Orchard Eagles Music

We've been listening to music that paints the picture of different habitats.  Here are some favorites from our lesson: OCEAN:  And God Created Great Whales (Alan Hovhannes) DESERT:  Grand Canyon Suite: On The Trail (Ferde Grofe) FOREST:  Symphony No. 6: Pastoral (Beethoven.)  Birds start at 13:10.

Our 5th & 6th Grade students are learning to play the ukulele.  For those who want to practice or look ahead, here is a copy of the songs we are learning.  FYI - This fantastic resource was developed by Josh Roberts for Black Ridge Elementary in Herriman (thus the school song at the beginning). 1st Year Ukulele Book

After the 5th and 6th graders learned about the story of Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahalia Jackson, we learned a song, We Shall Overcome (sung by Joan Baez at the March on Washington).  Here is a simple one-hand piano part for that song:   We Shall Overcome And a link to ukulele chords:   https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/pete-seeger/we-shall-overcome-ukulele-1356177 We Shall Overcome chords Peter Seeger (No More Auction Block For Me., words by Reverend Charles Tindley of Philadelphia) C F C We shall overcome F C We shall overcome F G Am D G D G We shall overcome some day D G C F C Oh, deep in my heart F G C I do believe F C G C We shall overcome some day

3rd and 4th Graders are learning this lovely song.  Here are the lyrics:

The Third Graders are singing this for the Christmas Sing this year.  Here is a fun practice track:

FreeBeats (http://freebeats.io) has some great background tracks to use for students who make up poems or songs and just need a back track. 

A 3rd Grade favorite this year.  This week we've been exploring this song with Boomwhackers.  Thanks to Musication which is a fabulous channel on YouTube for these types of songs. 

This time of the year, it's fun to explore songs in minor with spooky themes.  3rd, 4th, and 5th graders have been learning about this song by Camille Saint-Saens. 

This video has quickly become a favorite.  I promised one of my third grade classes that I would post it online today.  So here it is.  Enjoy!

Though the lyrics are a little different than the ones we sing, here is a version of the song we've been singing in all classes (2nd through 6th). 

Here is our bucket drum routine for the year:

We just had an opportunity to play and learn about Boomwhackers.  A student requested that this be posted as a fun example.

This is a great website to experiment with rhythm and melodies.  Students can create their own beatbox routine.   https://www.incredibox.com/

This is our older grade holiday song this year.

This is our First Grade Holiday song this year.  This is a fantastic video by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Brian Mitchell Stokes. 

This is a beautiful Hopi lullaby that all ages love.  I had a specific request today for a link to this version.

Students are loving this fun version of "In the Hall of the Mountain King" by Edward Greig.  You can pick any body percussion or instrument to match with the symbols. 

I'm looking forward to a great 2018-2019 school year at Orchard Elementary!  We're going to start the year with some Disney tunes.  Here is a preview: SEIZE THE DAY ZIP A DEE DOO DAH

As school closed this past month, we finished off learning this fantastic song on the hand bells:

This was a fun play-along for all grades this week:

A favorite song from this week - featuring the tin whistle.

Right now, Orchard's 4th, 5th and 6th grade classes are learning this bucket drumming routine.  You can click below to watch primary schools from New Zealand perform: This is a rhythm sheet showing the different rhythm patterns used.  This is a song map showing all three verses and the numbers of repetitions in each:

Music classes can earn reward days (20 minutes) with good behavior.  One of the options available to them is to watch music-based YouTube videos.  Several students have requested links to their favorite selections.  I've included some below: Beep Beep Like a Sheep: Trombone Joke: Star Wars cast with Jimmy Fallon: Minecraft Rap: The Duck Song: OK GO - Needing/Getting OK GO - The One Moment

Orchard 3rd and 4th graders are learning I Saw Three Ships.  Here are the different versions we've listened to: I Saw Three Ships by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir I Saw Three Ships by Sting I Saw Three Ships by Nat King Cole

The 5th and 6th graders are learning the French carol, Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella.  Here are the different versions we've listened to: Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella by Callie Moore Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella by Matthew Curtis

In addition to learning about Christmas music and traditions, we've been learning about Hanukkah.  I Have a Little Dreidel Here are the game instructions (you can purchase dreidels online and at many major retailers): RULES: Note:  You can use beans instead of chocolate (but it's not as fun!)

Here are some of the different versions of The Little Drummer Boy that 1st & 2nd grades have been listening to: Little Drummer Boy by the Harry Simeone Chorale Little Drummer Boy by Meannheim Steamroller Little Drummer by Toby Mac And this is the track that we're singing with: Remember to wait 2 times 8 counts at the beginning and between each verse!

This week we've learned a bit about the Peer Gynt Suite, specifically the story of "In the Hall of the Mountain King."  Here is the Line Rider Video: This is the version we heard in class.

Here are the three versions of Itsy Bitsy Spider from our music class this week.  We talked about the different characteristics of the music (fast/slow, piano/forte, staccato/legato?) and then the students expressed their opinions about which was their favorite and why. Go Fish: Carly Simon: Little Richard:

I've had several requests for this one.  This week, we've done scarf movement to The Syncopated Clock by LeRoy Anderson.  We specifically learned about the difference between staccato and legato. Here's a clip from youtube:

During the week of August 22 - 25, we had experiences with the following songs: All Grades: We found the "heartbeat" in the song, Can't Stop the Feeling.  We used body percussion to show that we could hear/feel the heartbeat.  Then we used classroom instruments to show that we could find the heartbeat. I have 600 names to learn.  The children  helped me out as we learned, "Here We Are Together" in grades 1 through 3.  Jump in, Jump out (below) was a fun way to learn more about the 4th through 6th grade students.