Elementary Music Programs 17/18

Time to share my programs from the previous year! With my pregnancy, they were not my best showings or preparations. But, the kids had fun! 

Don't forget to check out my programs from previous years. You can search for them or use the sidebar. Let me know if you have any questions regarding my programs. Have a great weekend!

God Bless America

The 5th grade choristers had a wonderful opportunity this week! We were asked to sing "God Bless America" on the ice before an Iowa Wild hockey game. It was a great experience for all of the students! They also had a great pep talk from the Roosevelt HS director. It was wonderful for them to see an awesome high school performing group (a preview to what they can become!), plus they all came to talk to the students and cheer them on. 

Afterwards, we participated in some group singing of patriotic favorites and enjoyed a fun game. The Wild didn't win, but I think everyone had a fun Friday evening :)

Five Favorite Pins of July

Sorry I've been MIA recently. I've been in my classroom creating and putting so many new things together for fall. Today, I'm linking up with Mrs. Miracle's Music Room to show my Five Favorite Pins of July.

#1: Mystery Song Music Listening: Bundle #2

I absolutely LOVE Cori Bloom's products. Plus, she is super nice and quick to respond if you have comments and questions. She has been creating these listening bundles for awhile, but I super excited about the mystery songs. It's a great way to break out and let the students share their ideas while introducing them to a variety of music. Her most recent bundle is great for Christmas and winter - the graphics are beautiful!

#2: Singing with a Sub (Sub Plans for the Music Classroom)

Aileen Miracle has recently been updating some of her files and this one is awesome! I purchased her "Wild About Music" sub plans in the spring and thought they were great stand alone lessons. The updates and additions she's made this pack are wonderful. There are ideas for listening, movement, centers, etc. I can't wait to purchase this in the next few weeks. 

#3: Instrument Petting Zoo

I have been wanting to have an instrument petting zoo for my primary students ever since I was student teaching. I've never figured out how to do it, though! This is a great pin to David Row's blog about an instrument petting zoo. He also just released a product in his TPT store with more guides and information. I know I will use this somehow in my classroom this year, either for conferences, back-to-school night or in a lesson. 

#4 Star Spangled Banner word cloud

This year is the 200th anniversary of the Star Spangled Banner. My 4th graders have the yearly tradition of putting on the Veteran's Day program. This is a great way to practice the words to the national anthem, while also displaying their creativity with technology. This Tagxedo was created by another music teacher I met through an elementary music education chat on Twitter. Genius!!

#5: Stretchy band ideas

Earlier this year, I created my own stretchy band for movement. Here's the post if you'd like to make your own (it literally takes 10 minutes!): Stretchy Band tutorial

Anyways, I happened upon this pin with several ideas for using the stretchy band. I struggle for ideas with my younger students and the website really gives some awesome ideas. 

Only 1 more month until school starts - gosh, it's flown by! I've already been in my room and starting putting things together. Hopefully, you're finding some great ideas from pins, blog posts, workshops, etc. to bring to your music class this year. Take care!

Veteran's Day

Our 4th graders put on the yearly Veteran's Program for the community. This year, they performed for the elementary building on Veteran's Day, as well as their nightly performance on November 12th for the community. I'm super proud of how it all turned out and I'm hearing great comments from teachers, parents, and local veterans just from the building performance. It's great for them to get another performance - I can't wait for tomorrow night to see the whole thing put together for the community! Here's my program for this year, as well as a video of our plate routine to "America, the Beautiful." I took the routine from Sardis Enrichment Academy's performance...it was taped by a parent and put on YouTube. Just beautiful!


4th Grade Veteran's Program - 2013

The Star Spangled Banner (traditional)
Pledge of Allegiance (traditional)
Rockin' Adventure in the U.S.A. (Music K8)
Thank A Vet (Music K8)
The Stars and Stripes Forever
Taps - Prologue
Taps (Music K8)
            *honoring of local veterans in the audience*
America, the Beautiful plate routine (Sardis)

Taps

Every year, my 4th graders perform the Veteran's Day program. It's kind of a tradition at my school, where the students sing patriotic songs, write letters and recognize the local veterans in attendance. Each year, I try to find different songs about our country and the armed forces, as many of veterans attend each year.

This year, I found this really beautiful version of "Taps" from Music K-8. The first part is the students singing the familiar tune on "Loo" while famous quotes and poems are spoken by students into the microphone. Then, all the students sing the song with the traditional words, ending with the lone trumpet solo. It's gorgeous!

http://www.musick8.com/store/alphadetail.php?product_group=2991#.UjsgxD_pwX8 

It's a great chance for some more students speakers to give a little history of our country and thank those who served our country. Also, I was able to find this clip from the History channel's overview of the story of "Taps."

Several of the students recognized the tune, but it's always nice to tie-in the history of music and why it is so important to our country and its' citizens. I hope it's a hit - I know it will be very emotional for some. We have talked about this in our class and many of the students can relate to the sadness it brings. I usually don't like tugging at the heart strings, but I love this song and it's powerful message.