Everyday Music Activity #6

Listen to two pieces of music.  List their similarities and differences.  You can make a chart or a Venn Diagram to help you.

Extension:  Try listening to music from two different parts of the world and build a multi-cutural appreciaton.

Skills:  Comparing and contrasting, vocabulary, music appreciation

Happy Thanksgiving!

We wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving!  Have a wonderful time with your family and friends.

NewSongs will be closed for lessons on Thursday and Friday.  Reschedule your lessons with you teacher, Ms. Jan or Mr. Michael. 

Call 714-4544
email michael@elkgrovemusiclessons.com

Everyday Music Activity #5

Make a musical map.  Choose a symbol for each section of the music and mark the order you hear new sections and repeated sections. 

What pattern have you found?


Extension:  Make a melody map by drawing a line with melodic contour.  When the notes go higher, make the line go up.  When the sounds go lower, make the line go down.  Describe the shape of the line.

Skills:  Patterns, identifying sections that sound alike, hearing high and low.

Everyday Music Activity #4

Make a list of describing words:  loud, soft, fast, slow, happy, sad, etc

Loud/soft words are called Dynamics

High/low words are called Pitch

Listen to music and apply the descriptive words to the piece

Extension:  Learn some Italian music terms to describe mood and tempo and use them to describe the music you listen to.
Examples:  forte, piano, andante, adagio, allegro, moderato, largo

Skills:  using adjectives and musical terminology, language arts and vocabulary

Everyday Music Activity #3

Dance or act out a story to a piece of music.  It is very easy to do this with music from operas and ballets.

Song ideas: 
The Nutcracker:  Overture by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Swan Lake:  Spanish Dance by Peter Ilyick Tchaikovsky
Romeo and Juliet:  Preparation for the Ball by Dmitry Kabalevsky
Rodeo:  Hoe-Down by Aaron Copland
The Comedians:  Epilogue by Dmitry Kabalevsky

Extension:  Write a story to go along with the music

Skills:  Creative writing, active listening, language arts, gross motor skills and drama.

Enjoying Music with Your Elementary Age Child

(Ages Five to Twelve)

• Continue to sing and memorize songs and poetry with a strong rhythm and rhyme.
• Play musical games with your child involving math, spelling and reading.  They can learn ABC's, multiplication, The 50 States by singing them!
• While driving in the car, play musical guessing games such as "Name that Tune."
• Play guessing games that require recognizing the different instruments of the orchestra.
• Take your child to age-appropraite symphonies, musicals, ballets or chamber orchestras.
• Rent movies about music and musicians and watch them as a family. 
• Organize a yearly talent show in the neighborhood.
• Play music from the Baroque or Classical periods while children do their homework.

Fantastic Music at Music Fest

My daughters and I heard some awesome music last night at CSUS.  The Ahn Trio is made up of three sisters who are known for bridging the distance between classical and contemporary compositions.  The trio consists of a pianist, violinist and cellist who play beautifully but also engaged with the audience and really entertained with facial and bodily expressions. They were educated at Julliard and have 6 albums out.  Leading American composers have written music especially for the Ahn sisters which they performed spectacularly! 

The ladies also came out into the foyer afterwards to meet the audience and sign postcards and CDs.   My daughters were delighted to meet the musicians who were extremely friendly.

It was a wonderful way to spend the evening.

The Festival of New American Music continues with more concerts this week and through the weekend.  Each concert is free and parking is free after 7pm.

Check out the schedule at www.csus.edu/music/fenam  or call (916) 278-5155

Holiday Dates to Remember

Our annual Holiday Recitals will be held on Saturday, December 11th at Peace Prebyterian church.  Your student should be working on their performance music this month!  We look forward to hearing all the great music!

November and December are great months to get involved in public performances in our community.  If you are interested in performing in events other than our Holiday Recital, please ask your teacher about upcoming performance opportunities.

Holiday Breaks:

Thanksgiving Break - No lessons Thursday, November 25 or Friday, November 26.

Winter Break - No Lessons Monday, December 20 through Sunday, January 2.  Classes resume January 3.

Enjoying Music with your Teens

Today's teens usually have strong music preferences whether that be the lastest pop, country or even classical.  Yes, some teens love classical!

Here are some ideas to share music with your young musician.

• Take your teen to more sophisticated concerts.  If possible, arrange for a backstage tour.  Check out your local university or college for free or low cost concerts of different genres.
• Arrange for your teen to meet with a real composer.
• For holidays and other special occasions give musical gifts-subscriptions to concerts, plays or symphonies.  Encourage grandparents to give tickets to a symphony or musical.
• Hold family music recitals and allow your teen to "show off."

Make your home a musical training center!

"Charlie Brown and Friends"

Spotlight Theater did a fantastic job on Saturday, October 30!  The group performed "Charlie Brown and Friends" to a packed crowd. 

They worked very hard and delighted the crowd with songs and comedy.

Enjoy the pictures.  If you have more you'd like added to this collection, email them to me at tonya@elkgrovemusiclessons.com.  Thanks!