Cultural Arts: Arabic Music & Dance

Last week we had the honor of hosting a talented teaching artist here at TCS for a Cultural Arts performance all about Arabic music and dance. Karim (which means "generous" in Arabic) taught us about several different Arabic instruments, showed us on a map where the music comes from, wrote out different words in Arabic, and also demonstrated various techniques on each instrument by performing for us. 

One instrument we learned about is called the "duff," a round drum with strings on the back of stretched skin and a thumb hole so you can spin it on your hand. This instrument is used for celebrations, and below is a video of Karim performing on the duff:

He also showed us other instruments including the "rik" (tambourine), the "Sajat" (finger cymbals), large rhythm sticks called "Alaya," the "Buzuq" (a small string instrument shaped like a guitar), and the "Tablah" (a large drum made from recycled aluminum cans and recycled dental x-rays!). 

Karim played all of these instruments like an expert, and also shared lots of interesting information with us about each instrument and how it relates to his Arabic culture. It is rare to find someone who is both an accomplished musician and a talented educator, and Karim made us learn and have fun at the same time while we listened to him talk and perform!

Thank you for visiting us and teaching us about Arabic music, Karim! You are welcome back to TCS any time!

Happy Halloween!

I hope everyone enjoyed the parade and WTCS radio show last week in honor of...

HALLOWEEN!

There are lots of fun Halloween songs that we learn together in music class here at TCS, and while many students have different favorite tunes, one of the most popular songs we sing is called, "Witches Brew" and it's a song I've known since I was in elementary school. I've never forgotten it! The lyrics are below. Have fun singing the song and "stirring up" all the yucky ingredients as you sing!

WITCHES’ BREW (by Hap Palmer)

Dead leaves, seaweed, rotten eggs, too.
Stir them in my witches’ brew.
I've got magic, Alakazamakazoo.

Spider web, moldy bread, mucky mud, too.
Stir them in my witches’ brew.
I've got magic! Alakazamakazoo

ooo - My witches’ brew - ooo
What’s it gonna do to you?
Boo!
Floor wax, thumb tacks, purple paint, too.
Stir them in my witches’ brew.
I've got magic, Alakazamakazoo.

Finger nails, lunch pails, apple cores, too.
Stir them in my witches’ brew.
I've got magic, Alakazamakazoo.

ooo - My witches’ brew - ooo
What’s it gonna do to you?
Boo!

Wrinkled prunes, mushrooms, motor oil, too.
Stir them in my witches’ brew.
I've got magic, Alakazamakazoo.
I've got magic, Alakazamakazoo.

I've got magic, Alakazamakazoo.

I had a great time playing and singing songs with all the students, and even Fiona got to join in on the fun this year as a ladybug! 

Southern Regionals!

It's that time of year again when students in grades 6-8 decide if they want to audition for the CT Southern Region Music Festival! 

I have given information to all my choral students, and Mr. Cross is connecting with band students. The details for the auditions and for the festival are below (also found on my "important dates" page). You MUST check to make sure that you are free for all 3 dates (1-day audition and 2-day festival). Please see me with questions as soon as possible. Audition fees are $10 this year, and checks can be made out to The Country School. 

Best of luck to all who are auditioning, and I'll post more info again as the auditions approach! 

December 7, 2013 - Southern Regional Auditions

     Location = Washington Middle School
1225 North Broad St. Meriden, CT 06450

     for more info, check out http://www.cmeasouth.org

February 28th & March 1st, 2014 - Southern Regional Music Festival

     Location = TBD

     for more info, check out http://www.cmeasouth.org

Getting Ready for Halloween!

The music agenda for the weeks leading up to Halloween has students in grades K, 1, and 2 singing, moving, listening, and playing together with lots of fun songs and games.

These songs will be shared at a special Halloween presentation of the WTCS radio show on Thursday, October 31st. We hope you can join us in the gym for what is sure to be a spook-tacular event!

Being "Brave" and Assertive

Because the theme of the year at TCS is Assertion, I have chosen some songs for the winter concert that connect with our theme. One of them is "Brave" by Sara Bareilles, which the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade chorus will be singing. The song touches on the power of words, and below are the lyrics from the chorus:

Say what you want to say, and let the words fall out

Honestly...I wanna see you be brave.

The music video below is Sara Bareilles' vision of random people "being brave" and dancing in public places. The students have enjoyed watching the video and talking about it in reference to how we can all be brave and assertive in respectful ways. Being brave and assertive in chorus class means sharing your voice and taking musical risks. 

How can YOU be brave?

Beginning & Reviewing Kodaly Rhythms

This week I have been introducing kodaly rhythms in my Kinder classes and reviewing kodaly rhythms in my 1st grade classes. Using a simple melody and lyrics about pumpkins, students have been tapping out rhythms with rhythm sticks.

We talk about slow tempo (Ta), medium tempo (TiTi), and fast tempo (TiriTiri) to designate the start of understanding quarter, eighth, and sixteenth notes.

Then we add the corresponding beats to the rhythm of the song.

The kindergarteners are getting used to tapping with rhythm sticks to slow, medium, and fast tempi, and the first graders are learning to hear which beat is a Ta, Titi, or TiriTiri rhythm in a given song. More fun with Kodaly rhythms and movable-do solfege to come!

Open Mic Sessions & A Home-School Musical Connection

I always enjoy having students share their musical talents in the classroom whenever possible. When I first arrived at TCS, I began holding "Open Mic" sessions throughout the year in my general music classes to encourage students to bring in something musical that they are working on outside of school (an instrumental piece, a vocal selection, etc) and perform for the class. These opportunities help students take musical risks and receive positive reinforcement from their peers. It also reinforces active listening skills for the audience.

Today I invited one of our new students, Collin, to perform at the end of his 3rd grade music class. He was thrilled to share his latest piece, "A Hunting We Will Go," from memory on piano. As the students applauded his performance, one student remarked that the song sounded a lot like "The Pumpkin On the Vine" song that we were working on in a previous class as an introduction to singing in a round. Turns out, it was the SAME melody! So we all sang the song together as Collin accompanied us on piano. What a fun connection to have between one student's private music lessons and our musical learning here at TCS!

On a Personal Note...

This blog is designed to be a place where I share different musical experiences that my students have with me throughout the year. However, I wanted to share some exciting news that happened to me this week, and I thought the TCS community might be interested in hearing about it, so on the blog it goes!

Long story short, I play violin and sing in a band called Goodnight Blue Moon (goodnightbluemoon.com), and we were recently nominated for "Best Folk/Traditional" band at the Connecticut Music Awards. The show was on Tuesday night, and I'm thrilled to announce that we WON! 

Check out the link HERE for details about the night along with a video of us performing the song "Baby" that will be on our new album.

It was such a wonderful night to share with all my friends in the band (there are 7 of us). We were also one of only four bands that were chosen to perform live that night, so we had a blast sharing the stage together and playing one of our newest songs, "Captain's Church" at the Bushnell Theater in Hartford.

It can be challenging to balance work, family, and performing, but I wouldn't have it any other way!

WELCOME BACK & HAPPY FALL!

Greetings! I am SO happy to be back teaching at TCS after spending the end of last year and all summer with my new daughter, Fiona. 

While I do miss her a lot during the day, I also love being back in the classroom with all of my students! This year we will continue exploring many different musical avenues through the 5 pillars of musical learning: 

Listening, Creating, Questioning, Performing, & Reflecting

We will also make connections to the school's theme of ASSERTION through music. Check out the pictures below of my two bulletin boards, which are lyrics from songs about assertion that my chorus groups will be learning for the winter concert:

The 6th, 7th, & 8th grade chorus will be singing "Brave" by Sara Bareilles

The 4th & 5th grade chorus will be singing 

"If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out" by Cat Stevens

Enjoy the warm weather while we still have it, and here's to another wonderful year of musical learning at TCS!

Musical News in 2013

HAPPY NEW YEAR! There are lots of incredible musical things happening all over campus as we dive into 2013. Notable examples include:

• Project kick-offs (Pre-K, Kinder, 1st)
• Kodaly-based learning (2nd)
• Recorder preparation and practice (3rd)
• Musical composition (4th)
• Chorus song decisions (4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th)

In addition, rehearsals for this year's musical "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" have begun! The students have already shown tremendous effort in terms of learning lines, interpreting characters, and demonstrating their desire to make this show appeal to all ages, from Pre-Schoolers to adults. And Mrs. Barber and I never tire of hearing students say, "can we try that scene again?" because we can ALWAYS improve upon our ideas together! The rehearsal schedule for January is up on my website, and check back soon for an insider's view into the musical performance process as we continue through the winter of 2013!