December Updates! Lots to see!

December News!

Tomorrow will be my last day before my maternity leave. Baby is due Saturday, 12/20! I will be out until either right before or after April vacation. Ms. Victoria McComb will be my long-term substitute. Ms. McComb just finished her degree in Music Education at Rhode Island College and completed her student teaching this fall with Mrs. Fuller, the Oak St. and Parmenter Elementary Teacher. In addition, she just spent the last couple of months leading the North Attleboro High School chorus! I know the students will love her and look forward to hearing all about it when I return!

December Celebrity Singers!

3rd JFK

 4th JFK

 3rd Parmenter

4th Parmenter

5th JFK

Bravo to all my 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders for their concerts last week! You all made me so proud! 

December Musician of the Month

Highlights!

In grades K-3, we explored the form of many different songs from the Nutcracker. In K, this might be as simple as training our ears to hear sections of the music that are same and different. A fun way to show the form or sections that are same and different is through movement and dance. Enjoy some highlights from this past month!

2nd Golden "Trepak or Russian Dance" JFK

3rd Mrs. Carlson  Parmenter "March"

3rd Mrs. Emord/Ms. Peixinho Parmenter "March"

3rd Mr. Tighe Parmenter "March"

1st Mrs. Zarrella Parmenter "Dance of the Reed Pipes or Flutes"

January Musician of the Month will be...

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART

Did you know what Mozart was a child prodigy? Mozart was able to write and play music as a child that most adults can only dream of! He wrote his first piece at the age of 5!

Future Mozart?

Musician of the Month and Concert Reminder!

JFK CONCERT DATES:

3^rd Grade Chorus Concert: Wednesday, December 10, 2 pm (snow date: 12/17)

4^th Grade Chorus Concert: Friday, December 12, 9 am (snow date: 12/19)

5^th Grade Chorus Concert: Friday, December 12, 9:45 am (snow date 12/19)

PARMENTER CONCERT DATES:

3^rd Grade Chorus Concert: Wednesday, December 9, 9:00 am (snow date: 12/16)

4^th Grade Chorus Concert: Tuesday, December 9, 9:45 am (snow date: 12/16)

5^th Grade Chorus Concert: JANUARY

 

*Students should come dressed in their concert best! No ripped jeans, sweatpants, etc. They can always bring a change of clothes!

December Musician of the Month!

 

Pyotr Tchaikovsky

Composed The Nutcracker Suite!

Premiered on December 18, 1892

 

We will be listening, dancing, and playing instruments in order to explore the form of the following pieces!

Dance of the Flutes (or Reed Pipes) (K and 1)

The Chinese Dance (Tea) (K and 1)

The Russian Dance (Trepak) (2nd Grade)

The March (3rd Grade)

 

Here's a performance of my personal favorite, The Russian Dance!

 



Parmenter 4th Mixcraft Projects

Unfortunately, due to technology not being on our side at Parmenter, our projects did not quite go as far as we would have liked them. Students were able to record themselves and were able to experiment with loops but we did not get as much of a finished product as we would have liked. I still wanted to post them for your enjoyment! Students should be very proud they got as far as they did! Hopefully, we can get another shot at this next year!

Students are encouraged to listen to their pieces and their friends. Maybe even check out some of your friends in 4th or 5th grade at JFK. We will self-reflect in class as a group but Parmenter 4th graders do not have any written homework. 

What is MixCraft?
Mixcraft 6 is a powerful music production and multi-track recording workstation that comes packed with thousands of music loops and dozens of audio effects and virtual instruments. Mixcraft 6 music recording software enables you to record audio, arrange loops, remix tracks, compose with MIDI and virtual instruments, add effects, score and edit video, and mix and master your tracks to create polished, professional compositions. This program is only for PCs but very similar to GarageBand for Macs.

What were the students' objectives?
*4th: We can perform an 8 measure piece on the recorder using the notes B and A.
*4th: We can record, arrange, and evaluate using the program MixCraft.

4th Grade:

Mrs. Murphy and Ms. Phillips:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/11gwm0ppdorm4x9/AAD9p1-1EoMlnY7X24IQVz_va?dl=0

Mrs. Papadopolous:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/arbyjoqayuxbal0/AADI1ir2J4UiSzch5kMQs2Q0a?dl=0
Mrs. Consilvio: 
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/lx08qbt4ohty7fe/AADuqpj3vOHYusygXVsFNa1sa?dl=0

November Celebrity Singers! Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

November Celebrity Singers!

3rd JFK

3rd Parmenter

4th JFK

4th Parmenter

5th JFK

 

JFK 4th and 5th Grade Mixcraft/Recorder Projects! Take a listen!

Parmenter 4th graders are currently working on this project as well. Their projects will be done and posted before winter break!

HOMEWORK DUE:

(hard copies will all be distributed by Friday 11/21)

4th Grade: Wednesday, December 3rd

5th Grade: Thursday, December 4th

MixCraft Self-Evaluation 4th

MixCraft Self-Reflection 5th

What is MixCraft?
Mixcraft 6 is a powerful music production and multi-track recording workstation that comes packed with thousands of music loops and dozens of audio effects and virtual instruments. Mixcraft 6 music recording software enables you to record audio, arrange loops, remix tracks, compose with MIDI and virtual instruments, add effects, score and edit video, and mix and master your tracks to create polished, professional compositions. This program is only for PCs but very similar to GarageBand for Macs.

What were the students' objectives?
*4th: We can perform an 8 measure piece on the recorder using the notes B and A.
*5th: We can perform an 8 measure piece on the recorder using the notes B, A, and G. (Students were able to choose which piece they performed.)
*4th and 5th: We can record, arrange, and evaluate using the program MixCraft.

4th Grade:

Mrs. Merten: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/attv1zhiedlc4p1/AAAXFGXFr3KBJIe_Z5Ybzw3Va?dl=0

Mrs. Williams: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/js9sp2hb1cfyga6/AABON9SoVlmaVEw8HyHrg0Bca?dl=0

Mrs. Adams: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/sq7dawrn8yngozk/AADC52arAL4geV-yXMUbXlXka?dl=0

Ms. Farrell: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/re79iy9gw8756mp/AAACC3eNAmM836EzKrME9m1Fa?dl=0

5th Grade:

Ms. Etzel:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/bkmg062qq8gyk2k/AACLRgxxxCFaKY9iah_CRhkja?dl=0

Mrs. Vicente:
 https://www.dropbox.com/sh/feomq9kdijt83z9/AACs6ecmMIC1ijVyrL4tHDina?dl=0

Mrs. Lacerda: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6duzejx4sw0s3n0/AACuxU6siaaqqNDmSnqVu8Uoa?dl=0

Mrs. Kroeber: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/musmosl62tp05rc/AACTZQPH9EA64w8CPIqbUHcGa?dl=0

November Composer of the Month!

Happy Birthday to our very own American composer, John Philip Sousa aka. "The March King!"

Birthday: November 6, 1854

Did you know that John Philip Sousa's "The Stars and Stripes Forever" is the National March of the United States of America? Check it out!

 

October Highlights!

October Celebrity Singers! Scroll down for more fun videos!

Parmenter 3rd Grade

Parmenter 4th Grade

JFK 4th Grade

JFK 5th Grade

JFK 3rd Grade

Here is a song many of your children will love singing for you! Every year, I can't resist doing something with this song whether it be singing, playing it on the recorder, moving to the beat, experimenting with different instruments and texture... I could go on!

This is Mrs. Wilmarth's 2nd grade class!

The below video is our first attempt this year in 4th grade chorus at balancing our voices and parts. See if you can hear all three parts in this round!

Parmenter 4th Grade Chorus

JFK 4th Grade Chorus

In all of our choirs, we are working on using common and proper vowel shapes to blend our voices and get a great sound. Here is my 3rd grade chorus at JFK demonstrating the good and the bad in their pop song, "Best Day of My Life." See if you hear the difference!

Take 1

Take 2

Parmenter and JFK 3rd Graders!

Had a blast this week with my third grade choirs! Thinking and working on their pop song and came across one of my favorite children's choirs performing it. I love their energy!

Do you think we could pull of some of this 2-part harmony?! Take a listen!

5th Grade JFK "Tall Tale" Project

Thursday, October 9th, 5th grade students will be coming home with their written compositions AND a  graded rubric. They received three grades: recorder note accuracy, recorder rhythm accuracy, and demonstration of written composition concepts. Please check out these grades. While much time and guidance was given in class there was also an at home piece. Students in 5th grade should have music homework most weeks.

I realized that you and your child might want to listen to their playing together! Below are their performances!
1. Click on your child's teacher.
2. Fast forward the recording to get to your child's group. I wrote each student's group number on their rubric. Your child was responsible for composing and performing one line. Below is the poem so you can determine what line your child played.

Enjoy! Mrs. Mac

"Tall Tale"

Out in the garden picking' peas.

I thought I heard a chicken sneeze.

He sneezed so hard with the whooping' cough.

He sneezed his head and tail right off.

Mrs. Etzel's Class Tall Tale

Mrs. Vicente's Class Tall Tale

Mrs. Kroeber's Class Tall Tale

Mrs. Lacerda's Class Tall Tale

Celebrity Singers! Musician of the Month! And more!

September Celebrity Singers!

Q: What's a celebrity singer?
A: A celebrity singer is a student in chorus that demonstrates great effort, leadership, and focus. They also show great singing technique such as good posture, vowel shapes, pitch, breathing, etc. Sometimes I also pick a student whom I feel has shown great improvement. With the help of the educational assistants and celebrity singers from the previous week, I try to chose one boy and one girl per week. Some weeks I can't help myself and pick more!

Q: Where did this idea come from?
A: I wanted to show students that anyone can join and love chorus and become a singer. It's not just for a certain type of person, everyone was born to sing! I began thinking about celebrities such as Anne Hathaway, Beyonce, Matt Damon, Theodore Roosevelt, etc. that were all in chorus when they were younger. Sometimes the best singers are the people you would least expect!

Q: What can I do to help?
A: Never tell your child they can't sing! Also be careful about how you joke about your own singing. We're all born with the right equipment to sing. Some of us unfortunately just never learned how to use it!
Want to read more about this? Science and Art

 3rd Grade JFK

 3rd Grade Parmenter

 4th Grade JFK

 4th Grade Parmenter

5th JFK

October Musician of the Month!
Our musician and composer this month from Paris, France is Camille Saint-Saens!
Born: October 9, 1835
Composing at the age of 3!
In class we will be listening to excerpts from "Carnival of the Animals." Here's a piece you may have heard and/or seen. Always popular this time of year!:)

 

Honors Chorus Sign-ups!

 

A flyer went home today and yesterday for fourth and fifth graders interested in signing up for Honors Chorus. Unfortunately, the flyers were passed out late and students may have missed the first meeting. That's okay! You can still sign up! Led by Ms. Renee Hersee, chorus director of the middle schools in Franklin, it's going to be a really fun experience!

For more information and to sign up click here:

http://cfweb.smartedu.net/lll/aboutus.cfm?category=1ABOUT3

 



5th Grade JFK "Skin and Bones"

This week 5th graders are exploring a piece on the recorder in triple meter and minor tonality. Here's a helpful video for 5th graders to use in practicing this week's homework. Students are expected to perform this piece for me next Thursday, 10/9. Looking forward to hearing this haunting melody!

New Secret Password!

The NEW secret password is...

hamburger!

I decided to play this game one more week! Why?
1. To get more people signed up 
2. Some students did not get a chance to share the password last week because of lack of time or our day off.
*See directions below
*Students who played this week can not play again next week. 







Thank you for signing up for my blog!

All next week, Monday, September 22-Friday, 26, I will be asking classes if anyone knows the secret password. Either tell your child the secret password or write it down for them! Make sure you tell them not to share it with their friends! If they can show me or whisper it to me they can play the gong for the whole class!

On this blog you'll find important dates, information and see what your children do at music! Make sure you follow by e-mail or become a follower!

Thanks for playing! Mrs. Mac:)

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to our Musician of the Month, Gustav Holst! 

This year each month, we will be celebrating students' birthdays along with a birthday of a famous musician born the same month! Last year, we really focused on the cultures represented by the musicians. This year, I still plan to look at the musicians' cultures but I also plan to focus on musicians who are also composers, meaning they write their own music. I hope every student either individually or as a class creates their own music this year! After all, creativity is what the arts do best!

Check out how Gustav Holst used his imagination and knowledge of astronomy and Greek mythology to make the different planets come to life! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jmk5frp6-3Q&list=PLE6996668EC37137C

The password is...

zebra!

Thank you for signing up for my blog!

All next week, Monday, September 22-Friday, 26, I will be asking classes if anyone knows the secret password. Either tell your child the secret password or write it down for them! Make sure you tell them not to share it with their friends! If they can show me or whisper it to me they can play the gong for the whole class!

On this blog you'll find important dates, information and see what your children do at music! Make sure you follow by e-mail or become a follower!

Thanks for playing! Mrs. Mac:)

Looking for a volunteer! (JFK)

I am looking for a volunteer at JFK to help with copying this year! I really only need help in the next week or so and then again in December. This is primarily to help with grades 3, 4, and 5 chorus and recorder music. If you are willing, please e-mail me at macmurraym@franklin.k12.ma.us

 

Thanks in advance! Mrs. MacMurray

 

*Thank you so much to all who volunteered! I'm all set with copiers this year! Thank you again!

 

Welcome back!

Hello Everyone!

Welcome back! I hope everyone had a great summer and first of school! This week in music class, we discussed names, rules and what to expect this year.  Of course, we had to squeeze in a fun game, too! I'm really excited for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade chorus to start this week!

This summer was an exciting one for my family! My 2 1/2 year-old son went on his first plane to Oregon to be in his Auntie's wedding, moved into a big boy bed, AND found out he was going to be a big brother! My family and I are very excited that there will be another little MacMurray this December! I have been telling all my students this past week and it was really fun to hear their reactions. I am getting quite a few good name suggestions!:)

I am really looking forward to showcasing all the fun and learning we will do this year right here on this blog!

(Not usually a punster but…) Stay tuned! Mrs. Mac

Music Wrap-Up

It's hard to believe it's the end of the year! We've still been very productive in music! We had phenomenal concerts last week where students surpassed my expectations! Here are a couple more things we have been up to...

Music Show and Tell!

We had many talented performers at JFK and Parmenter. Here are a couple of highlights!

Two third graders at Parmenter. My first cello and violin duet!

Click here to see see a JFK fourth grade and first grade brother and sister perform a song from India for us! So cool that I had to have them perform for Mr. Cool!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IzSksxNCnQ

Canada!

Here is a French Canadian dance called "Les Saluts". Students really enjoyed listening for the fermatas in the music. I tried to get a few classes that I have not been able to feature yet. Enjoy!

Mrs. Lussier Grade 1

Mrs. Schreiber Grade 3

Mrs. Henneberry Grade 3

Kindergarten:)

So sad to be seeing my kindergarteners go this week! I love their enthusiasm! During their last class this week I read the book Violet's Music by Angela Johnson. Students should have brought home their own covers they created this week. I like to leave them with the reminder that music can be made or listened to anywhere! Not just in a half hour once a week. And you don't need big fancy instruments to do so. Have a great summer kindergarten and see you in the fall!

Final Celebrity Singers and Musicians of the Month!!!

Celebrity Singers!

 

3rd JFK

3rd Parmenter

4th Parmenter

5th JFK

 

4th JFK

 

June Musicians of the Month!

 

Justin Bieber is not the only Canadian who has greatly influenced American music! Parents, here are some others you might recognize! *Viewers discretion on the music videos*

http://blogs.slice.ca/top-20-canadian-musicians/

 

Check out two different versions of Canada's National Anthem, "O Canada".

 

Stay tuned for a French Canadian dance!

 

End of the Year - Music Show n' Tell!

Parmenter and JFK end of the year music show n' tell will be next week during your child's music class!

Some important notes:

1. This is completely optional.

2. This is for students who would like to show a song they learned in piano lessons or other instrument lessons, sing a favorite song they learned at home, or maybe bring in and share a special instrument!

3. I do not make a big deal about this in Kindergarten but if you get this message and think your child has something special to share by all means please let them know!

4. All sharing must be musical! While dancing is very musical I've had to eliminate this option for time sake.

5. Please keep all songs to one minute or under.

Thank you! Mrs. Mac

JFK Ladybug 40th Celebration!

Looking forward to celebrating our Ladybug 40th Celebration on Monday, June 9th! We will be singing our JFK school song! Feel free to sing along!

Happy Friday!

What better way to celebrate Friday but with a Mexican dance?

Here you can see 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders performing, "La Raspa!"

This is a great way to learn about another culture's music while studying and performing form, beat, and phrasing!

 

JFK 1st Grade - Mrs. Bliss's Class

 

JFK 2nd Grade - Mr. McCarthy's Class

 

JFK 3rd Grade - Mrs. Henault's Class

April Celebrity Singers!

 3rd Parmenter

4th Parmenter

4th JFK

 

3rd JFK

5th JFK will be posted with May Celebrity Singers!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Our Musicians of the Month are from...

MEXICO!

We're learning this month about Mariachi Bands. At Parmenter today we read... 

"The Best Mariachi in the World" by J.D. Smith

Here is a popular Mariachi song you might recognize!

Here is the kids' version of this song!

The Orchestra Rocked!

Today was a VERY proud day for me. I was able to bring my 3rd and 5th graders at JFK to Providence, RI to sing, listen, and play recorders with the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra! This year the theme was The Orchestra Rocks! To show our school spirit we all wore red and black or JFK wear. Every adult on the field trip was so impressed at how respectful our students were.

As if this wasn't cool enough!.. This year, 27 of my 5th grade students were selected to perform recorders ONSTAGE with the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra. We played behind the orchestra and directly behind us were 20 students from the East Cranston High School Chorus. 

While cameras were discouraged I did manage to get a few videos of our experience on stage. Check it out at 

The Orchestra Rocks youtube playlist

This playlist is unlisted. Therefore, only people I share this with can view these videos.

If you have any other videos or pictures from the field trip, please send them my way. I would love to share them!

Here we are onstage:

Here we are backstage:

Greyson was asked by the tuba player to help him with his tuba mute:)

JFK 3rd and 5th Field Trip

REMINDER - JFK

3rd and 5th grade Field Trip to Providence, RI

The Orchestra Moves

Thursday, April 10, 2014

*Please have students wear red and black or JFK gear*

*Please have all students bring a bagged lunch*

5th grade students performing on stage, please don't forget our rehearsal tomorrow (Tuesday) after school in the music room, 3-4.

Play Ball!

Thanks to Mrs. Merten (4th grade teacher at JFK) I was able to get a recording of today's performance on the announcements. Congrats to these hard working 4th graders! Monday, 4th graders at Parmenter performed the same piece on the announcements. I have heard nothing but positive reviews! Go Sox!:)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlM2q2SmNps&feature=youtu.be

March Celebrity Singers and April Culture of the Month!

March Celebrity Singers!

JFK 4th Grade

Parmenter 3rd Grade

 JFK 3rd Grade

 

JFK 5th Grade

 

Parmenter 4th Grade Celebrity Singers for March will be included in our April picture!

 

APRIL

MUSICIANS OF THE MONTH will be from...

 

BRAZIL!

 

(Brazil starts about 25 seconds in.)

 

Parmenter Talent Show!

The teachers, administrators and I had a blast during the teacher act Friday night! So fun seeing so many of my kiddos on stage! What a talented group! Bravo!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Here is a video of Ms. Dewing's 1st grade class at Parmenter performing our Irish dance! All of my 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders learned this dance to celebrate Irish music this month!

Blue Belt Video - 4th Grade

Hi Everyone!

This is a tricky one but remember it's smooth sailing to your black belt once you pass this belt!

You can do it! Mrs. Mac

Celebrity Sings and Barnes & Noble

February Celebrity Singers!

 3rd JFK

 3rd Parmenter

 4th JFK

 4th Parmenter

5th JFK

 

Barnes & Noble JFK Fundraiser

Rescheduled!

4-7pm Tuesday, March 4th

6:30 Mrs. Mac will be reading!

Come help me with two of our favorite books from music class!