Music that Helps to Tell a Story

Music that helps to tell a story

One of my favorite units to teach is how music can help to tell a story!  I use "The Snowman" video with Kindergarten kids, and "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" and other clips in Fantasia 2000 with the First Graders.
As in most of my units I go even deeper with the Second Graders.


"Peter and the Wolf" uses orchestral instruments and musical themes to help tell the story.

"Where the Wild Things Are" is enhanced with underlying music from Stravinsky's Firebird Suite, and then the same music is heard in "The Firebird" in Fantasia 2000.
"The Three Billy Goats Gruff" is enhanced with classroom instruments.

At the end of the unit, my Second Graders fill out an evaluation on a Google Form. The last question gives them a chance to give me their thoughts on the unit overall. Here are a few of their responses:

"I liked how we got to watch and read the story of Peter and the Wolf"

"I think it was pretty fun! Next year, the second graders will love it! I promise!"

"It was amazing"

"I think this was my favorite unit."

First Graders enjoyed "The Sorcerer's Apprentice"

and other stories on Fantasia 2000.

Soon the Kindergarten Kids will experience "The Snowman" video!

Thank you Guest Musicians!

A HUGE round of applause for our Guest Musicians!

Enid Williams, Dr. Andrew Briddell, Ryan Casey, Arick Ecker, Jamie Sercombe, Jamie Cash, 

Kaci Bailey and John Weekes!

Such a great learning experience for 2nd graders to see music important in lives of adults!

 

We have some great videos from our time together as well...

Sounds Abound! Sound Poems/Stories for each grade level

All of the students have been experiencing classroom instruments in sound poems/stories/songs.
It's been a big hit! (pun intended!)

2nd Grade: "The Spider and the Fly"
By Cristi Cary Miller

First Grade: "Something Went Bump"
By Teresa Jennings

"Ananse Was A Spider"
By Cristi Cary Miller

"Did You Hear That Sound?"

By Teresa Jennings

Kindergarten: "The Little Old Lady Who Wasn't Afraid of Anything"
By Linda Williams

Kindergarten: Solfege, Boomwhackers and the "Sound of Music"

The Kindergarten Kids have been learning to sing with solfege, practicing the hand signs, and transferring their new knowledge to playing Boomwhackers (pitched tubes).
Clips that I show from a favorite movie of mine, "The Sound of Music", are perfect for the solfege unit.


















Our Solfege Hand Sign Wall

Playing solfege songs with Boomwhackers!

Kindergarten kids engaged in "The Sound of Music"

Kindergarten kids practicing hand signs with "Do, A Deer..."

African Music Unit...Enjoyed By All!

First graders have enjoyed experiencing African singing games, instruments and stories!
We made the connection to singing games American children play, and talked about how really all you need to have fun is a circle of friends, a rock, and in our case, shaker eggs!

Instrument Families of the Orchestra in a Fun, Engaging Learning Experience

The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra Instrument Safari

In second grade music classes we are learning about the instrument families of the orchestra. This website presents the concept in an engaging and fun way.  

Students are welcome to explore this at home, and can register for a free account.

By creating their own "secret name", password, and hint, students are able to experience all of this for themselves. This is an advantage because we take turns when we are learning as a class.

And Just Like That, We're Back! Welcome to Music Classes!

And....We're Back!

Primary Expectation Video

CE Expectation Video

Our first music classes include getting to know each other, viewing the expectation videos 

(see above), and "setting the stage" for our year together!

Coming Up:

2nd Grade will be starting to work on The Instrument Families of the Orchestra Unit.

1st Grade will start the "African Music" Unit.

Kindergarten begins "Nursery Rhyme " Unit.

I am excited to be starting Year 5 in McFarland! 

It is my goal to teach the children  musical skills and above all the love of music activities 

to grow life long enjoyment of music!