Yet another week has come to a close, and we have continued to refresh the skills and concepts already taught to us, as well as adding in new information. One of the more exciting things we worked on this week was lesson planning and how to present and form our own lessons. Musicially we learned a few new skills, including rests and rhythmic pattern. Rhythmic pattern was also taught to us during the song "Ti De Oh", which was a fun way to learn because we got a chance to move around, learning not only through psychomotor funcations, but cognitive as well. On Friday we learned a new note, C, on the recorder. Although it was only one new note we were able to enhance our recorder skills greatly and play even more songs than we usually do.
Lesson planning was shown in a variety of ways. During class the instructor had a few lessons she presented to us as though we were younger children so we could pick up what she was doing. We discussed what we were doing, what concepts we were working on, and different ways to teach it during the presentation. We also looked on the written lesson plan format we had to fill in what was being done so we understood it more. To learn about rests we first did clapping and then a song for "Bow Wow Wow" and we made sure to incorporate a rest space into our dance and clapping. The rest signs were also given on the board so that we knew what they were supposed to look like and could identify them in our music. During the song Ti De Oh we moved around a lot and did a fun dance which most of us enjoyed to learn the rhythmic pattern. We played several new songs on Friday with our recorders. In almost everything we listened to the music first, repeated it, and added in new skills afterwards, such as the dancing or clapping. This week we were also able to have a great deal more discussion than usual, mostly concerning the lesson plans; however, it was nice to get a chance to ask questions and interact with the class.
While it is important to learn all of these concepts and skills for varoius reasons, I think one of the most useful thing that we did this week was to work on lesson plans. Although our official lesson plan isn't due until next week, working on it was a great opportunity. All of us are going to need to know how to make lesson plans, and in many of our classes we really haven't been given that chance yet, and even if we have it may not have been so specific or incorporated so many things, so it is great practice. This is one of the things we are going to need to know how to do no matter what, and even though we may not be making music lessons in the future they will be similar to what we are doing now. It is a great skill to pick up, so I'm very glad we are doing it. It is also important for us to learn about rests and silent beats because when talking about steady beat and rhythm we have realized that there were going to be rests, but haven't been showig them.
For children it is important to know about rests because without them they could get the entire rhythm and beat of a song incorrect. They need to know how to pause at certain parts and incorporate silence into their music, so it is a good skill and concept to know. Also, the different clapping and stomping is good for children because it will help them with their coordination, something that is very important for children to learn but often gets ignored. Like last week, the recorder is important to teach at a young age because they will just pick up on it so much better than many adults do, so the younger we start children in music the more they will comprehend.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Week 3
We have finished the third week, during which we not only reviewed the concepts, but also went over a few new things. The concepts that we reviewed was rhythm and steady beat, which we started to go over last week, but it was expanded on. We also discussed melody, which is a combination of various pitches, either high, low, or the same pitch. We learned the song Bee Bee Bumble Bee to work with melody and we walked on the steady beat, so it helped us understand both of these concepts. We also learned about musical notes, the treble clef which is also called G clef in western music, and that lined notes are EGBDF and spaces are FACE. Music on the recorder is in treble clef. Also, we went over note value
One of the ways that we were taught about these different concepts was listening to a song, double double ice cream, where we clapped hands with a partner to get a better grasp of steady beat, which had 4 beats per line, and rhythm. We wrote out x's, larger ones that had more value, to learn rhythm. We also did this with pictures for a song called rain and our name rhyme. To get kids to understand note length they can comprehend the rhythm more with X's and pictures, with larger pictures for longer notes, so we went over that. In the ice cream song we also went over the patterns found in music. Note value was explained to us by using the example of a loaf of bread, and breaking it up to understand how much each is worth. On Friday we worked on the GAB notes on our recorder and made up our own song to help us learn.
Melody was important for us to learn because it make up the basis of songs, so it is one of the basic concepts we really need to know. Also, kids tend to sing on a higher pitch depending on the age level, so melody comes into play with that. The treble clef and notes are important for us to know because in order to understand what pitch to hit and whether or not your voice is supposed to go higher or lower there has to be an understanding of the scale. Because children learn things so much better in songs, it is important that we continue to learn more of these and different ways to incorporate the methods in our classroom, which is what we did this week.
The reason why it's important for children to learn these things is because they have probablly been using different musical skills and concepts without realizing it, but it's important they actually know the definitions and how it came about. Also, if they learn notes and how to read music at a younger age it will be much easier for them in the future, and the will understand music much better.
One of the ways that we were taught about these different concepts was listening to a song, double double ice cream, where we clapped hands with a partner to get a better grasp of steady beat, which had 4 beats per line, and rhythm. We wrote out x's, larger ones that had more value, to learn rhythm. We also did this with pictures for a song called rain and our name rhyme. To get kids to understand note length they can comprehend the rhythm more with X's and pictures, with larger pictures for longer notes, so we went over that. In the ice cream song we also went over the patterns found in music. Note value was explained to us by using the example of a loaf of bread, and breaking it up to understand how much each is worth. On Friday we worked on the GAB notes on our recorder and made up our own song to help us learn.
Melody was important for us to learn because it make up the basis of songs, so it is one of the basic concepts we really need to know. Also, kids tend to sing on a higher pitch depending on the age level, so melody comes into play with that. The treble clef and notes are important for us to know because in order to understand what pitch to hit and whether or not your voice is supposed to go higher or lower there has to be an understanding of the scale. Because children learn things so much better in songs, it is important that we continue to learn more of these and different ways to incorporate the methods in our classroom, which is what we did this week.
The reason why it's important for children to learn these things is because they have probablly been using different musical skills and concepts without realizing it, but it's important they actually know the definitions and how it came about. Also, if they learn notes and how to read music at a younger age it will be much easier for them in the future, and the will understand music much better.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Week 2
During the second week there were several new things that I learned. We went over steady beat, which is the constant repetition of one sound, and rhythm, which is the combination of short, long, and silent sounds. These two things are concepts that are extremely important in music. One of the skills that we worked on was playing the recorder. We learned three different notes, A, G, and B, and learned how to play our first song, hot cross buns. Although I think I'm just about the only one, I'd never learned how to play the recorder in elementary school so it's was new to me, but fun. We also learned a few new songs that we could use in our future classrooms.
Steady beat and rhythm were imparted to us through an activity we did with making up a rhyme. Everyone in the class made up a rhyme that had four beats and was four lines and then using a hand drum or rhythmic sticks we had a partner keep the beat as we recited our poem. After everyone understood the concept of steady beat we worked on rhythm using the same some and the hand drum again. It helped us understand and hear the difference between the two. To understand how to play the recorder the teacher demonstrated a note for us, showed us the proper way to hold the instrument, and then followed and tried to play ourselves.
I think it is important that we learned these things because steady beat and rhythm are such important concepts in music that in order to really understand music we first have to learn the basics. To really progress and move onto things like the recorder or singing it helps to know the different concepts. The recorder seems to be a good way to introduce children to music and instruments, so in order to teach the children in our class these skills we must know them first. I also believe it's important because it is another way to make sure we enrich our class with subject matter outside of the norm and really get children interested. It gives them the opportunity to expand their creativity as well.
The younger that children begin to learn music the better it is. I have found that children often understand things better when it is presented to them through music. For example, the reason why many of knew our alphabet at such a young age was because of the catchy song that came along with it. I'm not sure how true it is, but I've also heard that things like learning instruments or new languages are easiest when people are young because they're still picking up on so many things, and as we get older it becomes harder. Because of this I think that introducing students to the recorder or other instruments gives them a head start and is a very good idea. 10 songs that I am familiar with would be...
1.) twinkle twinkle little star
2.) Mary had a little lamb
3.) ABC song
4.) Happy Birthday
4.) Jingle Bells
5.)Three Blind Mice
6.)Itsy Bitsy Spider
7.)Baa Baa Black Sheep
8.)Old Mac Donald
9.)Bingo
10.)If you're happy and you know it
Steady beat and rhythm were imparted to us through an activity we did with making up a rhyme. Everyone in the class made up a rhyme that had four beats and was four lines and then using a hand drum or rhythmic sticks we had a partner keep the beat as we recited our poem. After everyone understood the concept of steady beat we worked on rhythm using the same some and the hand drum again. It helped us understand and hear the difference between the two. To understand how to play the recorder the teacher demonstrated a note for us, showed us the proper way to hold the instrument, and then followed and tried to play ourselves.
I think it is important that we learned these things because steady beat and rhythm are such important concepts in music that in order to really understand music we first have to learn the basics. To really progress and move onto things like the recorder or singing it helps to know the different concepts. The recorder seems to be a good way to introduce children to music and instruments, so in order to teach the children in our class these skills we must know them first. I also believe it's important because it is another way to make sure we enrich our class with subject matter outside of the norm and really get children interested. It gives them the opportunity to expand their creativity as well.
The younger that children begin to learn music the better it is. I have found that children often understand things better when it is presented to them through music. For example, the reason why many of knew our alphabet at such a young age was because of the catchy song that came along with it. I'm not sure how true it is, but I've also heard that things like learning instruments or new languages are easiest when people are young because they're still picking up on so many things, and as we get older it becomes harder. Because of this I think that introducing students to the recorder or other instruments gives them a head start and is a very good idea. 10 songs that I am familiar with would be...
1.) twinkle twinkle little star
2.) Mary had a little lamb
3.) ABC song
4.) Happy Birthday
4.) Jingle Bells
5.)Three Blind Mice
6.)Itsy Bitsy Spider
7.)Baa Baa Black Sheep
8.)Old Mac Donald
9.)Bingo
10.)If you're happy and you know it
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Rhyme About Me!
Hello my name is Kate
I think music is great...
I hate to be late
Florida is my favorite state!
I think music is great...
I hate to be late
Florida is my favorite state!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Music History
I like basically all types of music, but I really enjoy listening to country. My favorite singer is Taylor Swift. I listen to music every day when I get ready or do homework. I wouldn't be able to pick a favorite song because there are to many to decide between. I do have an ipod, and it has 1667 songs. When I listen to music it's almost always from my Ipod, so I listen to it all of the time. The experience I have with music is mostly playing instruments. I took piano lessons from 3rd grade until 7th grade and although I do not take lessons any more I still play every once and a while. I also played the flute when I was in middle school for two years in the school band but dropped out. I was also in a school choir for a year, but generally do not like public singing to much.
I believe that what we did the past two days was significant for several reasons, but todays activity especially . First of all, it gave me a good idea for the first day of school when I have my own classroom. I think the music and monkey would make the children feel more comfortable, so it was a really good idea. I also thought it was significant because it gave everyone a chance to get to know each other and have fun. Even for our class it gave us an opportunity to let lose and have fun, and it is important for our students to know that school is about having fun to, so they can get to know each other while having fun. I really liked the activity. We were able to learn them because we kept repeating the activity and I think the repetition and consistency of the activity makes it easier to pick up on and learn.
I believe that what we did the past two days was significant for several reasons, but todays activity especially . First of all, it gave me a good idea for the first day of school when I have my own classroom. I think the music and monkey would make the children feel more comfortable, so it was a really good idea. I also thought it was significant because it gave everyone a chance to get to know each other and have fun. Even for our class it gave us an opportunity to let lose and have fun, and it is important for our students to know that school is about having fun to, so they can get to know each other while having fun. I really liked the activity. We were able to learn them because we kept repeating the activity and I think the repetition and consistency of the activity makes it easier to pick up on and learn.
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