Did you ever take note of the music used in the background of your favorite tv shows and movies? This week we are looking at how music brings our shows and movies to life, an activity that some of our classes enjoyed this year. This activity invites you to make your own cartoon or comic strip using music found on a great “Classics for Kids” site.

First, watch these three videos of cartoons to see how music is used:

• Bugs Bunny and Barber of Seville

https://safeyoutube.net/w/6TC9

• Tom and Jerry - In Concert Part 3

https://safeYouTube.net/w/ugo

• Looney Tunes Classic | Rhapsody Rabbit

https://safeYouTube.net/w/ShoH

Notice how music was used to add effect and create mood in the cartoon.  Think about the elements such as duration (how fast or slow it is), pitch (high sounds and low sounds), dynamics (how loud or soft the music is), and timbre (the sounds the instruments make). 

Next, click on the Classics for Kids link below:

https://www.classicsforkids.com/music/hearthemusic.php

Find a music selection that you like and create a cartoon that will go with it.  The cartoon could be created using pictures you draw or cut out of magazines, a flip book, a comic strip, stop animation, or another multi-media form. 

Next time, take note how music is used in the movies and tv shows you watch!

Have a great week!

One of our music class activities that encouraged both rhythmic coordination and creativity for some classes this year was learning and performing clapping rhythms to our favorite songs. Clapping games are a great way to incorporate rhythm and movement while reinforcing many valuable skills: gross motor skills, rhythmic concepts such as keeping a steady beat, coordination skills, and sequencing a variety of steps.

An online site that offers a variety of clapping games from around the world is http://funclapping.com/. This site offers many classic clapping/skipping songs that parents and grandparents will remember from their own school days, along with songs and games played around the world! Click on the many links it offers and choose some to learn this week.

Becoming an expert with a favorite clapping pattern? Try changing one aspect of your clapping rhythm by making it faster, slower, louder, or softer.

Try out your new clapping pattern or create your own to these songs and many others found @ https://musicplayonline.com/

• Dr. Knickerbocker / Kindergarten #17
• Rig A Jig Jig / Grade 1#66
• A Sailor Went to Sea to Sea / Grade 2#65
• Lukey’s Boat / Grade 2#34
• Miss Mary Mack / Grade 4 #17

Send along a video of your performance to paula.chapman@nbed.nb.ca to share here on this page. I’d love to hear from you and see what you are creating! Have fun and have a great music-filled week!

Reading every day is something we encourage all students and families to do. Trying it out the “music class” way (as I always tell my kids) is even more entertaining! With some added percussion sound effects and catchy songs and chants to help to tell the tale, story-time can become a wonderful way to explore the sounds and effects of your voice and different objects around the house. The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson is a terrific book to bring to life with sounds. Here are two links of this book:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyhgubvRYF4&feature=youtu.be read by Michelle Obama for PBS Kids.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LshGQmaJc9I brought to you by StorytimeNow. 

What music and sounds would you choose to make for the Gruffalo, mouse, fox, owl, and snake? What sounds would you make as each animal scurries away?  Give it a try with this online story or give it a try with your favourite book at home.

If you tried making your own instruments at home you can use these for each character, or gather up some cans, pots and objects from around the house to try a variety of sounds. Try body percussion and your voice as well.

Old favorites like the Three Little Pigs and the GingerBread Man work very well for this activity. Some of you might remember choosing instruments for these characters in music class. You can give it a try telling these same stories at home with your own sound effects. Goldilocks and the Three Bears or the Tortoise and the Hare are great options too! What stories can you bring to life the music class way? Let me know what story you chose or send a picture of you bringing a story to life by emailing me at paula.chapman@nbed.nb.ca. I'd love to hear from you!

Have a great week!

Hello! Let’s celebrate bunnies this week! Easter might have come and gone, and the Easter Bunny has finished his deliveries, but it’s still a great time to try some of these songs featuring our long eared furry friend from MusicplayOnline. Check out my latest attachment for a list of rabbit songs you might enjoy. 

Want to keep the beat, march to the music or create your own rhythms? Why not try making your own instruments at home using recyclables from around the house? Use the ideas in this week's attachment or try out your own! Feel free to email a photo of your musical creation to paula.chapman@nbed.nb.ca so we can see share ideas with each other. I can hear the music! Have a great week!