Kangaroos activity

This week in first and second grade music, we had a fun activity relating to the Kangaroo music from Saint Saens' Carnival of the Animals. We made our first two fingers into kangaroo ears and hopped them up and down our other arm to the music. Then we looked at a visualization of the music on the board which consisted of dots and wavy lines. We made our own sounds as we traced the patterns in the air. We "painted" in the air with our fingers. Then we opened up each piece of felt (one per student) and saw the dot stickers and piece of yarn. Each student created their own music. We practiced following the dots and lines while we made our own corresponding sounds. Some students chose to share theirs with the class. It was awesome, and every kid (every kid! was engaged).

I must credit Sandy Stauffer, who taught us that at a recent workshop.

As you can see from the photo in the lower right side, the music rug is still going strong! Every day I am so happy to have that rug in the music room.

Composing

Yesterday I met with the music professor at Harvey Mudd College, my friend, Bill Alves. He had told me that he would be interested in meeting with me to talk about my compositions. We talked for an hour and a half, and I came home with an assignment to work on melodies in the various pentatonic modes. I spent a good hour plugging away at the assignment this morning, and I look forward to writing more. When I get as far as I can with that in a week or two, we'll meet again.