Friday 18 December 2015

Sing it Like You Mean It!


The Stevenson band got together to create a winter cheer video.  Enjoy!

I hope everyone has a wonderful safe and relaxing holiday.  Thank-you once again to the staff, students and families for all your support of our music program.  See you in the New Year!

Bringing Christmas Cheer

On Monday, Dec. 14, 40 Grade 3-5 students went to Calvary Place Personal Carehome to bring some holiday cheer to the residents.  Thank-you Mrs. Kappy and staff for inviting us.  We loved coming and sharing our music with you.







Thursday 10 December 2015

The Nutcracker


This week our Grade 2/3s are learning the story of Nutcracker, a ballet by Peter I. Tchaikovsky, a Russian composer.  The songs and the story are magical.  See below for a clip from the opening party scene.






Tuesday 8 December 2015

Concert Videos Online!

Just up!  Winter concert videos!  Enjoy!

Kinder - Grade 3

Grade 4 - 5

Saturday 5 December 2015

A Winter Wonderland

So many proud moments throughout the concert this year.  Congratulations students, staff, families of Stevenson.  We hope you enjoyed the show.  Video to come in the next week.







Special thanks to Mrs. Nagam for your banner designs

Wednesday 2 December 2015

Winter in Our City!!!


So exciting!  Rehearsals are done and we're onto our last evening performance tonight.  Well done Stevenson!  VERY exciting!  Such fabulous work we see!


Thursday 26 November 2015

Concert Reminders

Thanks to all the families who stopped by for the conferences.  It was great to meet some new faces. Looking forward to seeing everyone at our fantastic show on Wednesday.


Wednesday 25 November 2015

Conferences


This December 2 concert will be our showcase of learning for Term 1. For this reason, Ms. Rempel will not be holding student led conferences on November 26 and 27. If a parent/guardian would like to see Ms. Rempel about their child’s learning/report card, please contact the school office to set up an appointment for Friday morning.

Wednesday 18 November 2015

Jambo! Kenyan Boys Choir


Today the Grade 2/3 classes got a special treat at the Burton Cummings Theatre.  We heard the Kenyan Boys Choir perform several numbers and they were amazing!

Check out Bob Marley's - One Love!


Some of the Grade 4/5's who went to Me to We on Monday also heard them perform.  So much talent!




Tuesday 10 November 2015

We Remember

Thank-you to all students and staff for putting on our Remembrance Day assembly today.  We will remember.  Here are the songs that all the classes sang today.



Wednesday 4 November 2015

Team Work - Synchronize!


I just watched this performance for the first time and can't help but love the artistry and blend of dance, sport and music.  This performance involved math, science and art.  It is social and teaches us about citizenship and teamwork.  We have to think critically to evaluate.  We look at the whole but each person plays a part in the big picture.

We have had many discussions about teamwork and when one isn't pulling their weight, it brings the whole group down.  What is my best?  What do I need to learn and work on so that I can be successful for me and for the team?  What am I contributing that is helping my team?  Is the product more important than the process of struggle to get there?  These skaters didn't just wake up one morning and say "I'm going to be a champion figure-skater."  Even if if they did, there were steps they needed to get there.  What's their story?  How did they get where they are?  What was their process?

On the eve of our first performances at Remembrance Day and in preparation for our winter concert, we are working through that process of synchronizing our voices and our performance posture.  Many days have been rough and believe me, getting 80 some kids to sound like one voice - challenging to say the least.  But we are growing.  We are spurring one another on in our gifts, talents and discoveries.

Please come and join us for our two upcoming performances.  Our Remembrance Day assembly includes the whole school singing a song.  See the banner below.

Winter Concert details on the banners below.




Saturday 31 October 2015

Coffee Can Search


I am in search for about 30 - 3 lb (48 oz) size coffee cans with their lids.  If you have any empty ones, please send them to school with your child as we'll be using them for some special music making.  Thanks!

Friday 30 October 2015

Music Games for Learning

One of the best ways of learning is by doing. Carl Orff says "Tell me, I forget, show me, I remember, involve me, I understand." This week in music we've been playing singing games, writing new verses to songs and creating word rhythms. We have been identifying parts of music including form, phrase, pitch, rhythm and beat. Here are a few of those pieces.





Thursday 22 October 2015

Song Rehearsals


All our students are busy preparing for our Remembrance Day assembly on Nov. 10 at 11:00.  Each class is singing a song and all are welcome to join us for this event.  Grade 2/3 and Grade 4/5 songs are posted on the blog under the choir tabs above.  Here is a little history video about the poppy (in Scotland).


Thursday 8 October 2015

Building Community in September

The music room has been a busy place for the month of September.  Our big theme this year is all about building community.  Here's what we've been up to:

ASSEMBLY:
Assembly song leaders
Our classrooms had a wonderful sharing time during our October assembly.  We shared important things that make our classrooms special.  We sang our music room rap and Stevenson's theme song, Reach For the Stars.  A shout out to all the students who rehearsed, shared and performed.  It was awesome!

MUSIC CLUBS:
Tinikling club choreographing parts
2 clubs have started up which include the Philippino stick dancing called Tinikling. This team is learning to work together and designing a dance routine to an upbeat pop culture song.  We meet on Day 6 at lunch.

Drumming club getting their jam on
The Grade 3 Drumming Club is learning to play a variety of rhythms on the tubano drums. We are working on playing together in beat.  Our latest chant is Jeremiah Blow the Fire and we are working on getting a unified sound on the tone and bass parts of the drum.  We meet on Day 2 at lunch.

Drum rhythm patterns 

KINDERGARTEN:

MUSIC IS IN ME - In this unit, students are building awareness of the group and becoming more comfortable with music class routines and procedures. They are presented with a variety of chants, singing moving and imaginative activities and games that will teach rhythm and expression, exploring what it is to be music smart.  We explore our different voices and work on matching our singing voices.  We like to have fun singing, moving and imagining.

Kinder dancing to Elephants Have Wrinkles
Practicing using sticks to Listen to the Ducks song
GRADE 1:

MUSIC CONNECTS ME TO OTHERS - In our Term 1 unit, the Grade 1 classes have been working on music room routines.  We've been exploring different instruments and proper playing techniques for each instrument.  We are learning to play together as a team.  When a problem arises, we stop and figure out together how to solve it.  We are also learning to keep the beat and match our singing voices.  Here's one of the songs we learned.  How else can you count to eight?

Grade 1 exploring the piano
Back to school song

GRADE 2/3:

MUSIC CONNECTS US - Students have been looking at classroom citizenship and how we share our music experience.  Music activities center around team-building so we will understand our rights and responsibilities in the music-making community.  How do you contribute to the team?  What does a great choir look like and sound like and feel like?  How do certain songs connect us?  As we look into these questions we will see how music influences our identity (traditions, celebrations, play, media, arts, games and places).

Room 11 choir
Room 12 excited to sing!
Room 17 ready!
Room 18 choir!
Practicing beats and mallet techniques on the bars
Hey There Neighbour!
Instrument sort
Instrument technique and keeping the beats
Circle games and singing

GRADE 4/5:

MUSIC MAKES IMPACTIn this unit, students will look at the impact that music has on them.  They will look at the influences that play factors into creating music (elements, techniques, concepts).  When creating music, they will identify points of inspiration through history and present sources.  They will work to see how collaboration and individual voice are important to accomplish a task. Students will also look at what makes a performance memorable.


Looked at different ways we are smart.  We also discussed how a person can show these intelligences in music class.
Ready, set, sing!
Sharing ideas about how to make choir the best!
Presentations on what music is.
Listening to music to analyze
Music sharing on ipads