We had a great first class together today! We learned about Double Notes, which is when you play two notes at the same time, one high and one low. We learned about Staccato, which refers to music that is short and bouncy, and Legato, which refers to music that is smooth and connected. We also learned about notes that go higher and higher above middle C and notes that go lower and lower below middle C. We even had a little drumming competition on Djembe Drums.
Home Assignments
1. If there is a keyboard at home, the children should review notes that go higher and lower above and below middle C. Ask them to start at middle C, play a medium high note, and a very high note, then come back down in the same fashion to middle C. Ask them to do the same thing with the lower notes. If there is no keyboard, try singing a middle note, a medium high note, and a really high note. Try the same thing with the lower notes.
2. If there is a keyboard at home, the children should try and practice double notes, playing them in a staccato fashion and legato fashion. If there is no keyboard, this exercise can be sung. Try singing Mary Had a Little Lamb staccato and legato.
3. If there is a keyboard at home, practice Group of Two, Down to C, where the children find the groups of two black keys and the white key at the bottom is the C.
I would like to take this oppourtunity to introduce myself. I am the new MusIQ Teacher for Blessed Sacrament Catholic School. Cathy Miller, the previous teacher, had to leave unfortunately and I am taking over for the remainder of the semester and for next semester. I am teaching three other MusIQ classes in two other schools in the TDSB. It is a joy for me to teach music to children using this innovative and excellent program. I will be updating this blog each week after class with information about the class progress and home assignments. I look forward to meeting you all over the next few weeks, and feel free to contact me at anytime if you have any questions, concerns, or comments.
Thanks!
See you next week!
-Laura
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Owen Public School, Wednesday Nov. 14 (3:50 - 4:50)
Hello everyone!
We have had great classes these last two weeks. We had a drumming competition last week with Djembe Drums and everyone had a lot of fun and did very well! We learned more about holding notes for 1, 2, 3, and 4 beats. We learned to clap rhythms on our hands within 4 beats phrases. When we hold notes in our 4 beat phrases, we dip our hands on each held beat. So if we are counting 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +, if we clap and hold the first two notes, we would dip our hands on the second beat to to show that we still know where the beat is and how many have gone by. We learned about Staccato, which refers to music that is short and bouncy, and Legato, which refers to music that is smooth and connected. We have learned about Double Notes, which is when you play two notes at the same time, one high and one low
Home Assignments
Primary Students
1. If there is a keyboard at home, review "Group of 2, Down to C" up and down the piano,
finding all the C's.
2. Practice holding notes as I described above. If there are any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.
3. If there is a keyboard at home, the children should try and practice double notes, playing them in a staccato fashion and legato fashion. If there is no keyboard, this exercise can be sung. Try singing Mary Had a Little Lamb staccato and legato.
Willow and Neha have learned about playing a C major scale, musical rests, the Bass Clef (F Clef), and in class this week we played Old Grey Goose. Both girls need to practice A Tisket, A Tasket again this week. It is very important to bring the music to every class. The girls need to look one note ahead while they are practicing so they don't get lost. Remember proper hand position and all your rhythms!
Home Assignments
Willow & Neha
1. Practice C Major scale fingering, paying special attention to the thumb tuck. Fingering is 12312345 with the thumb tuck occurring after the third finger plays the note E. The thumb is curved underneath to play the F. In class we practiced 12341234 for scale fingering to work up our thumb tuck. Let the girls know that they can switch to the new fingering now.
2. Practice A Tisket, A Tasket, paying special attention to both notes and rhythms. Please remind the girls to bring their music to class.
3. Review whole rests, half rests, quarter rests and eighth rests. Also review whole notes, half notes, quarter notes and eighth notes. The girls will be tested on this information during the last class in December, so it is very important for them to review and remember.
-Laura
We have had great classes these last two weeks. We had a drumming competition last week with Djembe Drums and everyone had a lot of fun and did very well! We learned more about holding notes for 1, 2, 3, and 4 beats. We learned to clap rhythms on our hands within 4 beats phrases. When we hold notes in our 4 beat phrases, we dip our hands on each held beat. So if we are counting 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +, if we clap and hold the first two notes, we would dip our hands on the second beat to to show that we still know where the beat is and how many have gone by. We learned about Staccato, which refers to music that is short and bouncy, and Legato, which refers to music that is smooth and connected. We have learned about Double Notes, which is when you play two notes at the same time, one high and one low
Home Assignments
Primary Students
1. If there is a keyboard at home, review "Group of 2, Down to C" up and down the piano,
finding all the C's.
2. Practice holding notes as I described above. If there are any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.
3. If there is a keyboard at home, the children should try and practice double notes, playing them in a staccato fashion and legato fashion. If there is no keyboard, this exercise can be sung. Try singing Mary Had a Little Lamb staccato and legato.
************************************************************************************
Willow and Neha have learned about playing a C major scale, musical rests, the Bass Clef (F Clef), and in class this week we played Old Grey Goose. Both girls need to practice A Tisket, A Tasket again this week. It is very important to bring the music to every class. The girls need to look one note ahead while they are practicing so they don't get lost. Remember proper hand position and all your rhythms!
Home Assignments
Willow & Neha
1. Practice C Major scale fingering, paying special attention to the thumb tuck. Fingering is 12312345 with the thumb tuck occurring after the third finger plays the note E. The thumb is curved underneath to play the F. In class we practiced 12341234 for scale fingering to work up our thumb tuck. Let the girls know that they can switch to the new fingering now.
2. Practice A Tisket, A Tasket, paying special attention to both notes and rhythms. Please remind the girls to bring their music to class.
3. Review whole rests, half rests, quarter rests and eighth rests. Also review whole notes, half notes, quarter notes and eighth notes. The girls will be tested on this information during the last class in December, so it is very important for them to review and remember.
- Whole Notes & Rests - 4 beats in a 4/4 bar (4/4) -
- Half Notes & Rests - 2 beats in a 4/4 bar (2/4) -
- Quarter Notes & Rests - 1 beat in a 4/4/ bar (1/4) -
- Eighth Notes & Rests - 1/2 of a beat in a 4/4 bar (1/8) -
See you next week!- Half Notes & Rests - 2 beats in a 4/4 bar (2/4) -
- Quarter Notes & Rests - 1 beat in a 4/4/ bar (1/4) -
- Eighth Notes & Rests - 1/2 of a beat in a 4/4 bar (1/8) -
-Laura
Owen Public School, Wednesday Nov. 14 (12:05 - 12:45)
Hello everyone!
We have had great classes these last two weeks. We had a drumming competition last week with Djembe Drums and everyone had a lot of fun and did very well! We learned more about holding notes for 1, 2, 3, and 4 beats. We learned to clap rhythms on our hands within 4 beats phrases. When we hold notes in our 4 beat phrases, we dip our hands on each held beat. So if we are counting 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +, if we clap and hold the first two notes, we would dip our hands on the second beat to to show that we still know where the beat is and how many have gone by. We learned about Staccato, which refers to music that is short and bouncy, and Legato, which refers to music that is smooth and connected. We have learned about Double Notes, which is when you play two notes at the same time, one high and one low
Home Assignments
1. If there is a keyboard at home, review "Group of 2, Down to C" up and down the piano,
finding all the C's.
2. Practice holding notes as I described above. If there are any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.
3. If there is a keyboard at home, the children should try and practice double notes, playing them in a staccato fashion and legato fashion. If there is no keyboard, this exercise can be sung. Try singing Mary Had a Little Lamb staccato and legato.
See you next week!
- Laura
We have had great classes these last two weeks. We had a drumming competition last week with Djembe Drums and everyone had a lot of fun and did very well! We learned more about holding notes for 1, 2, 3, and 4 beats. We learned to clap rhythms on our hands within 4 beats phrases. When we hold notes in our 4 beat phrases, we dip our hands on each held beat. So if we are counting 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +, if we clap and hold the first two notes, we would dip our hands on the second beat to to show that we still know where the beat is and how many have gone by. We learned about Staccato, which refers to music that is short and bouncy, and Legato, which refers to music that is smooth and connected. We have learned about Double Notes, which is when you play two notes at the same time, one high and one low
Home Assignments
1. If there is a keyboard at home, review "Group of 2, Down to C" up and down the piano,
finding all the C's.
2. Practice holding notes as I described above. If there are any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.
3. If there is a keyboard at home, the children should try and practice double notes, playing them in a staccato fashion and legato fashion. If there is no keyboard, this exercise can be sung. Try singing Mary Had a Little Lamb staccato and legato.
See you next week!
- Laura
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Rolph Road Public School, Tuesday Nov. 14 (3:40 - 4:40)
Hello Everyone!
We have been a very busy class over the last two weeks. We have learned about Double Notes, which is when you play two notes at the same time, one high and one low. We learned about Staccato, which refers to music that is short and bouncy, and Legato, which refers to music that is smooth and connected. We also learned about notes that go higher and higher above middle C and notes that go lower and lower below middle C. Carly even played us Twinkle Twinkle Little Star!
Home Assignments
1. If there is a keyboard at home, the children should review notes that go higher and lower above and below middle C. Ask them to start at middle C, play a medium high note, and a very high note, then come back down in the same fashion to middle C. Ask them to do the same thing with the lower notes. If there is no keyboard, try singing a middle note, a medium high note, and a really high note. Try the same thing with the lower notes.
2. If there is a keyboard at home, the children should try and practice double notes, playing them in a staccato fashion and legato fashion. If there is no keyboard, this exercise can be sung. Try singing Mary Had a Little Lamb staccato and legato.
For the last class this semester (which is on December 11th), I would like to invite the parents to an open class where the children will show you what they have learned about music. I will have them teach you some of what they have learned on the keyboards. Please email me if you are interested in attending.
See you next week!
-Laura
We have been a very busy class over the last two weeks. We have learned about Double Notes, which is when you play two notes at the same time, one high and one low. We learned about Staccato, which refers to music that is short and bouncy, and Legato, which refers to music that is smooth and connected. We also learned about notes that go higher and higher above middle C and notes that go lower and lower below middle C. Carly even played us Twinkle Twinkle Little Star!
Home Assignments
1. If there is a keyboard at home, the children should review notes that go higher and lower above and below middle C. Ask them to start at middle C, play a medium high note, and a very high note, then come back down in the same fashion to middle C. Ask them to do the same thing with the lower notes. If there is no keyboard, try singing a middle note, a medium high note, and a really high note. Try the same thing with the lower notes.
2. If there is a keyboard at home, the children should try and practice double notes, playing them in a staccato fashion and legato fashion. If there is no keyboard, this exercise can be sung. Try singing Mary Had a Little Lamb staccato and legato.
For the last class this semester (which is on December 11th), I would like to invite the parents to an open class where the children will show you what they have learned about music. I will have them teach you some of what they have learned on the keyboards. Please email me if you are interested in attending.
See you next week!
-Laura
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