No classes for the near future : (

Due to my GIST tumor surgery and upcoming surgery I will not be holding classes for qutie awhile. I will keep you posted and let you know what the future holds for me and class. Thanks for all of your love and prayers.

2009 Fall Schedule

Pick a day/time:
Wednesdays @ 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. (possible 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. class to be added)
Thursdays @ 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. (possible 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. class to be added)

August: 12/13, 19/20, 26/27

September: 2/3, 9/10, 16/17, 30/Oct. 1

October: 7/8, 14/15, 21/22, 28/29

November: 4/5, 11/12, 18/19

December: 2/3, 9/10, 16/17

February 2009: Schumann and Brahms

In February we learned the special musical words for fast (allegro) and slow (adagio). This was a month with lots of activity. I think the children went home class exhausted! We listened to the music of Schumann and Brahms.

Doing a song about clapping.

Moving slowly like turtles.

Getting ready to follow our listening map to "Hungarian Dance" by Brahms.

Jumping like rabbits from square to square.

Balance beam while listening to our balance beam song.

Playing "London Bridge". This was more of a hit than a thought it would be. We had to do it multiple times.

Getting instruments ready to follow the listening map.

Nursery Rhyme song books.

Making popcorn sheep on our farm day. We listened to Schumann's "Happy Farmer".

Friday class following the map to Brahms, "Hungarian Dance"

Maurice Ravel: "Mother Goose Suite"

fast/slow activity Coloring nursery rhyme song books Fun with bells.

Playing "London Bridge"....we had to do this over about 5 times. The children loved it.

Jack Be Nimble .....while listening to our music the children (and me) jumped from mat to mat.

Vacation at Cocoa Beach Florida

I am loving my vacation on the beach. While Kevin is his conference at Patrick AFB, I am on the beach walking the shoreline. It is so much fun. BUT, I miss my sweet little students and all the fun we have. February will be full of fun for us.

January 20th & 23rd: Mozart

January 20th & 23rd: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

"Ah, Vous Dirai-je Maman"

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star!

Friday class doing our balloon game while listening to "Twinkle-Twinkle..."

Friday class following our listening map....

Friday class making patterns with quarter notes and quarter rests. They were having so much fun with this that they made 3 or 4 different patterns to play for the class.

Friday class singing the 'star shape' song. Who knew that stars could be so much fun??!!!

Friday class doing our "Can You....?" game. I had the music going and I hold up cards that instruct them in different things to do to the music......jump, fly like a bird, crawl like a turtle, walk on heels, etc.

Tuesday Class Practicing quarter notes and rests.

This week the children each got a set of quarter notes and rests to use to make a pattern. After they completed their pattern they used either the bells or the rhythm sticks to play their pattern for the class.

Tuesday class: Singing our 'Star Shape' song. They got to keep their stars....I think they were happy about that!

Tuesday Class: Reviewing "Miss Mary Mack"

Tuesday Class: Using our listening map to play Mozart's, “Ah, Vous Dirai-je Maman” (the tune to Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star) on our hand bells and jingle bell bracelets.

Tuesday Class: While listening to “Ah, VousDirai-je Maman” the children had to keep the balloons up in the air....or at least try to!

Scott Joplin

January 12th and 17th

Scott Joplin

"Maple Leaf Rag"

Our obstacle course....hopping with bells, balance beam, running through cones, ball toss

Working on our rhythm worksheet

working on their rhythm worksheet

Following the listening map as we listened to "Maple Leaf Rag". They used a different instrument for each section of the music.

Playing handbells for section 'A '

The children did an obstacle course as they listened to "Maple Leaf Rag".

Balance beam, crawl through a box, play handbells, jumping, ball toss.

Walking across the balance beam (obstacle course)

Throwing balls into the bucket (obstacle course)



As we listened to "Maple Leaf Rag" by Scott Joplin the children followed a listening map. The pattern of the song is AABBACCDD. (teaching them about how music repeats itself in songs.) For each section of the music they used a different instrument to play. A was a handbell, B was an egg shaker, C was a jingle bell bracelet, and D was a drum. They had to follow my lead as I pointed to the Letter on the board telling them what section was being played. They were amazing at following directions and playing their instruments!