6th graders are finishing their study of African Music. We spent this week learning about the Arabic music in North Africa, Egypt, Libya, Algeria, and Morocco.
I'm currently trying to convince the 7th graders that Beethoven's 7th Symphony, second movement, is the most perfect piece of music ever written. No, really, I think it is. It's my opinion of course, and they don't have to agree, but I want them to be able to explain what they think is the best music and why I'm wrong.... 8th grade is learning about Louis Armstrong and George Gershwin. Great Americans, and most of them have heard their music before. They are watching WEST SIDE STORY at home, and getting ready for their comparison of early musicals with contemporary ones. They'll continue on to our Contemporary music project in May learn about all those great musicians. Some classes are continuing to use our computer music programs and edit sound to make commercials. Chrous/Band and Orchestra are gearing up for the Memorial Day Parade and the Spring Concert on June 4th at 7:00PM.
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I spent a few days last weekend presenting a workshop at the National Association for Music Education Easter Division Conference.
I was invited to share my ideas on how to teach kids using body percussion. We do lots of body percussion in class, and I teach so many rhythms and musical concepts with it. It was a great weekend. I love teaching teachers almost as much as I love teaching kids. 6th grade Finishing up with African music. Drumming, singing, and playing our pianos. 7th grade We're watching the movie Amadeus as we study the music of the Classical Age . (The kids love it.) (yes, I have an edited version....) 8th grade We're finished with the Blues and with our study of the musical Oklahoma. We're gonna do some more music composition and learn about other American greats, including, Louis Armstrong, George Gershwin, Aaron Copland, and Leonard Bernstein. the kids are supposed to be watching the musical West Side Story this month and we'll do a comparison of Oklahoma to West Side Story. We're sing Les Miserables in chorus, and most kids saw Phantom of the Opera or Mary Poppins last year in New York, so we can have a great discussion on the evolution of American Musical Theater. |
AuthorMichelle Wirth Archives
May 2017
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