Summer Music Camps and Local Children's Choirs

Some wonderful opportunities for camps this summer as well as children’s choirs around town have come across my desk. Here are some details if you are looking for a musical activity for your child:

“Arts Have Heart” summer camp at Otterbein College, July 19th – 23rd
-day camp for children, grades 2-5
-art and music classes daily from 9AM – Noon
-all classes in the A/C Batelle Fine Arts Center
-reading music, singing, playing instruments, movement activities
-art projects about shape, line, balance, form, and more
-Instructors: Amy Chivington and Gretchen Cochran
-Call 614-823-1110 or email achivington@otterbein for information

“Broadway2LA” Acting Camps for Teen and Kids
-3 different weeks for Teens (13-18): June 14-18, July 12-16, August 2-6
-3 different weeks for Kids (6-12): June 21-25, July 19-23, August 9-13
-Kids broken up into age groups of 6-9 and 10-12
-Location: the Historic Ohio Theatre, 39 East State Street
-Camps run from 9AM – 3PM
-learn the basics of acting in theatre, film, television, and commercials
-Instructors: Chad J. Willett, Andy Falter, Ray Conrad
-Contact the Broadway2LA Acting Studio for information and registration:
614-572-9005 info@broadway2LA.com Broadway2LA website

Columbus International Children’s Choir
-now enrolling new members ages 4-18
-choir season is from September to May
-rehearsals on Saturdays at North Congregational United Church of Christ
-For more information: 614-789-9392 or www.cmaacademy.org

Con Brio! Children’s Choir
-placement interviews being scheduled on Thursdays in May and June, with additional interviews scheduled as needed
-Worthington community based children’s and youth choral program for singers age 4-17
-concert season is September through May
-rehearsals are on Thursday evenings at Slate Hill Elementary
-Worthington Music Educators are among the staff:
Emily DePaul Gil (Slate Hill); Lori Gustina (Worthington Hills)
-Contact: 614-315-6312 or www.conbrio.cc

Here’s hoping you have a musical summer! Enjoy!

Congratulations Music Makers!

A big congratulations to the Music Makers on three wonderful performances of "Rock and Roll Forever." Every performance was filled with happy audience members who truly enjoyed themselves.

Our last meeting of the year will be this Wednesday, May 12th at 11:30. We will watch a video of our performance, enjoy a treat, and celebrate another great year of singing!

Music Makers Present, "Rock and Roll Forever"

Next week is a big week for our Bluffsview Music Makers. Students will be performing their spring show, "Rock and Roll Forever" three times next week. Don't miss these performances:

Thursday, May 6th at 1:30 PM and 7:00 PM in the Bluffsview Gymnasium. Students should report to the music room by 6:45 PM for the evening performance.

Saturday, May 8th at 10:30 AM at the Griswold Center in Downtown Worthington for the Kiwanis Scholarship Pancake Breakfast. Students should arrive at the Griswold Center by 10:15 AM. Street address is 777 North High Street, just north of the Presbyterian Church.

Please invite family and friends to attend the show at the Griswold Center. It's a great opportunity to have a nice pancake breakfast while enjoying the show, with all proceeds from the breakfast going to the Kiwanis Scholarship program for high school seniors. Breakfast tickets are $5.00, and children under 8 eat for free with a paying adult. Performers will receieve a ticket to eat for free.

Be there or be square!

Vivaldi's "Spring"

Kindergarten students listened to the first movement of the "Spring" concerto by Antonio Vivaldi, and created these drawings. This piece of music was revolutionary when it was written in the late 1700's in the sense that Vivaldi wanted his audience to think of specific things when they listened to the music. Vivaldi even went as far as to write notes in the margins of the music indicating things like the chirping of birds and buzzing of bees, the gentle breezes and calm babbling brooks, the violence of a thunderstorm, and the rising of the sun. After listening and discussing these elements, Kindergarten students used creative movement and then finally artwork to further connect to the music. This is just a sample of some of the artwork created.

"Make Your Own Instrument" 2010

Here is a slide show with a few examples of some of the instruments created by the 4th grade students this year.

Hot Cross Buns with Orff Accompaniment

Listen to the Fourth Graders playing "Hot Cross Buns" on the recorder with Orff Accompaniment.

4th Grade Instrument Project

Fourth Graders are studying the science of sound and how it relates to instruments. All instruments can be classified scientifically one of four ways, based on how their sound is produced: Chordophones (vibration of strings), Aerophones (vibration of air), Membranophones (vibration of skin), or Idiophones (vibration of self).

Students have the assignment of constructing an instrument of their own, must be able to identify their instrument's scientific classification, and must complete written directions for the construction of their instrument. All instruments and written directions are due on Thursday, March 18th, 2010.

Students will be given time in music class to browse books on instrument construction as well as make notes for their ideas. In addition, the following websites have wonderful ideas to assist in this project:

How to make an African Drum
Artists Helping Children
E-How videos on instrument construction
How Stuff Works
Busy Bee Kids Crafts
Making Musical Instruments on essortment.com
Mudcat Kids
Kinderart.com
Family Crafts from About.com
Family Fun instrument crafts
Nancymusic.com
Rhythmweb.com Homemade instruments

I hope this list is helpful! AND I can't wait to see what instruments make their way into my room next week! Good Luck!