A Cup of Coffee / Tea with...

 ...an everything bagel with cream cheese, and depending on my mood; listening to music through my earphones (closing off the outside world), playing a video game or the piano.

Nurture Yourself

Nurture Your Students

You will receive so much love from your students

They will lift you up

They will inspire you and encourage you

You will love them in return

Everyday is a gift

Each child is a gift

You are a gift

Life is busy. We need to make a conscious effort to take care of our own

During the school day, sometimes I would play the piano in between my classes. My students knew if I was still playing the piano when they arrived, they would enter the room quietly and wait until I was finished.

Sometimes I would play one of my favorite songs through my room sound system while sitting at my desk focusing on my water fountain or making circles in my sand dish to help relieve tension, relax or refocus by giving my brain a quick break.

Sometimes you just need a little brain break in between classes yourself.

Modeling this helps your students see, understand and use the power of music to recharge, relax and refocus.

TAI CHI 

Tai Chi uses slow, rhythmic, meditative movements to enhance relaxation, inner calm and peace.

I have taught my students as young as Kindergarten to use music and Tai Chi as a meditative tool. 

I had a Kindergarten class who was so unfocused and so undisciplined that I gave this a try and it took! Their classroom teacher asked for a copy of the music I used so she could play it in her room. What happened was when the kids heard the music, their minds and bodies automatically relaxed and refocused on their task at hand without doing the movements!

I used music by David Lanz, Cristofori's Dream (Album)

I taught the following 3 movements to them: Around the Platter, Bass Drum and Carry the Ball Around the Platter.

The key is to adjust the speed of the movements to the natural "feeling" of the music you choose. I find the slow, meditative sounds the best.

In the following instructional videos, the moves are done at a faster speed for instructional purposes only.

Rocking Motion

Around the Platter

Bass Drum

Carry The Ball Around The Platter

Some Exercises for you

8 Minute

4 Minute

Extra Tai Chi Movements

Click on the link below

Donna Marie's Video Picks on Pinterest

for all you do and remember to take time for yourself!

Donna Marie & Mary

Sing - Along Christmas & Winter Songs

A few of my students favorites!

All found on YouTube

Enjoy and Have Fun!!!

Lyrics Included

"Jingle Bells" 

(no lead Voice)

"Deck The Hall" 

(no lead Voice)

Frozen: "Let It Go"

"Santa Claus Is Coming To Town"

"Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree"

"Jingle Bell Rock"

"We Wish You A Merry Christmas"

"Feliz Navidad"

"Joy To The World"

(no lead Voice)

"Stille Nacht"

("Silent Night" in German)

"We Need A Little Christmas"

(my favorite!)

"Christmas Canon"

Not a Sing Along - I just found this to be a Wonderful A Cappella version of 

"Mary Did You Know"

Have A Great Day and don't forget to take time for yourself!

Donna Marie & Mary

Classroom Rhythm Instruments - Let's EXPLORE the Jingle Bells ☺

For many people, singing is the most natural way to PERFORM music. Sadly, not all people will participate in singing activities for a variety of reasons; shy, self-conscious to name a few. Some children are no different.

There are many skills required in learning to sing a new song especially for young children who are just beginning to learn to read words. Not only do they need to remember the words, there is the understanding of the words, pronouncing the words and remembering how the Melody goes. This is a lot for our younger school aged children.

Classroom Rhythm Instruments give INSTANT SUCCESS and confidence. The Rhythm Games and Activities are EASY. For me, there is always full participation and the students are CREATING music without really trying!

Here is a Classroom Rhythm Instrument Activity from my "Piggyback Song Activities for Rhythm Band and Boomwhackers Pack 1 PreK-1"

“WHERE IS MY BAND?” (Where Is Thumpkin?)

Abbreviated Version

1.       Where are the DRUMS?

   Where are the drums?

   Here we are.                                                                                                                 

   Here we are.

   Listen to our drums.

   Listen to our drums.

  Ta-Ta-Ta-(pause) or 1-2-3-(pause)

  Ta-Ta-Ta-(pause) or 1-2-3-(pause)

2.       Where are the CYMBALS?

3.       Where are the RHYTHM STICKS?

4.       Where are the TAMBOURINES?

5.       Where are the SAND BLOCKS?

6.       Where are the TRIANGLES?

7.       Where are the MARACAS/SHAKERS?

8.       Where are the JINGLE BELLS?

9.       Where is my BAND?

  Where is my band?

  Here we are.

  Here we are.

  Listen to us play.

  Listen to us play.

 Ta-Ta-Ta-(pause) or 1-2-3-(pause)

 Ta-Ta-Ta-(pause) or 1-2-3-(pause)

Piggyback Song Activities for Rhythm Instruments & Boomwhackers Pack 1 PreK-1

TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM RHYTHM INSTRUMENTS

Starter List

Hand Drums

Bongos

Maracas

Shakers
Triangles

Tambourines

Claves

Tone Blocks

Woodblocks

Jingle Bells (Wrist)

Rhythm Sticks

Sand Paper Blocks

Small / Finger Cymbals

Cowbell

In my October 19, 2015 Post "You Got Rhythm", I talked about some playing techniques for the Cowbell and Claves. Today "Let's EXPLORE the JINGLE BELLS" 

• SHAKER INSTRUMENT: makes its sound by the rattling of small metal objects inside a larger metal object.
• SOUND is Bright and Sharp
• STYLES: Bells on Bracelets (plastic or Velcro) {if your bracelets are Velcro let the children have a minute to pull them off and reattach them again, to get it out of their system!}, Attached to a Wooden Handle, you can CREATE your own bracelet by weaving a Pipe Cleaner through the Jingle Bells.
• WEAR the Jingle Bell bracelets on wrists or ankles
• Hold the Bells in your hand
• Slide a bracelet around a Plastic Drinking Cup 
• 
• When first introducing the Jingle Bells, talk to your students about what it is made of and compare it to other Rhythm Instruments they have played.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

1. What are RHYTHM STICKS made out of? [wood]
2. What are MARACAS made out of? [wood, beans, plastic, beads, rice]
3. How do JINGLE BELLS make their sound? [shake them]
4. How do RHYTHM STICKS make their sound? [tap, scrape]
5. What else is made out of metal?

♫Pass the bracelet around and allow each student to shake it and look it over♫

DIFFERENT WAYS TO PLAY JINGLE BELLS

• SHAKE it Up and Down
• SHAKE it from Side to Side
• Make a Circle in the air
• TAP them Gently in the Palm of the other hand
• SHAKE behind Back
• RUB them on your Tummy

Easy Listening Game: "BELL or __________ ?"

1. Choose another Rhythm Instrument to pair with the BELL
2. Have class sit in a circle
3. 1 by 1 have a student sit with their back to the group and close their eyes
4. You play either the BELL or the other RHYTHM INSTRUMENT for a few seconds
5. Ask the student which Instrument they heard

1. Put on some MUSIC with a Moderately Fast Beat
2. Have students COPY your Different Playing Motions

BELLS FREEZE DANCE

1. Have students attach the BELLS around their WRISTS or ANKLES
2. Play some fun DANCE MUSIC
3. Everyone DANCES until the music STOPS
4. When the MUSIC STOPS, the children "FREEZE" like statues

♫The BELLS make it more of a challenge♫

I combined the JINGLE BELLS and PLASTIC DRINKING CUPS to help improve my students RHYTHM skills while CONNECTING the SEASON by CREATING Music with Traditional and Non-Traditional CLASSROOM RHYTHM INSTRUMENTS.

I slid a WRIST JINGLE BELL bracelet around the OUTSIDE of a PLASTIC DRINKING CUP (as pictured above) and created new original RHYTHMIC PERCUSSIVE ARRANGEMENTS to "Play Along with" the original artists of "Dominic The Donkey", "Jingle Bell Rock" and "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer".

Rhythm Cups Play Along Winter Holiday Collection 1

Click on the link above to see the product and download a preview

1. READ Verse 1 of "Jingle Bells", one sentence at a time, asking the corresponding question/s immediately AFTER reading the sentence.

QUESTIONS:

• What are we dashing through? [snow]
• What color is snow? [white]
• What are we dashing through the snow in? [sleigh]
• What animal is pulling the sleigh? [horse]
• How many horses are pulling the sleigh? [1]
• What are we going over in the sleigh? [fields]
• What colors are the fields before the snow? [green/yellow/etc..]
• Are we laughing or crying "all the way"? [laughing]
• What is the name of the horse? [Bob]
• What are on Bob's tail? [bells]

2. Sing "JINGLE BELLS"! (Have students play their bells along with the chorus)

Karaoke Version no lead singer, just instrumental

for all you do!

Have a Great Day and remember to take time for yourself EVERYDAY!

Donna Marie & Mary

LISTENING - Chapter 1

The skill of LISTENING is ESSENTIAL in EVERY Subject.

LISTENING is a LIFE SKILL.

Listening to music is the one musical activity EVERYONE can participate in.
The art of listening is cultivated and enriched by building a vocabulary. Developing and practicing Active Listening Drills everyday is an important building block to increase the knowledge and skill of the Art of Listening.

Every voice has an unique tone quality / TONE COLOR  by which it can be identified whether it is heard alone or in combination within a group. 

QUESTION: How would you describe the CHARACTERISTICS of your voice?

Possible ANSWERS: Soft / Bright / Raspy / Deep / Dramatic /  Vibrant / Light / Twangy / Thin / Rich / Nasal / Heavy

THE LISTENER

1. Seat a student, with his/her back to the group.
2. This student is called The LISTENER.
3. Have the Listener close their eyes.
4. Instruct the group that when you POINT to a single student or TAP them on the shoulder, they are to speak the "given word" out loud.
5. Give the group a word to speak.
6. Once the LISTENER can not see you, POINT to or TAP a student on the shoulder from the group to speak the "given word" out loud.
7. The task of the LISTENER is to identify whose voice they heard.

OPTIONS:

• Have 2 students speak the "given word" at the SAME time
• Have 3 students speak the "given word" at the SAME time
• Tell the LISTENER the names of 3 students but only 2 of them will speak the "given word". The task of the LISTENER is to identify the student who DID NOT speak out of the group of 3 students.
• Chose 2 students to speak. 1 student speaks the "given word" while the other speaks a DIFFERENT word at the SAME time. The DIFFERENT word is UNKNOWN to the LISTENER. The task of the LISTENER is to identify the DIFFERENT WORD

GENERAL SINGING VOICE CATEGORIES

Female / Women

Male / Men

Children

TRAINED SINGING VOICE CATEGORIES

SOPRANO: Female Voice. High Pitch Range

MEZZO SOPRANO: Female Voice, Medium Pitch Range

ALTO: Female Voice, Low Pitch Range

TENOR: Male Voice, High Pitch Range

BARITONE: Male Voice, Medium Pitch Range

BASS: Male Voice, Low Pitch Range

MORE VOCAL CATEGORIES

1. VOCAL SOLO: when one sings alone
2. VOCAL ENSEMBLE: a group of singers
3. CHOIR: a group of church singers
4. MEN'S CHORUS: a group of men's voices
5. WOMEN'S CHORUS: a group of women's voices
6. MIXED CHORUS: a combination of both men and women voices
7. A CAPELLA: when a person sings without an accompaniment (instruments)
8. DUET: 2 people singing
9. TRIO: 3 people singing
10. QUARTET: 4 people singing
11. QUINTET: 5 people singing

A CAPELLA and MIXED CHORUS - "One Voice" by, Barry Manilow

SOLO & DUET - "Scales and Arpeggios" by, Disney's The Aristocats

 CHILDREN'S CHOIR - "We Are The World" 

MEN'S CHOIR - "You Raise Me Up" by, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir

WOMEN'S CHORUS - "Hava Nageela" by, JMU Women's Chorus

Follow my Video Picks board on Pinterest!  Clancy's Classroom Video Picks

TRAINING THE EAR: 

LISTENING FOR PRONOUNS

1. On the board, write the pronoun or list of pronouns you want your students to count throughout the song.
2. Have your students use TALLY MARKS to keep track.
3. As your students listen, have them write a Tally Mark EVERY TIME they hear the pronoun or pronouns you are having them track.
4. Play the song only ONCE!

"I'll Be There" - by, The Jackson 5

"YOU" is heard 17 times

"I" is heard 8 times

"WE" is heard 1 time

"ME" is heard 3 times

"HE" is heard 2 times

"MY" is heard 7 times

TOTAL of all 6 Pronouns is 38

"Thank God I'm A Country Boy" - by, John Denver

"ME" is heard 17 times

"I" is heard 26 times

"I'M" is heard 11 times

"MY" is heard 8 times

"HE" is heard 2 times

TOTAL of all 5 Pronouns is 64

Click on the link below

"What Do You Hear?" Bundle Winter Holiday Set 1 Answer Key, Worksheets, Posters:Instrument and Vocal

for all you do!

Have a Great Day and remember to take time for yourself EVERYDAY!

Donna Marie & Mary