy to be back. I know this will be a great year for everyone. 

Changes

I've decided to switch to a different blog type this year. The old one was a little frustrating at times and I hope I've found something a little more user friendly. Glad you found the new site!

I'll be posting weekly updates and program information on here. Please check often and don't forget to comment!