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April 20 - 24

The activities that I post are meant to be used many times. If you are able and want to record an audio or video of yourself doing them, I would love it if you emailed them to me. An audio version can be recorded using the "Voice Memo" app, and a video version can be made using the Camera on an iPhone. (I don't know what to use on an Android). 

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Email: jeffrey.miller@gnspes.ca

Sing It!

"Miss Mary Mack - Learn It"Grade 3

"A Sailor Went to Sea- Lean It"

"Miss Mary Mack - Doing It" Grade 3

OPERA IS FUN! Grades 3-5

Hi Everyone! I haven't heard back from anyone if they were able to try this, did anyone give it a chance? I am going to keep it here this week because I think there is a lot you could do with this and make it really fun!

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I hope you had some fun last week exploring your opera voices and you "Inner Diva" (and what is a Male Diva called?). This week let's level up and use a text or a book that will allow us to really get into it! I'd like you to find a children's book that has 2-3 characters, or more, and opera sing the words to one of the characters in the story. If possible, have a sibling or a parent play one of the other characters. 

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LEVEL UP! Put on some funny clothes, a wig, a hat, and add a prop!

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DOUBLE LEVEL UP! Record it. Make an audio or video recording of your fantastic performance, if possible.

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BOOK IDEAS: 

"Green Eggs & Ham" - Dr. Seuss

"One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish"- Dr. Seuss

"Jillian Jiggs" - Phoebe Gilman Any of the books in this collection would be great!

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String Family

Let's get back to exploring the different families of instruments in the orchestra, like we were doing in school before we left. I am attaching links to a "Inner Space Concert". These are local musicians who are recording together visually during this break. You can listen for free or offer a donation. 

This first one is a "String Quartet". What instruments are they using? Two of them are the same, the other two are different. 

This next video is a concert that will be happening TOMORROW Tue. April 28, 2020 (7:30pm ADT) called "Gopher Baroque!" Let's tune in tomorrow together and see what THAT'S all about!

Rhythm Time! Grades 3-5

It’s time to feel the beat, in our feet, and get into the rhythm! How do we find that steady beat that is the pulse, the heart of all music? Take some time and think of things that may keep a beat on their own? How about a clock with a second hand? Any others?

 

Online you can find metronomes, a machine that keeps the beat for you, here’s a nice one. Here you will see large orange numbers followed by the letter “BPM”, that stands for “Beats Per Minute”. You can make it faster or slower by using the orange dot slider below the “BPM”. For our lessons set it 120 BPM, that’s what we usually use in class. This week let’s review what we’ve learned in class and string some beats together. I will add activities and “Level Up” as we move forward. ;-)

 

Now  you ready now to teach your parents a few things, they may need your help! You can show them how this all works, because you are your own expert at this already from learning this in class! I know these may seem easy to you, but you need to learn how to do them on your own at home which is very different than with me.  ;^)

Don't worry, I'll make them A LOT MORE CHALLENGING!

 

1) Set the metronome at 120 BPM (you don’t have to if you can’t get it online.)

 

2) Remember our rhythm chant sounds:

 

TA

TIKA

SHH (rest)

 

3) Count four beats, that’s how long we will do each of these, just like in class (1,2,3,4). For example:

1     2    3      4

TA, TA, TIKA, TA

TIKA, TIKA, TA, TA

TA, SHH, TIKA, TA

 

4)  Pat on your thighs to feel the beat first. Say “One, two, three, four | one, two, ready, go!”

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5) Say a 4-beat rhythm,

   Have a partner at home repeat it,

   You say a new 4-beat rhythm,

   Your partner repeats it.

 

6) Repeat this over and over until you get good at it and it flows between you and your partner. Maybe you can make it hard for your partner, and see if you can trick them!

 

7) Switch, now let your partner take the lead.

 

Variations

Here are some different ways to make it fun. You can simply tap a table, or use one of the instruments you made from Lesson #1:

  • Say the rhythm chant > the partner plays it.

  • Reverse that: play it on instrument > partner says rhythm chant.

  • Use all the different voice qualities I’ve shown you in class: high voice, low voice, growly voice, whisper voice, British accent voice, (accents are my favorite)!

  • Have fun with this and get really good at it so we can build on it and LEVEL UP next week!

  • LEVEL UP TIME! Extend your rhythm pattern to eight beats! Sounds easy...right? Give it a try.

  • LEVEL UP TIME! Use the Rhythm Chant Syllables AS YOU PLAY THE INSTRUMENT!

Rhythm Time!

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