So its been a few weeks...

So, just realized, wow I haven't posted in a few weeks.  Must be for one of the following reasons:
1) too busy
2) too lazy
3) nothing interesting to report
4) some form of a combination of the above 3!

School has been going well.  November is a wacky month for us, we never have 1 full teaching week either due to holiday, professional development days, or parent/teacher conference days.  I am not sure what class is up to what due to the added confusion of assemblies and trips.  My lesson groups are further behind than in the past due to missing so many lessons.  I am pulling out my hair preparing for this second grade circus we are putting on (trying to teach 9 songs in 9 weeks is not fun) for the first time -- and it seems that I am the only one even doing anything for this show -- and it wasn't even my idea!

On a positive note, my choruses are going to be very ready for the concert.  I was concerned, we have never done a December concert before (always end of January) and I wasn't sure how to simplify my program.  My 4th graders could perform tomorrow -- so I am adding sign language in for a song so we have something to work on.  My 5th graders are not as ready yet -- but we are at the clean-up phase.  The piece I am doing with all the aux percussions is finally coming together and not giving me heart palpitations/nightmares.

My whole podcast initiative is going well too.  I haven't recorded much in the last 2 weeks, but what is there is being listened to a lot.  I have had a lot of positive parent feedback as well.  At our Halloween parade (big whole-school parent event) I was called a rock star in few people's houses, an awesome-cool teacher that their kids are so lucky to have, and some other nice things.  I think my principal is even realizing how popular I am  -- just the other day he told me that I need body guards to protect me from the swarms of kids that are always trying to invade my space (I'm a rock star, what can I say?!).

So yeah that's it pretty much.  Upcoming events that might end up in blog posts:  2nd grade circus (mid-December), my winter concert (1 day before the holiday break), my holiday sing along (the day before the holiday break), HOLIDAY BREAK, auditions for the middle school musical ("13"), our All County Festival, and our All District Festival.

Ok enough rambling for now... until next time

Technology -- What a Wonderful Thing!!!

Been yet another busy week at school.  The last few weeks we have really delved into the music curriculum.  The kinders and 1st graders have been working on loud/soft; the 2nd graders are really preparing for our inter-curricular circus performance; the 3rd graders have been rocking out with B and A on their recorders; 4th grade has been learning all about melodies and are now beginning to write their own melodies to a poem; and finally the 5th graders have been learning about working together, strengthening their rhythmic skills, and other important skills by playing in a drum circle.

So, yes, happy with how things are going so far.  However this week I made a decision!  I am going to use more technology in my classroom.  Well, I am already pretty super-techie in my music class.  I have a SMARTBoard that I use for practically every lesson.  I use iTunes and my iPod religiously.  I edit/chop up songs for any purpose necessarily.  I record my own choral accompaniments.  My class website is not the basic form one that many have and has tons of great information, etc.  You could just say that I am a computer/music-tech nerd!

Well, I wanted to even top that -- this year I am going to get into "podcasting!"  I already have been recording my students on video (class and performances) to use for reflection, assessment, and to just put up on my site.  However, I got two nifty new condenser mics and an M-Audio USB input (from the $$ from our school talent show) and I decided that I need to put them to good use.

My goal is to record at least 1 "podcast" a week.  I do think that the word "podcast" is nothing more than a fancy buzz word for mp3 that you can download off my website, but its a term that makes the kids excited (and even their parents!)

This past week I recorded 2/3 of my 5th grade classes performing their weekly drum circle piece.  I recorded a 3rd grade class playing my favorite recorder song "The BA Blues" (ok I wrote it, but still it rocks!)  I even recorded a 4th grade chorus rehearsal and my 5th grade chorus.

I even spent my whole Saturday off revamping my website with a link to my Podcast's page (which is actually a blog so students can post reflections!).  Don't worry, I didn't give up a social life to do it -- the husband is at work and I am home sick! (germs from the kiddies -- that's a post for another day!)

I think this is gonna be cool.  This is a great way to show off my students' work.  It's easy to do (not as complicated and/or time consuming as remembering to bring in my video camera from home, setting it, and then importing the video).  And, my students completely light up when I tell them they are going to be recorded!  It's like the highlight of their day!  Me on the other hand, I hate being recorded -- actually I used my Macbook Pro's speech feature to record intros to the recordings that I was unable to get a student to do it, instead of doing it myself (the "Alex" voice is kinda awesome)!  

Well enough rambling for one night... check out:  http://mrsfriedmanmusic.blogspot.com  and/or  www.mrsfriedmanmusic.com for a complete sense of music-geekiness!

Week in Review (10/5 - 10/9)

What a crazy week!!!  Here is a bit of a recap:


*Our part-time band director resigned Friday at the end of the day.  Spent the remainder of the week reworking the whole instrumental lesson schedule so that our part-time string teacher could take over the lessons as well.  


3 revisions and a conference call with 3 principals, director of music/art, and the ass't superintendent later, I learned:  I ROCK at making schedules, but you could not pay me to become an administrator -- no thank you sir!


*Having to tell students that their beloved band director was not coming back without any real reason (that I could share with them) out of nowhere -- really sucked!  Being able to keep some form of continuity by holding the last 2 5th grade band rehearsals, I think helped a lot!


*Never underestimate the power of a SMARTBoard in the music classroom.  In a day and age where children spend their lives on computers or in front of televisions, I guess it makes sense that by using the board for a lesson (that could have been a bit mundane) they would get all excited, completely engaged, and completely demonstrate understanding and mastery of the topic.  


4th Grade example:  A lesson on How Melodies Move, we discussed the 3 main ways they move:repeated, step, skip.  We then sang the song: "I Don't Care if the Rain Comes Down."  Then I had the students using the pens, and highlighters completely mark-up the music identifying how the melody moved.  Wow they raced to the board, couldn't wait for their turn -- and most of all, they got it!


3rd Grade example:  I am really trying to drill BAG on the staff with this year's 3rd grade because they are a low academic group.  The week before the recorders come in (last week), we learned the song "Give My Regards to Broadway."  (sheet music on the SB of course!).  Then we identified all the Bs, As, and Gs by highlighting them different colors.  Then they came up with a body position for each of the notes -- and we sang it again (slowly) and they had to do the body positions.  So, their hw was a worksheet that had them circle all Bs, square all As, and triangle all Gs -- and they got it.... they actually got it


So yay for some really cool things, Boo for some stress.
Let's see what this week has to offer....

Ahhhhhhhhh

*insert loud scream!*  Ok, I feel better now, well not really ... an internet scream is not as good as a real nice and loud get everything out of your system scream... 

So, well mainly school is going pretty well.  I just have completed my 4th week of new lessons and am about embark on my 5th.  I have done some really great new activities.  I am really loving some of the new songs/games that are in the new Music Play 1st grade that I got (and so are the kids, yay).  I have reorganized my 4th grade lessons and added more SMARTBoard lessons and they have been working well so far too!  5th graders have enjoyed my basic review activities (cup game for steady beat and rhythm, a musical spelling bee, and guess the meter) and tomorrow I embark on my 8 week African Drum Circle unit, which has always been fun and exciting.  I am trying some new methods with my 3rd graders.  I know that it is an overall academically weak group, so I am doing tons of extra prep for beginning recorders.  We have colored in all the B's with purple, A's with green, and G's with yellow in "Give My Regards to Broadway" on the SMARTBoard, and then come up with 3 different body positions (one for B A & G) that we had to do while singing the song.  Really helps to reinforce B A and G, actually anything that involves the SMARTBoard helps to reinforce anything!!  Who did I leave out?  2nd grade is going well, nothing too eventful yet, other than that yesterday I began teaching songs for our first ever 2nd grade circus (interdisciplinary unit with the classroom, art, and phys ed).  And, oh yes, the kinders.  They are cute this year, mostly well behaved, and are eating up everything I have thrown out at them.  Now if I could only learn their names!

So generally, my general music classes are going well. Chorus has been rocking too... my 4th graders are really picking up on harmonies and singing as an ensemble.  They are eager to learn and already are starting with good habits and a nice head voice.  My 5th graders love the repertoire I have picked for them, even the song I thought they would be iffy about (that I loved) they are obsessed with, thank goodness!   

Even my lessons are going well (even that dreaded sax group had a good 2nd lesson this week).  The big issue is the band program in general.  Our band teacher (I only taught some of the lessons) has resigned for personal reasons and well now we are left without a band teacher and a concert in 9 weeks.  I think we have a solution, but even though it does not directly involve me, somehow it involves me, and that stressed me out.  Hopefully everything will be fine and the kids will be fine.  Tomorrow, I am leading the 5th grade band rehearsal until someone else takes over next week.  Shall be interesting....wish me luck!

4th grade instrumental lessons -- the first week saga

"No, no, no... you're holding it upside down!"
"Pretend you just ate a lemon and make a sour face..mmmm"
"left hand on top, Left hand on Top, LEFT HAND ON TOP!"
"Yes, you do sound like a dying elephant..."
"A reed it tastes like... well... wood"


Ah -- September marks so many different favorite moments of mine, including, teaching beginning instrumental lessons.  A time of having to contort yourself around a student to help them hold a trombone, touch much more spit then necessary to fix a reed, or just endure the lovely sounds that come out of an instrument the first time it is played...


This past week, I had the pleasure of teaching five different 4th grade beginning lessons on their brand new instruments.  Each year I forget how painful the first lesson can be.  My first lesson last Monday was 4th grade sax students.  This year we have a rather larger 4th grade and have 5 students in this group.  Normally, they would be split into 2 smaller groups, but there is just no more free time in mine or the band teacher's schedule.  Wow, let's just that was the longest 30 minutes of my life and I left the lesson wishing someone replaced my poland spring water bottle with another clear liquid (that was stronger and would make me think of happy places.)  I never had a group have so many issues putting together a sax, it is one of the easier instruments to assemble.  And forget about making a sound..... or even holding it!  It actually took us the full 30 minutes to just put the reed on correctly, play a little on the mouthpiece/neck, and then put the instrument together, then take it back apart.  Oh I should mention that during this 30 minutes, I had 2 twin brothers fighting with each other, and another one of the students having an anxiety attack because they weren't perfect yet.  Fun fun fun -- very very happy that we are off this Monday.


Next lesson on Monday is one of my beginner low brass groups, a baritone and 2 trombones.  All boys.  They got buzzing right on and no puffy cheeks.  They put together and held their instruments with no issues (even though it can hurt little hands to hold a trombone).  They even were able to play nice long tones on F!  We even played the first 3 lessons in the book, F's, Ebs, and a mix of both!  Wow -- there is a chance everything will be good this year!


A few days pass (5th grade lessons mixed in, who are dream!) Next new lesson is beginning clarinet -- a group of 4. [ **I do need to state that I myself have never taught clarinet before, and this year will be a learning experience for me as well**]  I had high hopes for this group since 2 out of the 4 were some of my top recorder players, 10th degree blackbelt students.  Also part of this group was a girl who never figured B, A, G and a boy who is very adhd, couldn't hold a recorder, and has a hard time focusing.   Who would have guessed that my unfocused boy would be 10 steps ahead of me, putting the clarinet together perfectly with no issues, and could make a perfect sound on the instrument.  Who would have also guessed that my 2 10th degree black belt recorder kids would have a super hard time putting together the instrument, placing the reed, and finding where the thumb holder was on the clarinet (one even put his right hand on top?!). Oh and the girl, shes doing okay, which for her is great.  I think they will be fine -- but wow, kind of a shocker.


Finally, my last 2 new lessons of the week were on Friday.  First up was my other low brass group, again 1 baritone and 2 trombones, cept this time all girls (split up by class not gender, just worked out that way).  They did okay, had more issues holding the instruments and getting that first sound out -- they will need a lot more coaxing and work, but they will get it.  Then came my 4th grade percussion group!  This group will be my dream group, at least I hope.  I have the 2 best recorder players in the class (both were grand masters by June) and the third, well just has natural rhythm (and it helps that her older brother was one of the best percussionists to leave our program).  So 2/3 already read treble clef quite well, and 1/3 has taken a year of percussion lessons already.  They all had good success holding the stick and were able to handle basic sticking exercises.  They are also excited about learning bells!  I can't wait -- for once the percussionists won't give me a headache!


So that just sums up my first week of new lessons.  It shall be an interesting year to say the least.  


Now, I do pose a question to you the reader...  what is your favorite 1st lesson story?  Please share -- whether horrible, hilarious, or even better inspiring!

New year? Feels like we never left...

I did it -- made it through a full week, a full monday through friday, with little to no pain...

Still suffering from a cold/possibly sinus infection and that definitely makes teaching music a bit interesting, but getting through it. 

On Wednesday, I began teaching my first real lessons of the year (not just first week fluff) and it has been interesting so far.  For the most part, my students have been eating up the new material and have been performing at their best.  I have also begun my chorus rehearsals.  Here are my general observations of the week:

Highlights:

*It is highly entertaining watching 5th graders, who had finally figured out the cup game pattern successfully at a normal even tempo, try to keep up with the accelerando in "In the Hall of the Mountain King."  Let's just say there were cups everywhere and tons of laughing by the time the piece had ended.

*Started really singing with one section of my 4th grade chorus -- and wow, they already are singing beautifully in their head voices.  I have a TA (teacher assistant) who sits in with the class since it is a double, and she is quite blunt and has no problem telling me how it really is (she has sat in with a 5th grade group a few years ago) and she was shocked at their talent as well!  I was even able to teach them the first part of one of their songs and it already sounds great! [*side note, I think it has a lot to do with the fact that this group is my first group of kindergartners at the school.]  Oh yeah, 5th grade chorus is doing okay so far as well.

*On Thursday, I taught my second graders two new songs (nothing too crazy).  However, after school there was a girl scout meeting in our cafeteria (which is near my room) and as I stayed after school doing some work, I could hear the girls from that class performing the songs for the rest of the group and their moms.  They had no idea I could hear, and that's just really cool.  I love when the kids are just that excited about what they are learning.

*Also had open house this week and while I only spoke with about 3% of my students' parents, they all had nothing but wonderful things to say.  It is still kinda awkward to hear: "you're my child's favorite teacher/special," and I still am never sure how to respond other than "Thanks." -- However it is still wonderful to hear.

Parts of the Week I'd Rather Forget:

*We have a very low third grade this year, all across the board.  We have known this since they were in kindergarten.  However, the depressing reality showed its face this week when they were barely able to do an "end of the year" 2nd grade activity.  I taught them a simple 4 measure body percussion piece (unison) and then we tried to turn it into a 2 part round -- and then disaster.  They could only do it if I was helping them.  We tried and we tried, and they just didn't get it....  It's going to be a long year.  I've had quite the strong 3rd grade recorder program in the past, and I am not sure if this group will be able to get to that level.  I will try my hardest though -- and they are the most enthusiastic group I've worked with yet, we'll see.

Ok on to week 2.  This week I can look forward to beginning 5 brand new 4th grade instrumental lesson groups (1 sax, 1 clarinet, 2 low brass, and 1 percussion) as well as continuing on with my 2 5th grade instrument lessons (low brass and percussion).  Tonights hw: learn how to play clarinet!

Short and Sweet

Just doing a quick random post tonight.  My original goal for this blog was to post at least once a week about all the fun things that have happened at school.  However,  my first week was a bit more tiring than I had expected and being sick did not help one bit.  So here is a short and sweet list of my first week of school:

*my feet forgot how it feels to stand all day....  (though they're getting used to it again finally)
*students do not age a lot in 2 months, yet so much more is expected of them once they enter the next grade...
*kindergartners are soooo tiny on the first day -- and they are sooo eager to learn and do whatever you show them!
*it is really nice to just jump into review activities, because most of the students have known you for years
*school politics = blech
*having a cold on the first few days, stinks!

That is just a quick summary of my thoughts from the week.  Tomorrow begins my first week of actually teaching brand new lessons and I am excited to share some of my gems with a new group of students.  Tomorrow night is also our open house.... always an interesting night.  Until next time....

What I Did For My Summer Vacation...

So I have been a bit m.i.a. this week.  Had some personal things and a broken computer that made writing an entry at the complete bottom of my list.

I have one more day off until school officially begins and as of 9:52 tonight, I can safely say, I am pretty much ready.  I have accomplished a lot in my 3 weeks that I have had off (worked at a camp this summer.) The last 3 weeks I have:

• Completely updated/refreshed/changed my First Grade curriculum (using my new MusicPlay-1st)
• Completely updated/refreshed/changed my Fourth Grade curriculum (made it more hands on)
• Refreshed the first half of my Third Grade curriculum with better rhythm/note reading (pre-recorder) reinforcement lessons (especially since my incoming third graders are not the strongest students.)
• Updated my Kindergarten, Second, and Fifth Grade curriculums (like I do every summer)
• Recorded 5 choral accompaniment files for my winter concert (other 2 were files I had already)
• Updated/refreshed my school website
• Created a bunch of new SMARTBoard lessons to go along with my updated curriculums (still more to be made, of course)
• Created the band lesson schedule (even though it will probably have to be changed since we just found out a 4th section of the 4th grade is being added... hopefully we'll find how that affects the master schedule on Tuesday?!)
• Made a bunch of worksheets, etc for some of my new lessons

That list might not sound like a lot, but it was time consuming.  I had an especially big issue with some of the SMARTBoard lessons that I created in the last few days since I am having a compatibility issue between Snow Leopard (Mac OS 10.6) and Notebook!!  Oh well, what would the beginning of school be without some form of issue.  

So school officially starts on Tuesday, with students returning Wednesday.  I am ready.  It's my 5th year at this school, 6th year total.  I know what I am doing.  The students know me (well cept for the new kinders) and my rules.  My first kindergartners are in fourth grade now.  I think they might be my best singers yet since we have worked on pitch since kindergarten.  

I am looking forward to some of the new lessons I created, some of the choral pieces I have picked out, during some of my really fun 5th grade units with my current 5th graders, and creating a love of music for about 400 students!

I am not looking forward to a lot of changes at my school (including adding a new section in last minute, with no teacher to teach it, many classroom teachers not teaching the same grade they have taught in the past, a friend and colleague retiring mid-year), not looking forward to district politics, and not looking forward to no longer working on the high school's musical productions due to district politics!

Should be an interesting year.  Hopefully I will be able to update at least once a week with any good stories, or drama, or just plain rants.

Busy, Busy, Busy

Slowly making my way through my to-do checklist for back to school stuff.  Finished recording all of my chorus accompaniment files for my winter concert.  I also recorded part I/part II melodies for my website so my students can practice at home.  I might have to push for them to really practice at home this year since our concert is a month earlier than usual.  You might ask why I spent 2 full days recording accompaniment files -- well my district doesn't supply an accompanist and well I could find someone to play for me and pay for it out of my own pocket, but I'd rather not.  The other option is play myself.  I did that for one concert and I hated not being in front of the kids -- I think its a big help to be there. Actually the other option is student accompanists and that I have done that as well -- a lot.  I have had a bunch of talented pianists in my 4th/5th grades over the years, however it always gives me an anxiety attack to know if they are going to get through it -- and sometimes I focus more on them playing then the kids singing.  I was actually happy that no one volunteered at all last year -- less stressful.  This year, however, I have 2 pieces planned that will rely heavily on student accompaniment.  For my winter concert I have planned the piece: "Peace on Earth... And Lots of Little Crickets" for my 5th graders and I am super excite about it -- however its all aux percussion (mainly cricket clicker, guiro, shaker) and 1 bass marimba part (or in my case keyboard and alto xylo).  If the students get off that could get scary, but I am sure they will be fine.  In the spring, I programmed my own arrangement of The Beatles' "Blackbird for my 5th graders as well.  It will feature one of my students on guitar.  He is a very talented student, but still a lot of pressure.

Wow that was a lot more long-winded than I expected it would be.  What else have I done this week?  Today, I completed 2, yes only 2 SMART Board files for 2 different kindergarten lessons.  I forgot how long it takes to create just one file.  First you have to figure out what you want to do, then find/make all the graphic files, etc.  Four hours and 2 files and one of them was just picture/lyrics to a long kindergarten song.  

Oh well, this weekend my plan is to make some more SMART Board files.  Then on Monday I want to head down to my classroom and finish setting up (they did construction that just finished, so I can finally get in).  Then all I have left is to completely re-do my 1st grade curriculum (as soon as I get my MusicPlay 1st grade!), then update my 3rd grade curriculum slightly (already did K, 2, and 4).  Then, well just do the usual stuff -- make a new incentive poster, make up my first week lessons, make some grading/seating charts, and just relax.  Not bad -- still got a week and a half!

So yeah ... not so much

So the plan today was to start working on some new great SMARTBoard lessons for the 09-10 school year.  What did I do instead? Go shopping!  Well... new clothes are important for the school year too!  Isn't that more important anyways, looking good?  Well having a varied wardrobe is.  Last year one of my 4th grade beginning sax students noticed that I liked wearing this one black sweater-vest thingy.  Now, I never wore it with the same shirt 2x in the same month and I tried to wear it once every 2 weeks -- but either way, my not so fashionable, quite immature 4th grader noticed.  So today I solved that problem -- I bought a grey sweater-vest.

Okay if you are still reading this, I applaud you since this has nothing to do with teaching or music or SMARTBoard lessons.  Well, school starts in about 2 weeks and my plan for the rest of my vacation is to record all of the chorus acompaniments for my winter concert (which is 1 day before the holiday break this year, expect many a vent about that coming up), make some SMARTBoard lessons for kindergarten and fourth grade, make up the materials for the new 4th grade units I created, revamp my whole 1st grade curriculum (whenever my MusicPlay 1st grade actually comes in), update the class website, and maybe relax.

Let's see what happens.  Tomorrow is hang out with hubby day, then Tuesday begins recording.  Should be fun -- it always an interesting experience!

And so it begins...

Not sure why I caved, not sure why I gave in, not sure why I decided to actually start a blog. Maybe the movie "Julie & Julia" inspired me, maybe I actually felt like sharing some of my experiences with whomever might stumble upon this, or maybe I was just bored. Who knows, could be any of those 3...

Anywhos... this blog will probably be as the title suggests, random mindless ramblings. I plan on posting about school related things, lesson planning, how lessons went or just whatever I feel like it. So stay tuned to see what this blog might actually turn into to... if anything...