Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf" used in 2009 Coke Commercial





Fourth grade students have begun a short unit on instruments of the orchestra and started their study by listening to "Peter and The Wolf" by Sergei Prokofiev.  It is a lively and exciting piece of program music, that tells a definite story and has each character of the story represented by a different instrument of the orchestra.  Part of my lesson plan is to share this video with students once we have finished listening to the original version, partly for entertainment, but also to point out that music is used all around us.  For some reason, the video I have saved on my computer would not play with the sound.  So here is the commercial we were trying to watch.... enjoy!

 

Recorder Orders for 2013-2014

Fourth graders will begin learning how to play the recorder this year!  Fifth and Sixth graders will continue to have the recorder weaved into their music learning.  If your child does not have a recorder or his or her own, it's time to order one!  At just a $5.00 investment, your child is getting at least three years of use out of what may be their first musical instrument.  Playing the recorder will teach them to read music, to improvise, and to develop the disciplined skills needed to master a musical instrument.

Yellow letters are in the folder on the outside of the music room door, and include all the details needed to placed a recorder order for this school year.  I will be taking orders until September 27th, 2013.  Thanks!

Welcome Back!

Welcome back to Bluffsview for the 2013-2014 school year!  It is so exciting to be starting a new school year.  I hope that your summer was fun and relaxing.

One of the major things that I did this summer was complete my Orff Schulwerk Level 2 certification at Baldwin-Wallace University.  It was a challenging two week course but very rewarding to complete.  I can't wait to implement some of what I learned into my teaching this year.

How was YOUR summer?  I can't wait to hear all about it as students return to my music room this week!

Parents: A Musical Opportunity for You

Parents: are YOU a singer or former singer?  Do you have older children (ages 18-24) who enjoy singing?  Auditions for new members of Capriccio Columbus and Capriccio Chorale are coming soon. Check this out if you're interested:

Happy 4th of July!

Happy Fourth of July!  Here is a classic Independence Day tune, performed two ways....

The Original:

and The Funny:

FREE 2-Day Choir Camp

A Little Music History Lesson

Hey Bluffsview Bears - I hope you're enjoying your second week of summer.  On a gray day like today, I often find myself browsing Pinterest and the various music blogs I follow for interesting things to share with you.  I found this one today and had to post it!  Five part, a capella singing (meaning without instruments) and a mash up of over a thousand years of music history.  Enjoy!