Today the Grade 2/3 classes reflected on a video of some students at another school singing the same song they are doing for the Winnipeg Music Festival, Thunder and Lightning. We were really impressed with their focus and singing abilities. Here were some of the student's observations.
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 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.
Today I am saying good-bye to a really amazing person, collegue and friend. I have had the honour and privilege of working with this talented man for the last 4 years and I'm very sad to see him leave our school. Yet, I am excited that he's moving into his next career opportunity in which I'm hoping will still see us collaborating. We've written and recorded many projects over these years and I'm really going to miss his 'popping' in to check out the sounds we're making, his creative ideas, his helpfulness in coordinate events, being a sound board for my ideas and cheerleading the kids and myself into whatever projects we find ourselves in. Thank-you Mr. Miller for all you are and all you've done for us at Stevenson. We will miss you!
Every year I like to go back and look through the blog postings. This year was full and rich of musical moments at Stevenson that were hardly captured in photo and video. A student first discovers their singing voice. A group of students feel the power of teamwork in playing music in unity. Students creating their own songs for the first time and celebrating this with their peers. Responding with spontaneous movement to the sway of the beat. Hearing a mastered production for the first time. Getting chosen to play or sing a solo. Using many parts of the brain and body to make music. Hearing a kid say they hate music and then turn around and do something brilliant. Surprise! Finding hidden talents. Rediscovering an instrument.
Music is powerful and it moves us. What moves me is watching my students and collegues make it and experience it. We've found joy and the moving beyond initial fears and challenges, to find freedom, voice and expression.
Thank-you students and staff for making my job fun and oh so rewarding! Have a great summer. Until we meet again...
Here's a short little video of Stevenson music highlights 2014-2015.
Congratulations to the fantabulous singers of Stevenson. We had 83/165 of our choir students come out for Music Celebration at Sturgeon Creek United Church. Thank you to the parent and teacher volunteers for helping us get ready to sing. It was commented on how professional we looked in our spiffy uniforms.
Today the Grade 2/3 choirs got to view the singing videos of our songs and this is what said!
Our next 'event' is the Winnipeg Music Festival. Bus forms will be coming home very shortly so please look for those. We need them back ASAP. More information is to come but families, mark your calendars for Monday, March 2 (Grade 4/5) (morning show) and Tuesday, March 3 (Grade 2/3) (afternoon show) at Westminster United Church.
