Hello Pine Glen Community!
To help with your music making over the next several weeks, I am going to record and post videos of some songs for you to sing at home. With each song I will make sure to also include a challenge. All challenge responses can be sent to agati@bpsk12.org. I will keep adding the links to my videos on this post.
Even if you don’t want to respond to a challenge, I would love to see how you are making music a part of your day! Keep in touch!
~Mrs. Agati
Hello Pine Glen Families!
I hope you are healthy and safe and ready to spend some time at home. During this time it would be fabulous if everyone continues to make music! Making music is essential for healthy body and mind!
Here are some ways you can connect to what we are currently studying at each grade level:
First Grade: Recently we have been singing simple songs while continuing to develop our singing voices and develop our sense of steady beat and rhythm. There are loads of wonderful recordings on YouTube to sing and play along with such as these:
Any recording by Jill Trinka or John Feierabend are pitched perfectly for children to match pitch with, and I highly recommend them. Use sounds found around your house to play along, like pots and pans, make shakers out of recyclable materials, etc.. be creative! Keep the steady beat, or create rhythms to play.
Second Grade: Second grade students could benefit from any of the recordings above by playing and singing along. In addition, the second grade was just beginning to study instrument families. One of my favorite resources for this topic is The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, and interactive game created by Carnegie Hall. The harp game is the most challenging!
Third Grade: Third graders are focused on playing recorder right now. Keep practicing! And if you need new songs to play feel free to e-mail me or search the Internet! You can also practice note and rhythm reading using Treble Cat or Rhythm Cat, apps that are available in the App Store with both a free or paid version.
Fourth and Fifth Grade: If you are lucky enough to have a ukulele at home keep playing! Find a Play Along video of a song you love and learn it! At the top of this page there is a Uke Play Along page where I put all my favorite ukulele videos as I find them. My favorite channels are The Ukulele Teacher, Ukualiens, and Uke Play Alongs. You can also check out the Musication Channel for fun activities. Keep singing those Beatles songs for our Spring Concert!
I hope this gives you some ideas on how to spend your time away from school. If you play a string or wind instrument, practice! Maybe take this time to play a song you’ve been aching to learn. Google it or send me an e-mail. If you have GarageBand, compose a piece of music. I have a ton of app suggestions listed on the Favorite Apps for Music page above. Everyone can learn about Composer of the Month, Ludwig van Beethoven, by using the Composer tab at the top of this page. Explore the links on the sidebar as well.
But remember, making music is not complicated, all you need is your body! Sing, clap, tap, dance, it’s all musical! Teach a song to a younger sibling, sing a song for your parents or caregivers. Put on your favorite tunes and create a dance, or just have a wild dance party! If you would like to share with me your musical adventures, I would love to see and hear them! Send photos or videos to me at agati@bpsk12.org. I will be checking my e-mail regularly.
Be healthy, happy and safe!
~Mrs. Agati
Pine Glen Music Blog 