Past projects 2
Young Performers Need Music Stands!
Funded Nov 1, 2019,My students and I have enjoyed using the music stands. I loved watching the students realize how much easier it is to play music when you have a stand that is eye level. I wish I had more pictures to share with you! The fourth graders saw the biggest benefit from the stands. They started a program called "Recorder Karate". I introduce a song to the students, and then it is their responsibility to practice the music on their own during the allotted time in class. I was so impressed by the way students would share stands and help each other learn the pieces.
The fourth graders and the fifth graders had the opportunity to use the music stands to rehearse their performance material. We placed their speaking parts on stands to encourage them to look up while they are speaking. My after school program students were able to use the stands to practice reading their drumming parts. They told me that it was much easier to read the music on the stand than to track the lines on the projector.
The younger grade levels used the stands to play handbells and Boomwhackers. The music is simplified to colors. The students have to play when their color comes up in the music. The exercise is fun for the students, and it is a great way to practice skills they need to read books. We used the stands for games where the students had to go to the correct stand that described the music the best. For example, they use pictures of different types of voices (talk, shout, sing, whisper) and they can I identify the speed of the music (turtle, cow, a person jogging, and a turtle).
I was saddened that our time was short this year due to COVID. I have been told that our district is keeping elementary music and art in the curriculum. Although we do not know what next year will look like, I hope that the students will be able to continue playing instruments and singing. Thank you for giving my students a more authentic music experience. Have a great summer. Stay safe!”
With gratitude,
Ms. Hazzard
Music Technology for Cultural and Computer Literacy
Funded Oct 17, 2018Thank you for giving my students the opportunity to study music using iPads and keyboards. The students have started using the midi keyboards with the garage band program to create and record their own melodies. The students can use audio splitters, so that two students can work on a project at the same time. The students use Quaver's Marvelous World of Music to practice their music theory through games. Students can demonstrate their knowledge of steady beat, high and low notes, tempo, rhythms, and how to read music on the treble clef staff. I was able to give a district music assessment much quicker using the iPads, because the younger students did not have to use a mouse to scroll and click on possible answer choices.
The next step is for fourth graders to start recording themselves playing the recorder, so that they can do self-evaluations.
So far the students are the most excited about the ability to add several instrumental tracks to one song. They can record an original melodic line using the keyboard, and they can create original drum parts using the garage band drum kits.
I have found that all of the students are eager to try out garage band and the keyboards, because they can create music that they are used to hearing at home. I was so excited to see students participating that normally seem apathetic towards the traditional music curriculum.
Thank you for providing a new creative outlet in my classroom.”
With gratitude,
Ms. Hazzard
This classroom project was brought to life by Chevron Fuel Your School.