What I've Come Up WIth So Far...

So, I have been searching the web and thinking about what I can really do to change the way I help my students practice at home.  I am just going to list them here as a way to keep the information organized in one place and for others to share their opinions...

These are in no particular order:

• Have students post what they have practiced and for how long on a digital wall (using wallwisher.)  A new wall for each week or month depending on the popularity.  This makes the sharing of practice times more fun and interactive.  Since all posts will be viewable by others, it also enables a bit of competition (and that always seems to push some students.)
  
  
• First few weeks of school, pull more advanced 5th grade students to record tutorial videos:
  *how to put together their instruments
  *how to make a good sound (embouchure)
  *how to play basic notes
  *practice tips
  
  Videos would be saved and searchable on the site as a reference guide (a bit of the Flipped classroom idea.)
  
• Create some screencast tutorials on how to figure out note names and how to read rhythms.
  
  
• Have practice challenges.
  * Have students see how long they can hold a note without changing the sound (using an embedded timer) and then post scores on wallwisher or another type of site (embedded in the practice site)
  
  *Have a composition challenge and have students record/upload into a soundcloud account and post
  
  *Have a challenge song that students can record/upload into a soundcloud account and post
  
  *Have students create a challenge and post it (ie.. can you play 16 notes in one breath?)
  
  
• Have a practice timer embedded into the site so that students can set 10-30 minutes to practice and have the timer make sure it happens.
  
  
• Embed accompaniment tracks for examples in the book

This is what I have come up with so far.... just a bunch of ideas.  I seem to be sticking with the web 2.0 method.  I am not sold on the posting website, but wallwisher seems to be the easiest and most secure to use.  Any other ideas?  Please share!  

I am also thinking of creating better first week resources so we don't jump to the book right away.  I don't exactly like how Standard of Excellence starts with whole notes.  So I might create some of my own resources/song sheets/workbook pages as a start.... Finale, here I come!

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!

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!