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.
Labels:
student conferences
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!
Labels:
choir,
concert,
performance,
video
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.
Labels:
assembly,
choir,
Remembrance Day,
singing,
video
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.

Labels:
assembly,
choir,
concert,
reflections,
video
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!
Labels:
non-pitched instruments,
notes,
sounds
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).
Labels:
choir,
Remembrance Day,
video
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:
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:
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.
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.
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.
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 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).
GRADE 4/5:
MUSIC MAKES IMPACT - In 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.
ASSEMBLY:
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| Assembly song leaders |
MUSIC CLUBS:
| Tinikling club choreographing parts |
| Drumming club getting their jam on |
| 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 |
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?
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| 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).
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| Room 11 choir |
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| Room 12 excited to sing! |
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| Room 17 ready! |
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| Room 18 choir! |
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| Practicing beats and mallet techniques on the bars |
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| Hey There Neighbour! |
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| Instrument sort |
| Instrument technique and keeping the beats |
| Circle games and singing |
GRADE 4/5:
MUSIC MAKES IMPACT - In 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.
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| Looked at different ways we are smart. We also discussed how a person can show these intelligences in music class. |
| Ready, set, sing! |
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| Sharing ideas about how to make choir the best! |
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| Presentations on what music is. |
| Listening to music to analyze |
| Music sharing on ipads |
Wednesday, 16 September 2015
Music Analysis
SONG CLIP #1
SONG CLIP #2
SONG CLIP #3
SONG CLIP #4
SONG CLIP #5
1. Listen the song in full.
2. As you are listening, reflect on these questions:
a. What do you hear?
b. How does the music sound?
c. How does this song make you feel? Why?
d. What is the mood?
e. Do you like this song? Why or why not?
VOCABULARY to use:
beat, rhythm, melody, harmony, timbre, form, texture, expression, dynamics, tempo, articulation, phrasing
1. Listen the song in full.
2. As you are listening, reflect on these questions:
a. What do you hear?
b. How does the music sound?
c. How does this song make you feel? Why?
d. What is the mood?
e. Do you like this song? Why or why not?
VOCABULARY to use:
beat, rhythm, melody, harmony, timbre, form, texture, expression, dynamics, tempo, articulation, phrasing
Monday, 7 September 2015
Ready.. Set.. Sing!
| Setting up our music room in a universal design way. |
Welcome our Music Room Blog. At Stevenson-Britannia, we believe that all children can learn and we create spaces and places from them to do this. This summer I have been thinking alot about how to make our music room accessible for all my students in order to allow for self-monitoring, creativity, joy, wonder, choice, problem-solving, and critical-thinking to emerge.
| My summer river rafting tour in Banff National Park. Rain! |
I have been the music teacher at Stevenson-Britannia for 6 years and love teaching music to kids. We do ALOT of music things in our school and kids are giving many opportunities to play instruments and games, read, sing, move, create, memorize, listen, improvise, share, perform, respond and explore. My job is to facilitate students learning and give them tools and skills that can go with them for the rest of their lives.
Please feel free to stop by, leave us a comment or send me an email. Sign-up for our Twitter, Instagram (@musicroomsb) and Youtube Channel (Ms. Rempel Music Teach) for instant updates of our learning.
And let the show begin...
Labels:
leadership,
philosophy
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