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.

"Nae"

Today we had vocal coach, Heidi Korte, do a workshop with our soloists for the upcoming Annie musical.  It was amazing!!! I learned lots and we are already seeing and hearing a change in these awesome kids singing!  We look forward to having her back in a few weeks.

A little about Heidi: She is a singer that started her musical journey in opera and classical music. She has a music degree from the University of Manitoba in classical voice but has since then developed a pop/rock contemporary sound. As a multi-instrumentalist she can play most instruments including harp, cello, bass, accoustic guitar, but is most comfortable on the keyboard. She also runs her own private music studio out of her house and teaches piano by ear, improvising, contemporary vocal technique, guitar, and songwriting.

Check out this great warm-up and hear the difference between Celion Dion and Ellen singing.

Singing Proud!

I write this post with some tears in my eyes because today at the annual 98th Winnipeg Music Festival, our Grade 4 and 5 choir made me so proud.  They should be proud of their work in the past week and today's performance.  It's not been without pain, sweat and tears (and ALOT of noise!), but they pulled together and REALLY showed their singing skills and represented our school well.  Congratulations to both Stevenson choirs on your silver medals!

Silver medal winners!

Silver medal winners!

Old Mother Hubbard Songs

The Grade 2/3 classes have been making couplet poems that we are turning into songs.  Wow!  I am amazed at how well they are turning out and we're excited to sing you some.  Right now we're in the process of writing lyric drafts.

PART A

 PART B (students wrote these)

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.