Back from the Montana Music Conference and feeling pumped!

Eureka! That's how I felt so many times during several training sessions with Dr. John Feierabend in Bozeman this week! He spoke about his research in music education and offered training in two coordinating methods of music education: First Steps in Music and Conversational Solfege. First Steps in Music works to establish a solid base from children, making them "tuneful, beatful, and artful."

Tuneful – to have tunes in their heads and learn to coordinate their voices to sing those tunes.
Beatful – to feel the pulse of music and how that pulse is grouped in either 2s or 3s.
Artful – to be moved by music in the many ways music can elicit a feeling-filled response.
(John Feierabend)

Conversational Solfege works to develop music literacy in students, starting at approximately Grade 2, building on the foundations established in First Steps in Music.

When one becomes truly musically literate the playing of an instrument becomes a natural extension of one’s personal musicianship. The development of true music literacy prior to instrumental instruction will enable instrumentalists to express music through their instrument rather than using the instrument to hear the music. (John Feierabend)

I am so inspired! Can't wait to get back to school next week!

P.S. You can help me purchase more of these resources using the widget below!

Objectives for the week of October 7, 2013

Kindergarten
I can explore steady beat.
I can demonstrate long and short sounds.

First Grade
I can identify high and low sounds.

Second Grade and Primary Montessori
I can sing a melody using sol, la, and mi. (What is this?)

Third Grade
I can identify verse and refrain.
I can sing by myself.

Fourth Grade, Fifth Grade, and Intermediate Montessori
I can hold my recorder correctly.
I can make a nice sound on my recorder.
I can play B, A, and G on my recorder.

Objectives for the week of September 30, 2013

Kindergarten

• I can experience long and short sounds.
• I can explore steady beat.

First Grade

• I can explore high and low notes.
• I can notate ta and ti-ti.

Second Grade and Primary Montessori

• I can identify musical phrases.

Third Grade

• I can identify verse and refrain.

Fourth Grade and Intermediate Montessori

• I can make connections between music and geography.
• I can identify strong and weak beats.

Fifth Grade

• I can make connections between music and geography.
• I can identify syncopation.

Oh, I wish I were a little squirty orange...

This week, third graders took learned the song "Oh, I Wish I Were" and then created their own verses for the song. Here are a few!

Oh, I wish I were a little eyeball (eyeball)
Oh, I wish I were a little eyeball (eyeball)
I'd go in a socket and you will find me in your pocket
Oh, I wish I were a little eyeball (eyeball)
by "Weirdo," Alack, Silas

Oh, I wish I were a little squirmy cat (squirmy cat)
Oh, I wish I were a little squirmy cat (squirmy cat)
I'd go squirmy, squirmy, squirmy like a little, little wormy
Oh, I wish I were a little squirmy cat (squirmy cat)
by "The LLJ's"

Oh, I wish I were a little noisy fly (noisy fly)
Oh, I wish I were a little noisy fly (noisy fly)
I'll go burpy, burpy, burpy under everybody's shirty
Oh, I wish I were a little noisy fly (noisy fly)
by Jamie

Oh, I wish I were a little mystery frog (mystery frog)
Oh, I wish I were a little mystery frog (mystery frog)
I'd go worky, worky, worky over everybody's "curky"
Oh, I wish I were a little mystery frog (mystery frog)
by Alyvia and Keaton

Oh, I wish I were a little puppy dog (puppy dog)
Oh, I wish I were a little puppy dog (puppy dog)
I'd go bark bark bark while I'm in the park
Oh, I wish I were a little puppy dog (puppy dog)

Oh, I wish I were a little pink pig (pink pig)
Oh, I wish I were a little pink pig (pink pig)
I'd go squirty squirty squirty and make everybody dirty
Oh, I wish I were a little pink pig (pink pig)

Oh, I wish I were a little dirty frog (dirty frog)
Oh, I wish I were a little dirty frog (dirty frog)
I'd go splish-splash and make everybody laugh
Oh, I wish I were a little dirty frog (dirty frog)

The Grand Songwriting Experiment: 5H

Hey 5H students! Here's some tools for you to brainstorm at home... we've got our theme, "The Experiment," and now we're looking for some lyrics to open the song. Here's the melody we created:

Second Quarter Music Newsletter

2B and MK: Inauguration Music

Big news for 2B and MK!

These two classes have been invited to sing at the Governor’s inauguration on Monday, January 7th at the State Capitol. Students will take a bus to the event. We will let you know as soon as more details are available- watch backpacks, classroom newsletters, and facebook.com/MrsNyhof for updates. If you do not wish for your child to participate in this event, please notify Mrs. Nyhof as soon as possible (anyhof@helena.k12.mt.us or 324-1253).

For the students who have expressed an interest in practicing at home...

Click here for the audio files.

And click here for the lyrics!