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.

What is Orff?

The Orff approach to music education for young children was founded by the well-known German composer and music educator Carl Orff (1895-1982), and developed by Gunild Keetman (1904-1990). The Orff approach to music education was introduced to Canada in 1974 and advocates that music teaching be experimental and elemental.

The basic elements of music (rhythm, melody, harmony, timbre, form, and expression) are experienced through a pedagogy of imitation, exploration, literacy, improvisation, and composition.

The Orff teaching process involves speech, song, movement, recorder playing, playing of pitched and unpitched percussion instruments, and listening. The pitched instruments used are primarily barred instruments, or Orff instruments as they are also called, as Carl Orff designed them to be used by young children for making music.

You can read more about the Orff approach by checking out the Manitoba Orff Chapter website: http://www.manitobaorff.org

The Manitoba Orff Chapter provides workshops and resources to elementary music teachers throughout the province.

Orff Club

There is an Orff club that will begin in the second half of the year for any interested grade 4 and 5 students and grade 2 and 3 students. This once-a-week lunch time club will explore playing more challenging instrumental pieces with the Orff instruments, with the addition of song, speech, movement and recorder.

Sing it Like You Mean It!

The Stevenson band got together to create a winter cheer video.  Enjoy!

I hope everyone has a wonderful safe and relaxing holiday.  Thank-you once again to the staff, students and families for all your support of our music program.  See you in the New Year!

Bringing Christmas Cheer

On Monday, Dec. 14, 40 Grade 3-5 students went to Calvary Place Personal Carehome to bring some holiday cheer to the residents.  Thank-you Mrs. Kappy and staff for inviting us.  We loved coming and sharing our music with you.