Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Bicycle Built for Two

http://www.noteflight.com/scores/view/de11ef3002acb502e7a7a8027574a0fded5d9235
You can go to the score using the link above, too. I am just posting both to see how this works. Can you please comment and let me know if your playback of this skips or plays smoothly? Mine skips and sounds like a cd skipping. :(
Overall, I thought this program was really user friendly. I liked Musescore last week, especially the video tutorial. This week I more or less used trial and error with Noteflight until I got stuck, then I looked at the instructions. I could not find how to put in the staccato marking, but luckily Cathy told me about clicking the bottom left of the edit menu. THANKS to Cathy for her help! I would have never found that!
This would be helpful for chorus, handing out just soprano or just alto parts so they can see the notes and the lyrics, and not get confused by piano accompaniment.

Bicycle built for two

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Peter and the Wolf flute beatboxing! week 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6SHsF1n9Qw
This site is really awesome to share with kids. They recognize the bird theme and actually see someone play it, then when he starts beatboxing they LOVE it, and so do I!

Peter and the Wolf themes week 3

If any of you study Peter and the Wolf with your students, this is a handy website when you would like to listen to the themes of each character. I use it to quiz the students after we have listened to Peter and the Wolf in class.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Best Idea Ever!!!

http://web.me.com/lanemusic/WESPodcast/Podcast/Podcast.html
WOW! This is so inspiring! The kids have adorable accents, too! This teacher has such a wonderful idea...podcasts so parents can hear what's going on in music class. I never even get info. to the principal in time for our monthly newsletter, but doing this would be so awesome....

The future of music ed.

http://leadingnotes.org/2011/02/15/pisano/
Here is an article that will hopefully make you feel positive about the future of Music Ed. and how technology will help to keep us "current."

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Music PLN

http://musicpln.org/
I found this site and it has a term from this week's info-PLN!  You sign up (free) and it is a HUGE resource for just about anything.  You can ask questions to peers, look for advice, see classes that are offered in your area....

Rubric Creator

http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php?screen=CustomizeTemplate&bank_rubric_id=147&section_id=9&
Here is an interesting tool for creating thorough, descriptive rubrics in minutes.  I found it in the back of our book for this class.  I tried it out and there are a lot of choices under each column, and you can change it to accommodate your needs.  You can save the rubrics or print them out right away.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Introduction

Hey Fellow Music Tech. Classmates,
This is my 13th year of teaching elementary music.  I am currently teaching in my 4th district, PreK-5 with 4th-5th gr. chorus.  The kids are wonderful and I am getting used to yet another district curriculum, textbook series, staff, principal, etc.  Luckily, it has been great so far.  
I married my high school sweetheart and we have 2 beautiful children.  Shaylee is in second grade and Brody is 3.  I am kicking myself that I didn't get my Master's before kids, but I am sure there is a reason that I am doing this now.  I feel fortunate to have met some really wonderful people through this program so far and this is my 4th class.  
My goal for this class is to become more comfortable utilizing technology in the classroom and to discover what is available to best serve my students.

Sunday, March 6, 2011