Archive for February 2010
Two-year-old fun!
February 15th, 2010 | 
Author While handing out percussion instruments with my two-year-old class a few weeks ago, I wondered if they would be able to play the rhythm to “I Am A Fine Musician”. It goes like this.
Ta, ta, ti-ti ta. Ta, ta, ti-ti ta.
The ta(s) are twice as long as the ti-ti(s). I asked each child to come up to the front with me for help with the rhythm. As the children came up one by one, I noticed the other kids were practicing the rhythm on their instruments by themselves. Who would have thought? They did not consider it practicing, of course, I imagine they just got the rhythm in their head as other children were being helped. Although this technique may not work with every group of two-year-olds due to size of class, level of gross motor development, etc., it is certainly worth a try and can work in many situations. They love coming up to the front of the class, allowing the teacher to take their hand to show them the rhythm.
This hands-on activity acts as a learning aid as it is an extra aid to the memory process (Muscle memory). We use muscle memory in our everyday lives without even thinking when we brush our teeth, drive a car, throw a ball, ride a bike, go bowling, and so on. Even our speech has everything to do with muscle memory. You don’t think about forming each word, the words just come naturally if the language is your native tongue. It is said that it takes the brain 740 repetitions to learn an activity almost perfectly.
Maria
Poem contest winners
Time has come to reveal the name of the winners of our poem contest that was announced on January 15, 2010. There are 4 winners. Although their name and poem are given in a sequence below, all poems are equal winners. They are all number 1.
You’re my crazy valentine
It’s a sunny day
You thought you had a talking teddy
You’re my crazy valentine
Go to school little boy
You are at school, stay at school today
by Hayden Berry
Valentine oh valentine
You go to valentine
Why do you have long long hair
You’re sitting on a chair
Daddy you take me to school today
You are at school, stay there today
by Julia Berry
Oh my little valentine
you are sweet and you are kind
and there is no need to wonder
we will be best friends forever
bright as bright our friendship shines
will you be my valentine
by Zorian & Xara Alley
We can make patterns of hearts,
Cupid will you shoot your dart,
You are mine mine mine mine mine,
Will you be my Valentine,
I love you and you love me,
Pinky pinky little heart.
by the Play to Learn Preschool
Congratulations to Hayden, Julia, Zorian & Xara and the Play to Learn Preschool. They will be sent a CD of the Do Re Me and Maria collection at home. All other participants will receive an email with a link to the downloadable song “My Valentine”.
Thank you all for having participated to this poem contest.
Maria
Beethoven
Beethoven has always been one of my favourites as one of the great composers. He crossed over the classical period into the Romantic era with his compositions and for that reason, among others, he is seen to be quite versatile. I love to introduce the kids to Beethoven’s music via Beethoven Lives Upstairs, which has Ludwig van Beethoven moving upstairs in the house of a bereaved boy, Christoph, and turns his life upside down.
Christoph has just lost his father and is in no mood for the tail-spin his house has been thrown into by this mad composer. Initially he resents their new eccentric tenant, Mr. Beethoven, but slowly he comes to understand and admire the genius of the man, the torment of his deafness and the beauty of his music. In the end, he is won over by the music and true incidents from the great composer’s life.
What kids will learn:
Biography, introduction to classical music, grieving, responsibility and caring, learning about disabilities, and recognizing one’s Talent through it all!
Bio
“Ludwig van Beethoven was baptised on December 17th 1770 at Bonn. His family originated from Brabant, in Belgium. His father was musician at the Court of Bonn, with a definite weakness for drink. His mother was always described as a gentle, retiring woman, with a warm heart. Beethoven referred to her as his “best friend”.”
For more on Beethoven’s bio, click here.
Here’s the Moonlight Sonata from Beethoven Lives Upstairs for your listening pleasure.
Beethoven composed this Sonata in 1801 and dedicated it to his pupil, Countess Giulietta Guicciardi. Shortly after their first few lessons, the two fell in love. After dedicating the Moonlight Sonata to her, it is believed that Beethoven gave his proposal of marriage. Although she was willing to accept Beethoven’s proposal, one of her parents forbade the marriage, probably due to Beethoven’s rank in life and temperament, and it did not come to pass.
Strangely enough, the original title of the sonata was not “The Moonlight Sonata”. It was “Quasi una fantasia” (almost a fantasy). The popular title of Moonlight Sonata actually did not come about until a few years after Beethoven’s death. In 1836, German music critic, Ludwig Rellstab wrote that the sonata put him in mind of the reflected moonlight off Lake Lucerne. Since then, Moonlight Sonata has remained the “official” unofficial title of the sonata.
Maria
The legend of the talking stick
As you may know, I have gathered a wide selection of multi-cultural material, songs, dances and games from around the world, for my World Music and Rhythm Talk program. I came across the legend of the talking stick and found that it worked marvelously in my class as children tend to talk all at once. They get louder and louder in order to be heard over the next guy, not realizing that the louder they all talk the less the teacher can hear them. They seem to feel that if they yell loud enough, someone is bound to hear what they are saying. I believe that this is a natural phenomenon and we have all been guilty of it since our cultural beginnings. This is why the Native American people have come up with the idea of the talking stick, a powerful tool used by many tribes of different nations for years. When the person holding the stick is talking, no one else is allowed to talk. Moreover, the speaker could speak freely and without consequence as no one could repeat what was spoken outside the circle.
I like to teach kids respect for another’s culture at this early age as I think it is critical to a happy, healthy society, free from the predeterminations and prejudices which still haunt our planet.
Maria
Posted in Early childhood and music, General, Music Education | 
Tags: Games From Around The World, Music And Rhythm, World Music | 
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My guide dog Raven and the kids
Raven was my friend and guide dog of many years. Although he is no longer with us, I still remember all the good times.
Taking him to the daycare when he was younger and playing the Copy Cat Rhythms on the drum with his paw so the kids could see that even the dog could play. We didn’t keep that one up as Raven began to protest, pulling his paw away as if to say “That’s your game, not mine”. He would also jump up in the air and bark whenever we were up dancing and clapping.
The one thing I think he enjoyed the most was the springtime class. We were outside in the playground doing The Elephant Song where the children walk very slowly like the elephants do, raising their arm like a trunk. When the music speeds up, so do the children as they are being chased by a tiger or hunter. Raven ran right along with them in his deer-like fashion, leaping and bounding around as Standard Poodles generally do. I wish I had a picture of that scene but since I don’t, I will show you one of the pictures I took of him with my friend’s digital camera.
As well, click here for a sample of the song he and the kids were running to.
Maria
Posted in Early childhood and music, General, Music Education | Tags: Elephant Song, Guide Dog | No Comments »