Marching Bands

I love how 1 instrument brings up some cool connections and leads to some great discussions.  Today we were playing a game that used the snare drum and it reminded us of marching bands.  Canada does not have this as a common tradition although we sometimes see them in parades and in the military.  Some students knew about the marching bands in the USA and that they often play at football games.  Here was an example of what we watched and how the team has to work together and the skills that are needed to accomplish such a cool work of art.

Which also lead to a short discussion on baton twirling which Mrs. Mitchell is going to be teaching at our Thursday project afternoons.  We are sooooo lucky to have her and looking forward to seeing what her group will learn.

Celebration of the Arts

It's Show Time!

SHOW ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 17 (5:00-6:30, Show at 5:45)

On Wednesday, May 17, Stevenson is celebrating the arts by putting on the first ever, Cirque Du Stevenson!  Doors open at 5:00 p.m. and there will be a number of ‘busking’ venues to stop and see as well as the creativity and beauty of everyone’s art work displayed around the main floor.  At 5:45 p.m. we will be putting on a show in the gym.  Students have been working very hard to get ready for this event.  Dress rehearsal is Wednesday at 1:00 p.m.  All students must be accompanied by a parent/adult for the evening show.

All students will be participating in the final song and have work on display.  In addition, several students have volunteered various talents for the various performances and need to be in attendance.

• ·         Buskers – Grade 4/5 volunteers (Group 1 – 5:00-5:15 / Group 2 – 5:15-5:30)
• ·         Ring Masters – Arsenni, Essence, Denise
• ·         Circus Arts - Grade 4/5 Circus Performers
• ·         Circus Demos – Fedor, Riley, Krystal, Jack
• ·         Kindergarten Dance (Room 7 & 8)
• ·         Tap Dance (Room 5)
• ·         Grade 4/5 Hip Hop Performance (Room 3, 4, & 5)
• ·         All school (K-5) sing and dance to Stand In the Light with special dance by Mrs. Hardy’s Dance Team and Grade 4/5 soloists (Ashley, Aliyah, Asraa, Hannah)

We hope to see you out!  Come join in the fun as we celebrate the arts at Stevenson!

Circus Coming SOON!

The circus is coming to town!  Stevenson students are busy getting ready for a fun evening of sharing and the celebration of the arts, mainly circus arts, dance, and visual art.  All students will be performing our "Stand in the Light" song and dance.  Come out and visit our art displays and various buskers around the main level prior to the show.  Doors open at 5:00 p.m.  Show starts at 5:45 p.m.

Examples of Hand-to-Hand / Pyramid Poises

 

Theatre Shows

Looks like an amazing line-up of shows going on in St. James this spring.  Go and check them out and support the arts!  We have amazing talent here in this division.  

Good luck and congrats to all the cast and crew.

Westwood Collegiate production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat takes place from May 2-6 at 7 p,m. Tickets are available here.

Stand in the Light

Our students have started listening today to our upcoming Music Monday 2017 song.  We will be performing it as a school on Monday, May 1st at our Music Monday assembly and our Celebration of the Arts evening on Wednesday, May 17.

This powerful song has a very important message to us.  Take a listen.  Grade 4/5 students are invited to come audition for the open verse 1, verse 2, and bridge solos on Monday, April 3 at lunch.

Stand in the Light background track

Stand in the Light by Jordan Smith

My Own Way to Rock

The Grade 4/5 classes have been talking about Canadian and Winnipeg musician, Burton Cummings and the rockin' roll band, The Guess Who.  Check out this link to Burton's biography.

We have been learning about the 12-bar blues.  This pattern is found in many styles of music, including jazz, gospel, pop, boogie woogie, and of course, rock. Check out the structure and have your child explain what it means.  Burton's song "My Own Way to Rock" is set in the major key of C.

Here is the boomwhacker version that I made up for us to play along to :)

Art Music Project

The Grade 4/5 classes have been using their listening skills to reflect on a song that we will hear at the Winnipeg Symphony concert in April.  The song is called "Contented House" by Canadian composer, Jean Coulthard.  After we listened to the piece several times, we discussed how art can reflect music and music can reflect art.  We didn't have a lot of time to explore, but many of the students were able to depict the music through an art picture.  Here is what they came up with.

Winter Concert

Springing into...

Great way to end off our music classes for March with singing extraordinaire, Heidi Korte.  

Leaving you a great video of Heidi's vocal student, Dane Bjornson.  Happy Spring Break!

Broadway vs. Classical

Tonight I saw a great group of theatre students from Ecole Assiniboine perform Oklahoma.  As the awesome adjudicator, Johanna Hildebrandt, worked with this group, it gave me some great ideas about how to teach Broadway singing and our upcoming Annie rehearsals.  It got me thinking about the differences and how we will need 'change' our vocal instruments to fit the musical genre.  Here's a good video explaining the difference.

Here are also some great tips on how to use facial expressions and gestures when singing Broadway type songs

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G Singers

2016 Stevenson Grade 2/3 Choir @ Music Celebration

I was SOOOOO proud of our Grade 2/3 choir tonight.  We sang at the annual SJASD Music Celebration and we had a GREAT turn-out.  This choir has a really lovely sound and there was alot of great things going on with their performance.  Congratulations.  We look forward to competing at the Winnipeg Music Festival on Monday, February 29th.

Global School Play Day

Today was http://www.globalschoolplayday.com/ and we got to have 'play time' in the music room.  We explored the arts - music, visual art, drama and dance.  Lots of great ideas and time to express ourselves.  One of my favorite quotes from musician and supporter of music play is from  Carl Orff -"Since the beginning of time, children have not liked to study.  They would much rather play, and if you have their interests at heart, you will let them learn while they play; they will find that what they have mastered is child's play."

The animals like to talk to each other - Questions and Answers!

Writing songs and playing them.  This is Twinkle Twinkle :)

Working as a team, making up a drum song.

He even came and sang it for me!  Nice job!

SJCI Sr. Jazz Band came and jazzed us up today.  Awesome talent!

Annie Kids

Our Grade 4-5 students have auditioned and we've cast our parts 

in the upcoming Annie Kids musical.

2 shows coming in May!

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, May 18 (6:00-7:00)

Thursday, May 19 (6:00-7:00)

Stay tuned for rehearsal schedule to come!

More Burgers and Books!

It's I Love to Read month and there are many exciting things planned for us in the music room.  We kicked off the week with Burgers and Books and some fun stories.  Stay tuned for more books and music.

When I say "Lettuce," You say "Read!"  "Lettuce!" "Read!"

Kinders Performance "Dinosaur Roar"

Can you say - Catalina Magdalena Hoppensteiner Wallendiner Hogan Logan Bogan Was Her Name?

Grade 4/5 Orff Club 2016 1st performance

Storytelling using shadow puppets is an ancient method

Our Kinder helpers telling the story!  Rehearsals :)

Lion King Jr.

Congratulations to Cast 2 and Paula Olko on your performance of Lion King Jr.  Today the Grade 4/5's went to the show at Westwood and we really enjoyed it.  Congratulations Bailey and the rest of the cast on a job well done!

Check out the Winnipeg Free Press article.

Singing in the Rain

Wow!  Amazing job today as our school put on our final concert for Calvary Place Carehome.  Thank you to Ms. Kappy and the residents for joining us on this raining Monday morning.  May you have left singing in the rain!

Yo Winnipeg! Word! Room 14's in the House!

Every time I head to Mrs. Hamm's room to pick up these kids for music, they have learned a new fun song.  This one, Yo Winnipeg, is one of my favs.  Word!

Art Videos

Just in!!!  Our Celebration of the Arts videos are published.  Congratulations to all the students!

GRADE 2/3 French Dance

Grade 4/5 Tinikling Club

Grade 4/5 Tap Dance

Whole School - Wavin' Flag

Grade 4/5 Shining Moon (Nyam Sang Doun)

Tapping Our Potential

It's hard to believe that Mrs. Kaczmarz's class just learned to tap dance this year.  Here is their amazing video produced by Mr. Miller and Mr. McKiel of their culmination piece.  Thank you for sharing your talents Mrs. Kaczmarz.  You are an inspiration.  Room 5 - hats off to you for your dedication and determination to learn something new.  Your dancing has been such a treat to see and your hard work has payed off.