The Last Official Post

Guess this will be my last official post. With mixed feelings I say goodbye to the students and staff but hello to retirement!
So, as a last official post as teacher, I submit the wonderful Grade 5 compositions for you. One of my greatest pleasures was to facilitate music writing. The grade 5's really surprised me with their funny, catchy tunes. So here they are:
1. Donuts Delux Final Version
2.Boom Boom Boom

3.Dill Pickles
4.Ice Cream
5.kati Emery
6.summertime
7.Poor Puppy

8.Doghnut2
9.Anoying Brother  
10.Biking 'round town

 

Grade 5 Song Writing Winners

What a month. I'm so impressed by my grade 5's clever, funny, creative and well performed compositions. This song project asked for a short song based on known chords, a simple progression and attention to matching voice and rhythm with instrumentation. Secondly, I asked for lyrics that stayed on topic.
Though ALL of the students works were just terrific, the component of audience appreciation was taken into account. Out of the 12 songs completed, these three won the popular vote. You can hear why!

First place goes to Donuts Delux funky rhythms, clever story and super collaboration by the three boys. Well done!

Stay tuned for recordings of Ice Cream, Boom Boom Boom and Dill Pickles

Oh Canada

I have to say how surprised I was that our primaries could deliver the National Anthem so splendidly. It's a tough tune for 5 year-olds! Many adults don't know it...all the way through. I think they present it with just the right sentiment. What do you think?

You can download it right Here

Grade 5 Riffs

Grade 5's composed some short pieces. Only requirements were that they be done on uke and have a repeating riff or motif.
These boys approached the composition in a unique way, they developed the idea then presented it as a cannon or round. Great idea and won a popular vote as best selection.

You can listen to their piece Dragons right

HERE

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This musician went solo and wrote a popular idea in which Bminor and D chords alternated three times and followed up with a bluesy scale. You can download her tune 'Spring at Last' Right HERE

At last I got a chance to record the 3rd of the top entries... no title so we'll call it:
AbreKenPaige! You can listen to it  HERE

Drums

Last year we got a windfall of 24(!) Djembe drums made by Toca Percussion of Indonesia.

Although I don't do formal units on drumming, they get a fair bit of casual use in drumming circles and drumming games across the grades. The students love to use them and learn basic grooves and techniques.
We had Kieth Mullins visit and facilitate some further drumming experiences including a day of workshops and an afternoon performance. Here's the grade 5 in action with Kieth.

Update on Missing Links

Had a problem with the last File Sharing host and lost many of the audio files but am happy to have found some backup copies and have updated the links where possible.
I'm now sharing them from google drive which means when the link opens select: DOWNLOAD and then OPEN WITH  ( pick your favorite player). I'll try an get an embedded player for Google Drive because the mp3's don't seem to seamlessly begin playing. Always something.

MUSIC VIDS!

Music Videos

One of the (many) music curriculum outcomes is responding to music through movement. We've had great fun making short music videos especially using the outstanding, catchy, silly but compelling music of children's musician  Parry Gripp
I'll post one or two a week from the archives so please check back for more.

Here's grade Primary moving to 'Jumping on a Trampoline'

 'I heart Hand Signs' grade 3 in 2014

Do You Like Waffles??? Grade 1 in 2014

Disco Christmas in Hamster land current grade 1-2

MY FAV!*** Raining Tacos last years Primary (2013-14)

MA BICYCLETTE grade 4 in 2014

Swimming Pool Grade 1

I Heart Hand Sings V.2 Grade 2

Grade 6 Compositions

Hope you enjoy these creative efforts. The only stipulation was to use the time honored chord progression of I V vi IV ( in our case D A Bmin and G).
It they don't play correctly, simply  use the download option. Though not a contest, by popular vote, The Animals song was the class favourite.
Great to do some creating rather than the endless re-creating.

#1 Animals

We all Love Animals Listen


#2 Chillin'

Chillin' Listen

#3 Starlight Onezee
Listen here

#4 We are the lonley

We are the lonely Listen



#5 Who I am

Who I am Listen
#6 Bully Song

Bully Song listen