GarageBand Project

I'm a HUGE technology fan.  I am a music teacher that has many different pieces of technology within my classroom that I probably use every day.  

Tuesday, my 5th graders began a new project using GarageBand on the computers.  They have had a few chances to play with the GarageBand app on iPad, but on computers is a really different, complex program.

Here is Wikipedia's definition of GarageBand:

      "GarageBand's music and podcast creation system enables users to create multiple tracks with pre-made MIDI keyboards, pre-made loops, voice recordings, and an array of various instrumental effects."

In short, it has sounds already recorded into the system and you can layer them and create your own song.

5th graders are going to create new songs/raps for our school's Character Counts programs.  We have several expectations of behavior for procedures within the school.  We're going to update them with fun, personalized songs they have created and recorded.  YIKES!  I've never done a project like this and I'm creating it as I go.  I haven't thought through all the steps yet and that makes me nervous.

The first step we loved!  I did a quick explanation of how GarageBand on the computer works and demonstrated on my projected laptop and then we headed into the computer lab.  Tuesday's goal was to just get familiarized with how it works.  I gave them a goal of creating a 12-bar pattern using 3 different sounds that complimented each other.  What creativity there was.  Everyone was engaged!  Some chose to work in pairs or small groups, others worked individually.  The end result was really interesting and better than I thought.  I'm overwhelmed with all the choices on the program but they took it in stride.  

Here are some pictures I took of them working away.

This one got really ambitious and had 5 different tracks and layered them with different timing.

7 different tracks on this one, maybe a bit much, but very creative.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hockey practice AM

We had a great rehearsal this morning for the Iowa Wild hockey singing.  This is my amazing group of kids grades K-5 that meet some Wednesday mornings at 7:30 to practice.  They sound AMAZING!!!!

Most are smiling for 7:55am.

This is more like it.  :)

My video was too long so I chose a few seconds after the beginning so you could hear them all the way to the end.  Enjoy!

 

Folk Dancing

It's that time of year for Kindergarten and 1st graders begin my folk dancing unit.  Folk dancing is a great way to get kids to understand rhythm patterns, musical form, music history and more.  I usually do a quick explanation of the purpose of a folk dance.  Most were considered to be part of a Play Party.  When families or neighbors would get together to celebrate, dancing was usually a huge part of it.  This was a way for them to chat or catch up with one another after a long winter.  

The dance I usually teach my youngest students is the traditional reel set to the song Alabama Gal.  The song is very easy to teach and learn.  Students, even Kindergarten, are able to sing and dance at the same time to it. 

When students have learned each part individually, we gradually begin to try it without stopping in between each section.  This is where it's fun to watch and learn who the real leaders are in the classroom and let them do their job.  

In the following video, this is a Kindergarten group on their 2nd day of practicing Alabama Gal.  You will hear me call out a few directions and start them singing each verse, but the rest is on their own.

Rhythm Races

So there's this new game in music right now that is a huge hit from 1st grade through 5th grade.  "Rhythm Races"!!!!!  Thanks to the amazing site of Teachers Pay Teachers, I found this fun winter activity made by another music teacher and it is a blast.  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Songs-and-Activities-for-Winter-1001838

Lindsay Jervais has created an entire packet of winter activities, but this is the one I will spend the most time using.  

Students are divided into 4 color teams.  Each team has a scooter that I borrowed from my PE teacher.  I tap a rhythm depending on what skill level we need and students race down to the other end of the room and sort through all the cards with rhythms and are trying to identify which pattern then heard.  First team to bring back the correct rhythm card receives 2 points for their team.  All other teams receive 1 point if they brought back the correct rhythm.  Incorrect rhythm, 0 points.  

This is a great activity for this time of year as we are always concerned with having inside recess due to the wind chill factor.  I'm trying to do my part at burning off a little energy for the classroom teachers to survive the day.  The boys also think this is a great activity and enjoy music just a little more than normal.

This game also has the potential for me to create my own races depending on what we're working on.  One unit I do are instruments of the orchestra and we could do a listening race for each instrument they hear.  Possibilities are endless and have the creative juices flowing.

I let my students help take pictures on the iPad since I was keeping score and checking rhythms so that's why there are so many.  (I deleted about half of them as well).