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!

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!