Mallets Grade 2

2nd graders have been playing the mallets the last few weeks in music. They started off playing a 5-note scale down to the book "Old Black Fly": G, F, E, D, C.

This week they played up the scale and back down again to the book "Cockadoodle Doo! Barnyard Hullabaloo." Students play the barred instruments, egg shakers, and drums. They learned 3 different parts and rotated around the instruments after every 4 pages in the book.

JR's Class playing up and down the 5-note scale

1st Graders Play Glockenspiels

The 1st graders played the glockenspiels this week while learning about the sound opposites up and down. First, students played the glockenspiel up and down along to the poem "Hickory Dickory Dock." They were able to change different parts of the poem for each time of day.

Ms. Scott's class

Next, students learned a song called "The Sun is Rising." They learned how to play up the scale, notes "C, D, E, F, G." After they learned the song they worked in small groups to practice and then perform the song for the class.

Mrs. Greene's class

Ms. Scott's class

Winter Snowflakes Orff Grade 2

2nd graders are learning a fun song this week called "Winter Snowflakes". They learn to play three different parts: The Orff barred instruments (xylophones and metallophones), egg shakers, and finger cymbals. On part A all students play and sing the song. On part B the student sitting at the small glockenspiel gets to improvise and play whatever he/she wants, making sure to land on note "C" to end the improvisation. Then all students rotate to the left and play a new instrument!
(Lesson idea found here, thanks O For Tuna Orff!)

Ms. Sallade's Class

Ms. Sallade's Class

Chicken on a Fence Post- Improvisation

April is jazz appreciation month so 3rd graders learned about jazz history and a song that involves improvising (making music up on the spot that fits the song). The song is called "Chicken on a Fence Post" and teaches students the quick "beat-e-t-a" 16th note rhythm. There is a part A and part B. During part B the xylophones improvise on the words "fence post yeah!"

I got the lesson idea and notation from the wonderful blog: bethsmusicnotesplus.com. 

Mrs. Perry's Class

Mrs. Wilson's Class

Land of the Silver Birch- Native American Song

3rd graders learned about Native American music last week to correlate with learning about Native Americans in their classrooms. They learned a Native American folk song called "Land of the Silver Birch". The lyrics are:

"Land of the Silver Birch. Home of the beaver.

Where still the mighty moose wanders at will.

Blue lake and rocky shore, I will return once more.

Boom-di-dee boom boom, boom di-dee boom boom,

Boom-di-dee boom boom, boom."

Students played the xylophones, drums, and bells. Bells and xylophones used a "Beat, rest" rhythm while the drums played on the steady beat. After each time singing the song students rotated to a new instrument.

Instrument set-up around the music circle.

I got the Orff arrangement from here. :-)

Orff barred instrument repair

When I first started at Mitchell school in September and was teaching the orff barred instruments (such as xylophones) to the 3rd graders, I noticed how poor shape the instruments were in! They hadn't been played in many years, so they buzzed, bars fell off or were missing, the tubing was all cracked, and pins were bent and broken. How sad!

Below are some pictures I took before fixing the instruments. Most of them show the instruments after I took the bars off. You can tell they need some work and cleaning!

I asked the PTA for grant funding to fix the instruments and ordered lots of necessary supplies such as murphy's oil soap, wood glue, etc. First I took all the bars off and vacuumed the instruments out. Then I cleaned all the boxes and bars with Murphy's oil soap and shined them with murphey's lemon oil.

Next I took out all the old metal pins and tubing and replaced it with new tubing and pins. Our instruments are now all in working order, sound beautiful again, and I can't wait to teach students with our nice and practically new orff instruments! Thank you Mitchell School PTA!

Nice new black tubing and pins!

One completed bass xylophone and one without it's pins or tubing. 

Nice new tubing and pins!

All instruments fixed before putting the bars back on.

All the finished instruments with their bars!

3rd graders play barred instruments

3rd graders have started learning the barred instruments. Here is our music rug set up with xylophones, glockenspiels, and rainbow bells. 

This week students will be learning the basics of how to hold their mallets and play the instruments, then playing a rhythm on note "C" to the book "Commotion in the Ocean".