Field Trip to Care Home

Our Grade 2/3 choir made a trip to Calvary Place Care home on Tuesday.  It was a fantastic trip and we were so excited to perform.

Here are a few audio reflections of the trip


The choir sang several songs including: If I Only Had a Brain, Whistle While You Work, O Danny Boy, You are My Sunshine and Sweet Home Chicago.  Thank-you to the residents and Mrs. Kappy and staff for arranging our visit.  Thank-you to parent volunteers for accompanying us.  We really enjoyed our visit and singing for you.  We look forward to your visit in June.

Band Performance

Thank you to Mr. Johnson and the St. James Collegiate Concert and Jazz bands for coming to share great music with us on Monday morning.

Music Monday 2014

This week we've been introduced to the May 5th Music Monday song

I.S.S. (Is Somebody Singing)

This song, written by Commander Chris Hadfield and singer/songwriter, Ed Robertson, from the band, Barenaked Ladies has been floating on our radar for the past year.  Last year, Hadfield sang the song in live time from outerspace on the International Space Station.  This year he will be joining the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and Maestro Bramwell Tovey as we again fill the skies with music.

Stevenson students will be participating in a music event here at school and we'll join the chorus in singing I.S.S.  The time and place to be announced.

Please check out www.musicmonday.ca for information on events around Canada, song and music downloads and what all the noise is about.

My Trip to Music City

For my spring break, I took a field trip to Nashville, TN.  I grew up listening to country music and have real cowboys in my family.  There is something magic about the live music experience and interacting with a city that has deep roots in the history and development of country music in the world.  I was impressed again with the electrifying simpleness of instruments like the fiddle, guitar and piano.  Nashville is a happening place for young musicians and old alike.  Some of the highlights were a show at the Grand Ole Opry, Country Music's Hall of Fame and a plantation tour.

Standing in the Hall of Fame Rotunda, where the bronze plaques display recognized country artists.

Gold Record wall

The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee that has presented the biggest stars of that genre.

George Waters Showband

Just before spring break, the Grade 6 George Water Show Band came to Stevenson to share their music with the Grade 4/5 classes.  The band students shared how they chose their instruments and what they have been learning.  Thank you to their band director, Mr. Johnson, for bringing your awesomely talented kids.  

Can you see a tuba?  What is the long, skinny, brass instrument called?

Mr. Johnson and Grade 6 Show Band presenting.

This coming Monday, April 14, the St. James Collegiate Concert Band will be coming to Stevenson-Britannia to play for the school.  Show starts at 10:30.  All are welcome.

Sharing Music

Next week the Grade 2/3 choir is heading to a local care home to sing for the residents.  In preparation of this amazing event, we have spent time talking about how music makes us feel and learning to understand how we get to give a special gift to our elders.

Music makes us feel alive!

Canadian Musicians

A couple of Canadian musicians we are looking at include co-host of the Juno's and artist nominee, Serena Ryder.  In 2009, our school learned one of her songs, Sing Sing, for Music Monday.

One of her songs from her nominated album is Stompa.

Another Canadian artist that has been making headlines for a few years is Michael Buble.
Here is his Juno nomimated song, "It's a Beautiful Day."

Celine Dion is back on the scene with her 11th English album.  Here is "Loved Me Back to Life."

A Montreal based independant band is also up for a Juno.  Here is Arcade Fire's song "Reflektor."

During "We Day" Canada, students were introduced to Vancouver's band, Hedley.  Here is one of their songs, "One Life."

* Note: The songs have been screened but please watch with parental permission / supervision and be advised that advertisements do pop up on Youtube that are not always appropriate and endorsed by this blog.

Juno Week in Winnipeg

It's Juno week in Winnipeg and we've been having some discussions on Canadian musicians we know.

Check out the 2014 Juno Nominees List.  How many artists do you know?  Tune into the awards ceremony on Sunday, March 30 CTV, 8 p.m.

Staff Wars

The Grade 2/3 classes and Grade 4/5 classes are learning and reviewing note reading on the treble clef staff.

We have learned the following song (fill in the blanks) to help us remember the lines and space names.

The staff has 5, it has 5 lines  ____, ____, ____, ____, ____; 

____, ____, ____, ____, ____; 

Inbetween each line, there lies a space  ____, ____, ____, ____, 

They spell the word ____, ____, ____, ____!  :)

One of our favorite games we've been playing is called "Staff Wars"

Staff Wars is a free game for the computer, but it does need to be downloaded by an adult before you can play it. Click HERE for the link.  You can also buy the app for the Ipad for $0.99.  There are many other cool games that you can download from this page.  Some do cost money, but there are others that are FREE!

My Many Colored Days

The Grade 1 classes have read through Dr. Seuss's book, "My Many Colored Days."  We are exploring feelings with color, movement and music.

We are also learning to identify the instruments we hear in songs.  Do we hear one instrument, two, or more? What kind of color sound does the instrument make?  Is it high or low?  Could it be a piano, violin, double bass or flute?  Is the music fast or slow?

Here is a link to Instruments in the Orchestra.  How many do you know?