Form and Contour

We discussed today form patterns and the contour of sounds through the Nutcracker songs: The March and Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Here's a fun winter video:

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.

Colored Days

On Thursday, the kindergartens were identifying their emotions.  They came up with a great list of feelings we have.  We talked about what color they are sometimes attached to.  We read this fun story "My Many Colored Days" by Dr. Seuss and then we listened to music with it and each student got to act out the part of their animal character according to what the music sounded like.  

Puppets we used to express the feelings in the music

Sometimes the music is fast and sometimes slow.  Sometimes its loud and sometimes it quiet. Sometimes its high and sometimes it low.  Depending on what we hear, it can change the way we feel.   Sometimes music can help us relax and be calm.  Other music can make us feel happy or excited.  When we watch a scary movie, the music we hear can make us feel frightened.  

Listen to the pieces of music below.  As you listen, think about how the music makes you feel

 Choose a face that matches the feeling of the music.

I'm a Gummy Bear?!

Learning patterns to the Gummy Bear song

Today the Grade 1 classes were introduced to the Drums Alive program.

Our 3 rules are:

1. safety

2. respect

3. participate (who doesn't?!)

Our first song is learning patterns.  We realize that we have to know our RIGHT and LEFT or we can easily get mixed up and bump into someone.  We also have to be able to count to 8, feel the beat, follow the pattern (teacher) and listen to the music all at the same time.  It's hard at first but fun when we all get it!  Once we know it, we can start singing along!

The form of the song is ABCADBCAEAF.  Wow!  That's alot to remember!

Playoff Anthem - Shout it Out!

This just shakin' down, the Winnipeg Jets are in the playoffs and Virgin Radio has released a new playoff anthem.  We'll be moving and celebrating at Stevenson this coming week as we enjoy it during music listening time.

Shout it out True North!

Art is Music - Music is Art

Listening to the following musical selection.  Imagine this song is a picture.  What do you think this song is about?  How would you draw this music using lines, shapes and colours?  How does this song show contrasts?

The following are some initial markings of Grade 4/5 students as they listened to this piece.  Where do you see the music in these pictures?  How do they show contrasts, interest, energy and excitement of this musical piece?

Art-astic!

 The Grade 4/5 classes have started their exploration of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO) songs they will be hearing on the music field trip to the Concert Hall on Tuesday, March 10.  We've been exploring the 'mystery art contest song' and how musical elements can be translated into feeling and messages through art.  We look forward to sharing our art pieces and interpretations of the song in the near future.

Group discussions on how this art piece shows contrast through lines, shapes and colours.

When these students were asked to think of words that would describe this work of art, these were the words that came to mind: wacky, math, school stuff, geometric, outrageous, volume, surreal (Picasso), colourful buildings, war, nighttime

The Dream Game

The Grade 1's played our first 'dream' game today.  We listened to a piece of music and imagined what the song was about.  As you listen to it, what pictures or story comes to mind?  We talked about the feeling of the music.  Most felt it was kind of scary sounding.  We heard short, detached sounds and learned the word for this is 'staccato.'   We talked about the instrument that makes the loud crashing sounds (cymbals) and practiced moving our bodies to it.  We all agreed that the music got louder and faster at the end.  It was like something crazy was happening.